Just really curious... About our attention

It’s incredible how quickly we tend to jump onto the next big news as soon as it’s convenient for us to do so.

Just over a month ago, our collective attention was directed toward events on the other side of the Atlantic. By mid-March, it turned to the numbers on the signage at gas stations. And less than a week ago, it strayed to a video of a celebrity’s violent act.

As it stands, we’ve likely almost forgotten about the events on the other side of the Atlantic. Or we’ve come to terms with it.

I’m not trying to guilt-trip anyone. I’m just really curious about who or what dictates our focus at every moment in time.

Are we simply vessels, perforated on all sides, taking in just as much as fluid—or trending topics—as we let out? Are we stuck in an endless loop of consumption, entertainment, discourse, disregard, and boredom?

If this is our reality, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with it. I think. I’m just really curious about how we know when to tune out, tune in, and identify the next big thing.

And although I’m curious, I’m hopeful that while our collective attention sways almost mindlessly, we will always find a way to quiet the noise, stop the pendulum and remember the things that matter.

I hope we can capture meaningful moments and let them linger long after the next big news catches our attention.

Here’s to hoping our attention span doesn’t sabotage us.

---

This letter was originally shared as a newsletter. You can sign up to receive letters like this one on a biweekly basis here.