Be THAT Person Who Notices

Invisibility can be nice if you are Harry Potter and need to escape from Voldemort and his crew, but in real life, feeling invisible is awful.

Like nobody sees what you are doing, but even worse, nobody cares.

The truth is most people are so preoccupied with their own lives that they simply don't see those around them who need some acknowledgement in this world. I'm not talking about the spotlight seekers, for they chase after attention and will get it.

It's the older lady in the grocery store who can't reach her Cream of Wheat, struggling on her tiptoes in her comfortable shoes, until finally she gives up and settles for instant packets of Quaker Oats.

It's the single person who walks into a crowded church, surrounded by lovely singing and fellowship, and sits alone, worships alone, and finally when the service is over, heads to his car, feeling lonelier than when he came in.

It's the neighbor nobody ever visits.

So, Farm Girl, how do we bring these people out from under their invisibility cloaks?

1. Take off your own invisibility cloak. Step into the world and be a part of it. Sometimes when I run into the store to pick up a couple things, I will keep my eyes on the onions (or whatever I need that day) and off of everything else. I don't want people to notice me. But if we are to help others, we must first be okay with being noticed ourselves.
2. Pay attention. Now that you are engaging with the world wherever you are, take note of what is happening around you. As I've been learning to pay attention, almost every single time I go to the grocery store, I am able to ask someone if they need help or engage in a brief conversation. Do you realize that there are people in this world who don't have anyone to talk to and your comment about those amazing plaid pants they are wearing might be the one opportunity they have to engage with another human that day?
3. Ask questions. Nothing will bring an invisible person out of the shadows quicker than a question about themselves.
4. Give a card. (Well, obviously you are going to say that, Farm Girl.) Yes, because it's true. I have a friend who has made several cards with affirmations on them that she hands out when she finds someone who needs it. And don't get me started on the power of mailing a card. I used to send my grandma a short letter every week because we lived in different states. After she passed away, we found a big stack of letters that I and others had written her. The written word can last a lifetime.

Today as you are going about your day be THAT PERSON who notices the invisible and lets them known they are valued and seen.

Let's do this.