NPR

How paying attention can help you appreciate what's right in front of you

NPR

May 12, 202212:03 AM ET

Connie Hanzhang Jin

Twitter

Andrew Limbong

Andee Tagle

How paying attention can help you appreciate what's right in front of you

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Transcript

This comic, written and illustrated by Connie Hanzhang Jin, is inspired by a Life Kit episode featuring Jenny Odell and hosted by Andrew Limbong. You can listen to the audio at the top of this page.

You know when you go on vacation and you notice every little detail about the place you're visiting? The statues! The billboards! The flowers bursting through the cracks in the sidewalk!

Humans pretty much do the opposite of that when they're in a familiar setting, going on autopilot and failing to notice the small delights of home. It doesn't have to be that way. Artist and author Jenny Odell shares tips on how to practice paying attention and appreciate what's right in front of you.

Andrew Limbong is a man with a mustache, wearing glasses and a beanie over short hair. "You know how pop punk bands are always singing about wanting to leave this town?" he asks into a microphone. "I get it, but ... there's something to be said for appreciating the world that's just outside your door," he adds as he gazes at a bird outside.

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It's easy to take for granted the stuff that's around you. Really paying attention to these things is probably something you only do when a friend visits from out of town and you play tourist with them. Andrew and a friend stand on the sidewalk, looking up at a small bird statue above the window of a house that the friend pointed out.

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"We have a natural curiosity and it's just unfortunate that the structures of life and many different factors kind of cover over that and you have to find ways of rehabilitating it," says Jenny Odell, author of 'How To Do Nothing.' Her words swirl over scenes of mundane life – an unmade bed, scattered objects on a desk – before landing on a close-up of Andrew closing his eyes.

Here are some tips to help you find new things in old spaces. First, try out a new lens. Focus on observing a certain aspect of a place. For example, learning about the history of an area or focusing on how a place smells or sounds. Andrew closes his eyes to listen to the sounds of a busy sidewalk: cars honking, wind blowing, footsteps and someone talking on the phone.

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Go on a walk with someone not familiar with your space. A fresh perspective can point out details you missed. Andrew and a friend walk on a path along a lake, with trees and houses in the distance. "Whoa, look at that barn!" the friend points. "Huh, I've never noticed that before," Andrew responds.

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Paying attention to one thing can reveal more info over time. Four comic panels show a statue of a full-size Easter Island head throughout the seasons. In fall, the grass around it grows sparse. In winter, the statue is covered with snow. In spring, the grass comes back to life, while in summer the grass grows thickly enough to partially obscure the statue.

Take public transportation. Take a new form of public transit and pay attention to the people around you. Connect with a sense of community by noticing your fellow passengers on your shared journey. Andrew stands on a crowded bus, taking in the other passengers.

Jenny strides forward on a walk. As she steps, her environment changes – from a sunny day, to pouring rain, to a strong breeze. "Your simple walk around your neighborhood is complicated in a lot of ways. Some of them may induce wonder. Some of them may induce despair," she says. "But I think I would rather be attentive to all of those things than to just kind of move through the world."

Editor's note: This conversation has been slightly edited for clarity.

This episode of Life Kit was produced by Andee Tagle. This comic was edited by Beck Harlan.

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