notice; appreciate

so much goes on around us, it is hard to consume it all. still, how hard can it be to notice some one smiling. and, appreciating it is as simple as a smile response. this is the most basic example

no words have to be exchanged. no hidden agendas have to be unearthed. no compelling season flings or soul mate connections or long run friendships are necessary. just notice. just appreciate

how about free. free used to be a welcome gem. free has become a victim to the 'tricky introduction' impression. context seldom matters. we just don't believe some thing costs us zip

then there's consideration. holding doors. picking up dropped pieces. asking 'are you ok' or 'do you need help' or 'need a hug' and lots of other strings of words that mean nothing more than that one person is sympathetic, compassionate, un-vestedly concerned enough to ask and listen. so much goes on around us, it is hard to consume it all. still, how hard can it be to notice some one is noticing, to notice that some one is trying to appreciate your feelings and circumstance, how hard is it to notice that some one - possibly a stranger - is willing to listen, willing to care

a theory: weather - either too cold or too hot, but theoretically equally effective in distancing

a theory: crime - either physically or non physically damaging, but just the same victimizing

a theory: competition - either external or internal, none the less pressuring and keeping score

my theory: we mostly notice and mostly don't appreciate - we 1) deserve and those who don't deserve 2) believe we are due more, better. why bother with small stuff when we expect grander. grander is not the same as more. by grander, we literally anticipate big values, we figuratively step over hundreds, thousands of coins expecting bills to be waiting elsewhere

maybe the cashier got the form of payment wrong

maybe the bills are only administered in coins

it isn't exactly safe walking around with big bills