As I spend time in Central Park each day, I have seen the same trees and landscapes over many years now.  Recently, I have found myself paying particular attention to the details of each tree, and noticing how individual they are.  Even trees of the same species have pronounced differences in how they shape themselves as they grow.  As this awareness has deepened in me, I have enjoyed my walks even more, because I can appreciate the uniqueness and individual beauty of each tree I encounter and this deepens my pleasure in seeing and sensing into them.

All this got me to thinking about how Nature seeks diversity, how ecosystems that are healthiest are those that have the most diversity in them.  Nature seems to like difference, and to generate it wherever and whenever possible.  This also got me to thinking about how we humans engage difference.  So often, we seem to be afraid of things that are not the same as we are, and diversity often seems to generate tension and wariness instead of interest and curiosity.

And so, for this week's experiment, I invite you to pay attention to differences, to the diversity that exists all around you.  Notice what it's like when you take the time to notice the differences in whatever trees might be around you - their individuality and unique characteristics.  If you grow a garden - flower or vegetable - notice the distinctions between different plants of the same species, and notice the diversity when there are many different varieties of plants.  Take time to be even more aware of what makes each plant distinct, and of the characteristics you enjoy the most in each.  If you have house plants, notice the different qualities in each of them, the different feelings you have as you engage each one as a unique individual, different from all the others in some way or another. 

If you are around animals, take time to notice the individuality of them, even the non-domesticated animals you encounter outdoors.  There is diversity among them, as well, even if they all seem to look the same.  If you live with, or encounter, domesticated animals like cats, dogs, horses or birds, for example, take time to be curious about what it is that makes them different from one another, even when - on first glance - it appears that they look the same.

In addition, notice the differences and diversity in the people around you and play with what it's like to notice those distinctions as positive evidence that Nature is doing what it seems to like best - creating the diversity that makes our species, as a whole, healthier and more resilient.  Notice the places where you run into fear in yourself, or unease with difference, and notice the places where you discover a delightful curiosity and interest when you find yourself in the company of someone who isn't like you.  The world has become small enough, now, that most of us have ample opportunities to experience people who are different from oursevles and who give us an opportunity to celebrate Nature's tendency toward diversity.

This experiment is an invitation to deepen your sense of the world around you, to discover delight in differences, and to experience the felt-sense of that discovery as you notice the particular qualities, shapes, colors and essence each individual being you encounter expresses through its presence.  As with all the experiments, be sure to allow any judgments you may have - of yourself and others - to arise, move through, and move on without your having to either push them away or feed them in any way.  Remember, it's in our nature to judge and the key thing is the relationship we have with these spontaneously-emerging thoughts and reactions.  And, the companionship of curiosity helps to counter judgment, as it automatically opens us to new experiences and discoveries.  It has been my experience that noticing and appreciating differences and diversity has enriched my everyday life.  I hope it will do the same for you.