the distance between seeing and looking

It takes almost no time to see something. Looking asks for a different kind of generosity. It asks us to remain still long enough for the obvious to disappear and for something quieter to take its place.

The painting on the wall never changes. The city remains exactly where we left it. Even the person sitting across from us has probably been telling us who they are from the very beginning. More often than not, the thing that changes is our willingness to notice.

Looking has very little to do with our eyes. It has everything to do with our attention.