Wanting to be Noticed

My husband and I went out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. Since we were traveling, we did not make any reservations. When the hostess greeted us at the door and told us that the only available space was at the horseshoe shaped bar, we bellied up to the bar.

Settling in with a couple of beers we took in our surroundings commenting on how the bartenders mixed and filled drink orders without even looking at what they were doing; “Muscle memory,” I commented to my husband. 

Then, occasionally we’d glance up at the TV showing the olympic event of women’s bobsled racing, and comment to each other about the danger and yet the thrill of the sport.

Other times we exchanged our ideas of what we hoped to do when we reached our final destination; Moab. 

Sometimes I’d glance around at the others sitting at the bar. A few of the couples were also conversing between themselves and the bartender. But one gal, across the way from me was staring off into space with her big brown eyes looking bored; her date was fully focused on his phone.

I felt sorry for her. Who doesn’t want to be noticed, paid attention to, or regarded, especially while out on a date for Valentines?

  I remember back when my sons were young and how they vied for my attention by saying, “Mom, watch this.” Then I’d stop doing whatever I was doing and give my full attention to them. They wanted me to watch as they shot a basket through the hoop, kicked a soccer ball into the imaginary net; the space between our two cherry trees, or rode off for the first time without the training wheels on their bike.

They let me know they wanted my attention because they were doing something very important and important moments are all the more important when the moment is shared with someone else.

Those moments we spend with someone significant are valuable too, not because they are doing anything outstanding, but because they themselves are remarkable and worthy of our attention.  

Why Bother?

Why bother wanting to be noticed?  We want to be noticed because we want others to know we are significant.

P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who need clarity when it comes to understanding forgiveness. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.