Whispers
Walking by the train tracks on my way to work one day, I noticed a tiny tree sprouting from the rocks alongside the tracks. Headphones on, and power walk in place, I saw it—but really didn't "see" it. But a "whisper" told me to stop. So I did. Taking off my headphones, I knelt down and took this picture. The whisper said "there's something here. something to think about... How can tree grow in a place like this?".
With the image captured I went about the rest of my day but couldn't stop thinking about it. And it made made me realize a few things. Life thrives in unexpected places and beauty can be found anywhere. Technology helps us capture a moment, but it can also keep us from hearing the whispers that are so important for our own development.
Life's whispers are often soft and subtle. They come without warning. The whispers are always there—but we're not always listening. The noise we surround ourselves with often keeps the whispers at bay. We become incapable of hearing them, until we choose to. At this point we see through fresh eyes.
I'm choosing to listen. But first I had to slow down and stop in order to do so. I had to be willing to miss the train if it meant learning something, even if just for the day. The whispers are there, waiting for us to notice them. But only if we're open to turning our own volume down, even if only for a brief moment in time. For me, this moment just happened to be the right one.
Very nicely put... All mankind's troubles are caused by one single thing, which is their inability to sit quietly in a room. -Blaise Pascal
Posted by: Walter Breakell | Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 07:10 PM
brilliant! a moment to enjoy the view.
Posted by: Joanna Pena-Bickley | Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Mr. Armano - nice insight. Too often people don't write about things like this. Often too busy with other things.
I can relate to what you're saying. Friday was a good day for me. One of those days, when things just keep happening - and you wonder how it all works out.
On my way back to the office from a meeting on Friday, I decided to stop at a random bookstore away from my town to poke around for a few minutes. I ran into the someone I went to grade school with. More than that, she was the first girl I ever had a crush on from first grade. I hadn't seen her in 23 years, and thought I would never see her again. But there she was, real as day. Married w/ 4 kids, living life. It was so nice to tell her about my family, and just reconnect for that one moment.
Logic would have said I should go straight back to the office to handle all the work I need to do, but something made me stop and take a break. And I'm really glad I did.
Keep up the good work. :-)
Posted by: Derek | Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Walking and looking around in my backyard this morning, the intensity of the spring beauty was such that it drowned out everything else - everything else that typically drowns out the beauty. It truly is nice to tune out our distractions and tune back in to what really matters.
Posted by: Steve Woodruff | Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 08:22 PM
Lovely post. If you haven't already, I strongly suggest you read Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. It's full of whispers like this.
Posted by: frockwriter | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 02:33 AM
Such a breath of fresh air. Thanks David
Posted by: Michele | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 04:43 AM
I just had to share this post with some of my colleagues. Made me think I need to slow down and really 'see' the world rather than living in a whirlwind of 'blurryness' all the time! Today i will be looking and seeing :-)
Posted by: kirsty | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 06:11 AM
Amen. Listening to those "whispers" can be more valuable in the long-term... a sort of retraining of one's awareness.
Posted by: Joann Sondy | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 07:34 AM
If you're starting to hear trees talking to you, it's time for a holiday (vacation)
All the best.
Matt
Posted by: matt lambert | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 08:49 AM
I think most of us have been taught to shut down and ignore the "still, small voice" talking to us. Call it God, the Universe, your soul, whatever. I like this post since it'a reminder that if you get quiet you may hear the real music.
Posted by: Richard Shaffer | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 08:53 AM
This is a different post for you... happily so. Thank you.
Posted by: Jon King | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Matt,
Maybe we should "listen to trees" more often? I'm taking off with the family this weekend for a retreat in a wooded area with lots of hiking etc. Maybe the trees know what's good for us after all. :-)
Posted by: David Armano | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 10:26 AM
How true, David.
There is also beauty and wisdom to be found in all people. Subtract 10 minutes of Twitter time and use it to talk with and listen to everyday people: taxi drivers, grocery store clerks, strangers waiting in line with you anywhere, and maintenance staff, for example.
They have much to teach us.
Posted by: Bonnie Larner | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 11:44 AM
C'est beau...
The tree remind me of the Lotus Flower....
Thank you for sharing this.
Posted by: Rachael Hampton | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Really nice post! Some think it cliché to say "stop and smell the roses" but I know first-hand, it is absolutely essential to the human spirit. Slow down, be present and keep listening for the whispers.
All my best,
Jane
Posted by: Jane Lassiter | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 06:23 AM
Have you read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn lately?
Posted by: Whitney Hess | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Like the metaphor of the tree representing your growing and learning too!
On the train home last week I gazed out of the window and saw a hot air balloon drifting through the dusk sky. I couldn't help but think that I need to step back and just see things from a different perspective sometimes.
Chris
http://learn2develop.blogspot.com
Posted by: Chris | Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 11:24 AM