To be “noticefull” invites fluid definition. A child may be filled with the curiosity and wonder created by noticing. A friend may notice the good deed of another. A city dweller might be alert to the sound of footsteps approaching too quickly from behind, while a country resident might look more closely at a fragile blossom along a trail that only yesterday merely hinted of what might follow.  Noticing is rarely an empty pursuit and often fills one with reaction to that which was noticed, i.e., noticefull.

Years ago, each Saturday as I drove to the studio to teach a 7 a.m. Spinning™ class, I listened to the NPR broadcast, a Way with Words. The question was asked if a word is real? The response was clear: “But are they really words if they’re not in the dictionary? Yes, if it’s said or written and has a meaning, it’s a word.” Is noticefull in the dictionary? No, but my 3-year old son used it often and squeezed every drop of meaning out of the compound.

Taking time to pause, to observe, to see, hear, feel, taste or smell, to idle, to muse, may be a gift to retrieve from Covid 19, the grand Thief of life, time, resources and well-being. This thief is not done with us yet. Nor are we ready to surrender as we small individuals in the large mosaic of the 21^st century strive to make sense of what has happened and hang on for what may lie ahead. Yes, there are those who want nothing more than to break free of worry and restrictions, kick up their heels, and try to forget it ever happened. But it did happen and it is happening. Should those of us who are fortunate to have escaped health and financial ruin be grateful? Of course. But perhaps not giddy. Maybe in our gratitude we might search for some snippets of goodness and positivity to carry forward with us. If not Covid, surely other challenges will face those of us lucky enough to live to see them and strong enough to challenge back.

You, my friend, do not need to read yet another blog post about Covid, about the universal need for vaccinations, or about lifting requirements and returning to life as the new usual. Nor do you need to read yet another attempt to help each and all deal with anxiety and mental health. All I can say is that if we thought stress was a buzzword before, well, now, in bold letters, it is a condition linked to a very long list of physical illnesses and a given contributing factor to an even longer list of mental and emotional vulnerabilities and resulting behaviors.

For most of my professional life as a personal trainer, I have worked with concepts beyond the building of physical fitness and enhancement of athletic performance. During recent years I have coached the importance of recovery, play and sleep as equally necessary and rewarding as setting and achieving goals. I also coach “noticefull.”

Clients, students and readers have observed my changing focus, clearly influenced by this past year-plus, in which I continue to encourage habits of regular exercise, good nutrition and numerous components of fitness, but do so within a broader and softer context. Certainly my over 500 hours of Yoga training influences me. The advantages of Zoom (and yes there are many) coupled with fewer daily driving hours, has permitted me time to study, research, listen and learn, all in support of my work. (I used to say there is a fine line between teaching and studying. I now say there is NO line between being a teacher and being a student!)

Now, as we (hopefully) exit the Covid phase, what do I believe, practice and teach?      First and foremost, I believe that each of us is precious and good, worthy                                         and unique unto ourselves. Be it good ole nature or nurture,                                                   we each have valid strengths and challenges,                                                                                 dreams and fears, passions and avoidances to be embraced.

In so many instances, it does not matter how we look or how we compare with another, but rather how we learn, grow and complete ourselves; and then how we are able to reach out to others to help them along their own personal journeys.

We each respond to different approaches. Some of us love the thrill of competition and challenging goals and the process that underpins success in both. Some of us simply seek that precious few minutes when we can take a walk away from distractions or steal a quick 10 minutes to sit in stillness.

If you are stuck In the reluctance of these times, or if you are wildly escaping limitations, you may be sharing the same spectrum of inertia. I encourage you to open your hearts and open your minds, to look and listen. There is an entire world of change to be tasted and tried. Experts abound, often sharing personal stories, and there is usually something to be learned from each. Pick and choose what might work for you. What is accessible, affordable, practical and achievable? Can you add a morning ritual to each day? Perhaps a designated time of connection with someone you miss or love? Open a window on silliness and giggle with kids? (Actually do it when your watch says to breathe?) Downregulate through your final hours of the day phasing out screen time?

Parting thought. I’d like to share my morning ritual with you as it is a product of the past months. As you are surely noticefull, you will quickly realize that you’ve read some of this before – yes, in last month’s post! But I do try to practice what I learn and share with you. Taking advice from multiple sources, and with the encouragement of Sophie, my chocolate lab, I spend an early 20 minutes of my day outdoors. In previous years, I would have dragged her past scents as I tried to log a run. Now I walk leisurely, coffee mug in hand, and give her this time as well. Next it’s my turn and she acquiesces. It’s out to the patio – she with her breakfast and I with my refill. Sometimes I’m bundled up in blankets, but unless it’s raining hard, we spend another 10-20 minutes – Sophie and her bone and me with my books and journal.

Sometimes I simply sit and listen, as does she. Wait, wasn’t it silent a minute ago? These birds are so raucous! Did they only just begin to sing so loudly? (I know, I know – I looked it up and it’s probably the males staking their claim on territory or potential liaison – but I still call it singing.)  But listening is amazing. Touch? – unless I am noticefull, I don’t feel the air on my skin.

Smell? OK, TBH I get a general scent of clean, clear, fresh, green, etc, but let me tell you, Sophie is all about scent. Sometimes I just watch her, nostrils fluttering, eyes closed, so loving the moment. (that would be Sophie’s nostrils not mine) You get the idea. Even 10 minutes of being noticefull prepares me for the day ahead. And that’s before making a list or checking my messages. Is this easy? No. But worth putting the distractions aside. I often reorganize my thoughts by coming back to this from David Whyte: “there is a small opening into the day that closes the moment you begin your plans.”  (What to Remember When Waking, David Whyte: Essentials) I do what I can to protect that opening.

And, next, of course, I’m off – out of the starting gate of my day with a clean start and a good break.                                                             I wish you the same.                                      And to be notice full.