The art of noticing.

Noticing makes all the difference.

While Mondays are the worst days for most people, my least favorite day is Sunday. Why? I get the Sunday scaries real bad.

Thinking about how I just finished what felt like the longest week ever and having to get ready for the next makes me just want to die. When it hits 5 p.m. on Sunday, I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. I think of all the promises I made to myself the week before that weren’t fulfilled. I think of all the lists I made. The lists where the “easy stuff” gets crossed off, and the “hard things” stay forever.

This is when the art of noticing comes into play. Noticing takes me out of my head and places me back into the present. The only place I truly am.

Last Monday, I decided to put pen to paper and write down three things I noticed every hour, from when I opened my eyes at the start of the day to when they closed as I got cozy in my covers at night.

So, here are the things I noticed.

Monday, 7 a.m.

• Warm sheets. Oh, how hard it is to come undone from your grasp.

• Puffy coat. A small reminder of the warmth I just left.

• Chill breeze. It hits my face as I trek from the front door to my old little Outback.

8 a.m.

• The swirls in my coffee cup. Unsweetened creamer is hard to love.

• Plants by the window. Watering you reminds me of how much you’ve grown.

• Books on my nightstand. How they tempt me to crawl back into bed for just a moment longer.

9 a.m.

• Berry yogurt with apples + honey. My new favorite breakfast.

• Made bed. Yet another gaze I take.

• Blooming flowers. A reminder of my partner’s love.

10 a.m.

• Cold water. The shock as it hits my face.

• Lukewarm coffee. I never finish my cup.

• Podcasts. Women who know much more than I speak as I walk to class.

11 a.m.

• Round table moments. Tell me about your week; I want to know.

• Blue ink. The only color I write in.

• People watching. I peer through the window to my left.

Noon

• Group conversations. Mini jokes are our savior.

• Orange water bottle. A reminder of my friend’s care.

• Talk of empathy. My favorite conversation.

1 p.m.

• Turkey + havarti sandwiches. The salt n pepper make it whole.

• Tiny cucumbers + carrot chips. Veggies are that much better when they’re small.

• Short walks. A chance to hear Feather for the 498734th time.

2 p.m.

• Drafted emails. What words will convince them?

• Zoned out. Lost in the sauce, if I may.

• Best chair in the circle. This one isn’t permanently stuck at the bottom.

3 p.m.

• Clean lines. My highlighter never fails.

• Finished emails. At least they got out of the draft box.

• Cheesy peanut butter crackers. Never will they lose their spark.

4 p.m.

• My favorite house. The books are so beautiful on the windowsill.

• Taking my backpack off. It didn’t feel quite as heavy this morning.

• Sinking into the couch. Good luck getting me back out.

5 p.m.

• Phone call with mom. She makes me feel seen.

As is typical Juliette fashion, I decided to enjoy my night and completely forgot about writing down anything else I noticed. But that’s the beauty of it. Let things be beautiful enough to notice and sweet enough to get lost in the noticing.

Maybe noticing will make my next Sunday a little easier. Or maybe the Sunday scaries will come back. Oh well, Monday is just around the corner.