Attention

“What has my attention is shaping my life.” – Brandie Freely of Notes on Living Free + Well

“And every day, the world will drag you by the hand yelling ‘This is important! And This is important! And This is important! You need to worry about This! And This! and This!’ And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart and say, ‘No. This is what’s important.'” – Iain Thomas, The Grand Distraction from I Wrote This For You

When my son was young, he sometimes would ask me to play with him. In other words, he wanted my attention. I hold many fond memories of days on carpeted floors surrounded by legos and ninja turtles, or at the park in sandboxes and playgrounds.

Those days feel like simpler times, for those were the days when Blackberrys were young, and texting was new. I was assigned a mobile device by my employer, so that they could always reach me. At the time, I resented the implication that I should always be available, but I also took pride in the fact that I was needed, vital even.

Fast forward about 25 or 30 years, and my mobile device is a constant companion. I have it with me always, and use it frequently. It seems to want my attention, but also, my attention seems to want my mobile device. The other day at a coffee shop while enjoying a delightful visit with friends, I noticed my urge to pick up the phone while we were visiting. I looked around and saw lots of people on cell phones, and I must admit, that I see this all the time. People on their phones, missing the world of here and now, for the world of there and that – missing connections with the people here, for connections with strangers there.

I have learned recently about the concept of attention hijacking, and predictions that with artificial intelligence, the demand for our attention will increase exponentially. I’ve also been remembering a mystical experience about the only gift I have to give is my attention, my full attention. My practice right now (and it is a practice), is to liberate my attention from the demands of my mobile device, and to cherish my attention as precious. If my attention is precious, then perhaps, I will be more discerning, more careful, more deliberate as to where I place it, for ultimately, it is the only gift I have to give -> to God, to myself, and to others.