How Observant Are You
A friend sent me a link to a quiz that asks various questions about every day objects with the objective of testing how observant one is in daily life. I know very well I am not highly observant since I often don’t notice what people are wearing, their hair colour, or any weight changes. If they are wearing something beautiful or they have changed their hair colour, I probably will notice, but not as a general rule and I don’t think I would be the greatest witness in a courtroom…though I would probably notice what book the bank robber was reading.
Here is an example: One day last week at work I had an envelope that I needed to mail. I was thinking about my surroundings and trying to recall if I had noticed any mailboxes close to the office. I thought there might very likely be one on the main street but my memory scan of the street failed to produce a mailbox. So then I called a co-worker and asked him if there was a mailbox in the area and he said there wasn’t one right around our work area but there was one at the nearest major intersection. So when I left work that day I planned to walk to the intersection. When I passed the bus stop that I have used every day over the past four months, I saw a mailbox. It has been there all along but I never noticed it!
I think it is time for me to be more observant.
Here is the quiz if you are interested though I can’t vouch for its value:
http://www.blogthings.com/howobservantareyouquiz/
April 24th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Why clutter one’s mind with all this unecessary clutter?
April 24th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I thought that was what the New Earth was partly saying…to focus on the now and to be present so that you will observe what is around you and increase your awareness…rather than being caught up in the mind which is what I do sometimes. For example I’ll be thinking about what to write in my blog rather than being present in my walk to the bus stop.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I think this quiz is mucho importanto! It’s the only quiz I’ve ever done where I’ve scored above average. So please allow me to maintain, if only for a fleeting moment, my elevated standing and let me bask in the warm glory of academic excellence…..for it will most likely never pass this way again
April 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
We all notice what is important to us I suppose. During my daily walks there is always something new to see that I haven’t spotted before and this is what makes my strolls more interesting.
The awareness need not be external only…internal awareness is included in this being present. So, focusing on the “now” is a “choice” of internal or external focus.
Nothing wrong with being caught up in your own thoughts….it is a good thing…I find it a mini vacation to get lost in ones thoughts.
With so many images in one’s day, one is not expected to catch all or most of them in ones memory bank.
In conclusion, if one wants to spend their walking time planning their day or observing their surroundings is their own choice…both can be beneficial….quizes are for fun…Connecting with nature rather than remembering little details has far more beneficial qualities to me….and getting lost in thought does make me aware and can be eye opening of finding out more about me.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Miriam — Thanks for sharing.
Oh Bertie, you have done well on quizzes. Didn’t you win a free dinner by answering a skill testing question?