In this age of technology and distraction, I admire the noticers and listeners the most.
I admire those who are busy and successful beyond belief, but can still take a moment for the person in the corner of the room. I admire those who can halt an engaging conversation for someone else to speak.
I admire the kid who can stop playing to help another kid who’s hurt; the professor who can stop professing to accomodate another viewpoint or the anxious words of a student. I admire a senior who can step away from years of experience to learn from a youth, and a youth who can appreciate experience.
I admire those who can take a walk in nature to see that life isn’t about noise and desperation, but about stillness and perseverance–who can consider the weight of the natural world compared to the thinness of modern life.
Someone who can take time to pet an attention-seeking dog. Someone whose ears perk up when quiet ones finally speak, who drop their phones when their children tell stories.
I admire someone willing to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Someone who can hear the quiet cries. Someone who looks for wildflowers; who can confront danger in a Walmart parking lot or go bird watching with equal proficiency. Someone who can hit hard and hug hard too.
These are the people I would look to for advice. The people who know how to put down the world and look away from it. Who can step out of their minds and lives long enough to look around and bring in. They are the ones who can fight and love and notice…and listen. They are the ones I admire.
“The real heroes anyway aren’t the people doing things; the real heroes are the people noticing things, paying attention.” – John Green.
The Desert Toad 