Time to Stand and Stare

The other day, while walking over one of the foot-over-bridges at the Thane Railway Station, two little girls who were walking hand in hand with their mothers, caught my eye. I noticed them because, unlike most people who were either looking straight ahead, in a hurry to reach their preferred platform or glancing at the indicator to get information about the next train, these girls were staring out from the gaps in the railing of the bridge to look at the trains passing below. They giggled and squealed in pure delight every time a train passed by. Their laughter was infectious and I found myself smiling too.

This incident got me thinking. We notice so much more of the world around us when we are kids. Everything seems fascinating, mysterious and beautiful. As we grow older, we understand the harsh realities of life. We are bogged down by worries, stressed out due to the pressure of always wanting to be one step ahead of the rest. We are too busy to observe the curious little details of the world around us. Like the way the clouds look so dark and menacing just before a torrential downpour, the serenity of mornings just after sunrise, when the sky is all pink and soothing, the way the leaves of a tree dance in a light breeze, the quiet, concentric ripples on the surface of a lake....There is so much to observe and appreciate in this world, if only we would care to look.

In this fast paced world, slowing down and taking a break is considered a waste of time and synonymous to inefficiency. However, taking short breaks from our monotonous routines to just observe the world around us can actually be beneficial. It can bring down our stress levels like nothing else can, it can improve our concentration, it can instantly put us in a good, positive mood and hence increase our productivity. There have even been scientific reports that looking at greenery, for a while everyday can boost our health. Thus, taking some time off to rewind can do us a lot of good.

In conclusion, here is William Henry Davies’ famous poem, “Leisure”:

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

Picture Courtesy: http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/21800000/Topaz-Waters-beautiful-nature-21888528-1217-812.jpg