Yesterday evening was most likely a great sunset at the beach. But instead, this was a patio sunset. Thirty minutes before, I reclined and relaxed at home. Listening to the fountain, feeling the wind blow, occasional noticing the scent of nearby flowers. Watching the sun pop in and out of the clouds. The clouds changing shape and colors. Senses heightened, yet relaxed. Mind cleared, except for occasional thoughts… should I go get my iPhone for pictures?… why did I never do this while I was still working?… should I be doing something more productive?
As those thoughts escaped into nothingness, I began to perceive with fascination subtle details usually ignored… the ever-changing patterns of the clouds, five different types of clouds at various elevations moving with different speeds, how the sound of the fountain changed as the wind blew, the leaves rustling, an occasional bird cutting across my view. My mind tranquil, yet awareness heightened. Active “brain resting”. As a Michigan psychologist, Rachel Kaplan describes:
“Soft fascination. That’s what happens when you watch a sunset, or the rain. The most restorative landscapes are the ones that hit the sweet spot being interesting, but not too interesting. They should entice our attention, but not demand it.”
Yes… what she said.
An hour after sunset, with darkness complete, I came back inside, to the ordinary world.