Day 10: Fresh Eyes
Puppies see the world through fresh eyes, and if we pay attention, we get to see the world anew, too. What a gift to rediscover what's become invisible, or faded into a backdrop, taken for granted, and experience slowing down, noticing and true presence.
At least this is what I tell myself as I wait for Suzanne to thoroughly examine a leaf or stage a silent, go-limp protest to walking when I'm trying to get back to the house for a client call.
As annoying as it is when I need to BE somewhere at a certain time, there really is a gift in seeing the world through the eyes (and nose) of a puppy.
I developed a crick in my neck the first couple weeks of walking Suzanne, partly because I had to think like a puppy before the puppy thought like a puppy and identify dangerous and/or gross treasures on the path ahead so she wouldn't gobble them up. Now that she's better at walking on a leash, and (sometimes) responding to voice commands, we can both relax a bit and enjoy the walk.
The same path we've taken to and from school or the mailbox is suddenly brand new. A shrub with tiny pink flowers that bloom in February has delightful pinecones under it. A field mouse rushes under a bush by the mailbox and Suzanne follows, pulling out layers of birch bark hidden there. The rock formation behind our yard is covered in crispy leave the perfect density for pouncing. The bark of a tall tree in the forest is layered in lichen and moss and decay that looks like a face.
She stops cold when the ravens caw from the tree tops across the street, or when big trucks or buses or bikes approach on the road. She tentatively inches toward Ripley the cat on the way to school, then boldly sniffs her tail. Her body freezes after she follows a big dog into the ocean water at the beach, before her feet find land again.
Everything is new to Suzanne, and through her, to us too. Her fresh eyes have no preconceived notions about a thing. She has to determine, through discovery, observation and testing, if a thing is safe, tasty, friendly, scary, crunchy, wet, cold, sticky. Her capacity to observe is inspiring, along with her ability to log away information. Ivy leaves collect rain water that's fun to lick. Rose bush branches are pokey. Doors open by sliding AND swinging. The sound of crinkling plastic means there's cheese nearby.
There's a big world out there, and maybe someday we'll all get to explore it more freely (again). In the meantime, there's lots to see with fresh eyes in your own community, neighbourhood, yard or home.
The Rest of Our Lives
So, what lessons can be applied to the rest of our lives, whether or not we have a puppy in our homes? Here are some questions that may help you consider how and where you might choose to have fresh eyes.
Our Households and Families
What aspect of your family or household dynamic could benefit from fresh eyes?
What new perspective could you hold for your family?
Our Businesses and Workplaces
What processes, practices, or lines of business could use a fresh eyes approach?
How can you encourage fresh eyes as a regular business practice?
Ourselves
What aspects of yourself -- your view of yourself, a challenge or the world -- could benefit from fresh eyes?
Where in your circle could you apply your fresh eyes to benefit someone else?
What else?
Where else are you seeing a need for fresh eyes? Share your thoughts with me by replying, or posting on my social channels. Let’s keep this conversation going.
The bottom line: We can always choose to look at life with fresh eyes.
Puppy Update:
As Suzanne has explored her world and grown over the past 11 months, our perspective has been influenced, too. While she learns about new things — wasps (spicy sky raisins = bad), fireworks (doesn’t even notice them) or delivery people (do they have treats for me?) we also get to pause and notice things we may take for granted, be unphased by or delighted in. When I’m walking her, we stop often for her to sniff, to listen, to look. I try to do the same and sit in the wonder of our street, our neighbourhood, our planet. I hope I always have fresh eyes.
