Herb is my neighbor and I've noticed that his car is missing for each of the past three Sundays. Not one to get up early on a weekday, I put two and two together and realize that he's gone fishing. Not an expert in marine science, I then wonder if the fish are more hungry on a Sunday.

But I digress...

This is interesting to me. A friend taking time to do something that matters to him. No fanfair. No big announcement. Just something he does.

This happens at work all of the time. You pass a teacher in the hallway who is especially chipper... or blue ... or stressed. This is life after all and teachers and school folks are hardly immune to the heaviness of life. School leaders too.

It's a Sunday in July as I'm writing this. I'm on the porch and noticing the birds outside. Very loud today. The sun is kissing a large ornamental grass by the front walkway and some perrenials are about to explode with color by the driveway. I'm noticing things.

Mornings seem like a more clear time to "see" than at other times but maybe that's just me.

What are you noticing? It may be at work with folks heading off for vacation or kids "reporting for duty" at summer school. Or, it may be when you get home after a long day and your wife isn't smiling because something's gone wrong during the day. Notice these things. Take a short, subtle inventory in your mind.

Noticing takes time. It takes humility. It should, ideally, nudge us to action of some kind. This might be a note in someone's mailbox to encourage them or picking up the phone to tell someone you care about them. Something like that but in your own way and for (and with) your people.

What are you noticing today? How will it nudge you to greater leadership, attentiveness and action?