I took this shot a few years ago at a pottery workshop in Tokoname, Aichi. The place was chaotic—scraps and random stuff everywhere—but this old signboard caught my eye. I found it stood out against the mess around it.

Come to think of it… something like this might happen quite often—a small thing catching the eye, the way that signboard did. But it’s very subjective. Like… what stands out to me might mean nothing to anyone else—and vice versa. Even what stands out to me, I might still miss it—could be because I’m moving quickly, my mind is elsewhere, or something like that.

If I slow down a little—giving myself a moment to be present—I might see things I usually miss. But of course, it’s not a guarantee—just a chance.

Perhaps that’s what noticing is—being present, unhurried, and open.