I once gave a book that had impacted my life to a friend.
After a while, I asked what they thought of the book.
They replied: “Oh, that? Nothing really jumped out at me so I didn’t like it. Sorry!”
At first, I was confused that somebody could read a book that had been so useful to me and not “have anything jump out at them.” Then I realized that if you are simply searching for sensational things, if you’re focused on shock and awe then, of course, you’re going to be disappointed by many things in life because they don’t “jump out and surprise you.”
The idea that something has to jump out and surprise you, to be sensational, in order for it to be worthy of your attention precludes so much of what life is.
Most of the beauty and things of importance around us are subtle.
I can read a book that has no sensational parts and learn and grow as a product of that book. Another person can read the same book and think “that was a waste of time because there was nothing that jumped out at me.”
I encourage you to consider whether you are filtering for sensational things and therefore missing the smaller, mundane but significant things in life.
Don’t be doomed by this pursuit of sensational things. Pay attention to the small and mundane things in life and grow as a byproduct.
