The Louvre, an Amazon Locker, and the Art of Paying Attention

A couple of weeks ago, right before leaving for vacation, I realized I desperately needed a portable phone charger. Enter Amazon Prime. I placed an order expecting it to arrive by drone, satellite, or whatever fast magic they use these days, as long as it landed in my hands within twenty-four hours.

In my huge rush to finish everything, I chose my pickup point: Carrousel du Louvre. I had no idea Amazon even had lockers under the Louvre museum, but I was in a hurry, so I clicked confirm.

The next day, running around trying to pack, I headed over to pick it up. Since I didn't know where the lockers were, I found myself walking in complete circles. Feeling a bit silly, I kept asking myself: “What on earth made me order a phone charger to the Louvre?!”

I asked myself that question three times before the reality hit me like a splash of cold water.

Here I was, on a super hot 35-degree day in August, stepping into a cool, air-conditioned space. I was surrounded by people who had traveled thousands of miles and spent serious money just to spend a few hours in my city, standing inside one of the most magnificent, iconic museums in human history. And my biggest grievance? That I had the privilege of getting slightly lost running in circles inside it.

That was the moment I realized what it actually means to take something for granted.

When we get used to something, the magic wears off. And when the magic wears off, we stop paying attention, the interest fades away along with the novelty. We stop seeing how wonderful things are right in front of us. We accept this loss of interest as normal, and without realizing it, we let the blessing become background noise.

Possession in this world means nothing, because no one actually owns anything forever. We are just holding onto things and people for a short time. That is why thankfulness and gratitude are everything.

It means choosing to appreciate people while they are in our lives, instead of waiting until they leave. It means enjoying our work, even with its daily challenges. It means looking around the city where you live, or taking public transit on your busy commute, and remembering how lucky you are to be there.

Yes, living a full life comes with costs, stress, frustration, and busy days. But the stress should never wipe out the blessing. The noise should never silence our thankfulness.

So pay attention to what is happening around you. Put your phone down sometimes. Take out your earbuds, step out of your own head, and just look around.

I know I have missed out on precious opportunities because I was tuned out. And I’ve watched people right next to me miss out on opportunities that were staring them in the face, simply because they couldn't or chose not to notice.

Don't let life pass you by on autopilot. Pay the compliment when you feel it. Share the insight when it strikes. Be honest when it comes from a warm heart, not just when it comes from frustration.

Gratitude simply means living with your eyes wide open. It means choosing to see how much good is given to us every day. Too often, we only realize what we had after it is gone, because losing something wakes us up fast. But once something is gone, it might be gone forever.

Let’s remember to appreciate what we have before it is gone, because eventually, everything passes. Let this be a soft whisper in your ear today: say thank you for now, and treasure the beauty for whatever comes next.

So why wait until we lose something to start appreciating it?

A Question for Your Path Forward

Where in your life have you stopped noticing the beauty because you are so used to it?

What blessings, people, or achievements have quietly become background noise in your daily routine?

Reclaiming your appreciation, and choosing to live with your eyes wide open, is something you can practice every day. If you feel like you are living on autopilot and want to reconnect with joy, clarity, and true gratitude for where you are today, I invite you to reach out.

Together in coaching, we create a warm, comfortable space to help you slow down, see what truly matters, and live your life with presence and peace.

Let’s Connect & Begin →