You may not remember, because I barely remember, I have been working..slooooooowly…through the book the Art of Noticing. Here’s the funny thing, I actually love this book which lets you notice things differently, yet for some reason I am hit or miss about using it lately. I’m going to blame my writing classes, because I’ve been using time to write and do homework assignments, so I’ve been lax.
But anyway…
The chapter I’m talking about today is Count with the Numbers you Find. Basically, it was to walk around and look for numbers in consecutive order- 1, 2, 3 etc…
Here’s the problem with doing that in New York City…it’s too easy. My area of Manhattan is basically a grid. North/south streets are numbered streets, east/west are numbered avenues. And guess what? They go in numerical order…
OK…I admit that in my particular neck of the woods there is no Fourth Ave. We go from third to Lex to Park to Madison to Fifth…but really…do you think it was hard to find a four? especially as I know there is an old sign on a building that says Fourth Avenue from before Park South existed?
I admit I like the orderliness of the grid. To be completely honest, I have lived/worked in the city for over thirty years and I still get lost in the village, where streets loop and cross at odd angles and it’s really easy to think you’re going west to find you are actually going south…
Perhaps I should have gone to the West Village to try the number thing. I fear that I probably would have gotten lost where West Fourth meets West Fourth…
But anyway…
Still recommend the book for anyone who seems a little creatively stuck…The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker
Waking up on the Wrong Side of 50 
Would this book work in a rural area or would we have to be creepy and snoop around people’s property to make it work? 😂
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You need to be able to walk and see things. The whole thing is to be able to spot things you may not have noticed before, so I’m guessing some things can be done in a rural area, except numbers. But, to your other point, I did one where I looked for half round windows and I wouldn’t take pictures of peoples homes, so I just looked and counted…
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It sounds like an interesting book. Yeah, I can understand how taking pictures of windows on peoples houses might not work out. Around here I’d probably end up with someone taking a picture of me and putting it on the online neighborhood watch page along with the teenagers with loud cars. Sounds like a fun book though.
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It does make me think and notice, so it’s fun when I remember to do it!
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It could be hard to find consecutive numbers here. My side of town has named roadways and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a house number that is consecutive in its format. Of course, now I feel challenged so I’ll be looking!
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I think a lot of places are like that. I think my neighborhood is unique in the regard…well…we’re unique in a lot of ways, but this might be the most logical uniqueness
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I see numbers more when they’re angel numbers [all the same] than consecutive ones, but this sounds like a new fun thing to do. Especially with license plates.
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It’s really fun if you’re not in a place where things go logically…😆
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The Art of Noticing, sound intriguing. After traveling with my kids I’m amazed at what they notice and I never saw, along with what I noticed and was missed by them. I like the idea LA, might have to pick up a copy! Hugs, C
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It’s really great for sparking creativity. It gives a new way of looking at things, which makes me think of different ways to write things…
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Love this, LA! I’ve not heard of the book but it sounds fab. I fall prey too easily to my own tunnel vision – being less aware than I should as I move about my day and the book sounds like it encourages exercise in that regard…I will check it out! xo! 😊
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It’s really made me look more. I like it. I just wish I remembered to do the exercise!!
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LOL – Maybe reading the book is the first ‘flex’ in the exercise? 😉
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😂
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Good thing I’m not in charge of naming roads. I’d go numerical but out of order just to really mess with people.
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😂
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I did buy the book and tried it for a few days out on my walks. Some of the things don’t work in our desert.
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I could see that. But maybe when you go to a town
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I like that you reminded me about the book. I set it aside.
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👍
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Okay, sounds interesting, because it’s a pet peeve of mine. We live in a world that doesn’t notice things, that’s become blinded to those around us. Thanks for passing along.
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👍👍
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Try this, on each east/west corner count the shops you haven’t been in. On the north/south corners, count your blessings.
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😉💗
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I think that is why I always loved living in NY as the avenues were so easy to a directionally challenged person, like I.
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That sounds like a really interesting book. Even if you don’t do every exercise, the mentality and thought processes the book espouses will probably become part of your thinking and habits 🙂
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Well said
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I’ve never heard of the book, but it sounds great. I’m going to give it a try.
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You’re a walker so you might appreciate it
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I might enjoy that book!
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I think you would like it! Good to get out of your head
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Right now inside my head is NOT a great place. Must have sleep soon!
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😉👍
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I live in an apartment block, so the numbers would be a far too easy win for me. But I do love the idea of walking and noticing.
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Me too!
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Awesome, and I totally get it, that’s too easy. What about looking for numbers spelled out, thats probably too easy too. Haha. When I am on a walk, I simply count, and when I do so, the other things I might be thinking about are sorta blocked, which allows me to be more present to my surroundings.
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Counting is on of my favorite coping mechanisms. It’s perfect
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