Pay Attention

Today I realized the differences between what day dreaming and paying attention looks like. 

Yes, I was observing my fellow classmates--but also myself. I would have honestly considered the day dreamer to be a hot head and self confident individual. While this still could be true, it was an assumption on my part, of course, but it also made me evaluate myself. 

Am I always day dreaming?

I find that often times it is very difficult to pay attention to what's right in front of me. This ranges from cooking, to TV, to conversations with people I would call close friends. What is wrong with me right? We are all human, we all have short attention spans, but what has really stopped me from just listening.

My professor went on a rant, if you will, and called out a student to answer his not-so-clear question. This day dreamer, immediately blushing, asked what the question was in the most puzzled tone. He dismissed them quickly, and moved on to someone else, who actually answered his question above and beyond what he was looking for. Clearly, this student actually listened, but did even more than that.

As a third party, I was viewing all of this in a way of looking at my past and my future--a future I want. I used to be that day dreamer. The question my professor asked, wasn't even a difficult one in the slightest, it just took a listening ear. Yet, I cannot give my full attention to certain things at particular points. I aspire to not only listen, but to understand. Even better, after understanding, reflecting my ideas even further. 

This is just another attribute to living more fully.