Paying attention is harder than ever.
Don't believe me? Try finishing this blog post without that itch to change tabs, check your email, or otherwise move on with your day.
Attention is a funny thing. As the world has sped up, our brains have attempted to adjust. But now, it's hard to slow down.
Remember when dial-up internet was the coolest thing ever? (An aside, tell some children what dial-up was, and let me know when they stop laughing).
We didn't mind waiting at the time. But now, if the internet takes more than two tenths of a second to load a page, we're already off to check out another tab.
Emptying your mind to focus on just one thing, whether in a class or practicing the piano, has become a challenge for us.
But, it's a skill that can be practiced. Start with a few minutes of sole focus on something or someone. Increase from there.
We must learn to pay attention. Because, when we miss something because we weren't paying attention, there is literally no getting it back.
That being said, attention must be earned in turn. Most of the time, anyway.
My final two years of high school, I had the most boring history teacher on the planet. He was a really nice guy. But, he spent every class reciting facts, writing them on the board, and expecting us to write them down.
Every minute felt like forever. My mind spent most of the class elsewhere. I just memorized the stuff after class was over so I could do well on the test.
This is the brain's survival mechanism. If something is deemed not worth our attention, the brain says, "We can't burn calories on this!," and we tune in to another mental channel.
Then, one day, there was a substitute. A history teacher who retired just two years prior. A legend.
He drew our class in with stories. He was dramatic in his delivery. He was clearly interested in the subject he was teaching.
Turns out, that makes a big difference in a teacher. The forty-five minute class went by in a blink.
And so, attention goes both ways.
We must exercise our ability to pay attention.
And we must be worth paying attention to.
When both of these things happen, we get to witness the magic of learning and connection.
And more importantly, the possibilities of real change.