Life Runs on Attention—Are You Paying Enough?

Life is about attention.

The first thing you learn about parenting is attention. From the very first second, a child craves attention. It is an evolutionary need for an offspring to seek attention because it is imperative for its survival.

A human child is 200% dependent on its parents or caretakers. As a result, parents must constantly observe their young ones for any signs of need or discomfort.

But does this basic need for attention truly disappear as we grow older?

Call it what you may, no matter how much money or technology we accumulate, community and human support remain vital to our happiness.

Humans may be able to survive with machines, but thriving, that is,building meaningful lives, requires connection.

And yet, there’s a separate discussion to be had about whether a life that is merely survived is worth living.

The need for attention evolves as we age. Its forms change, but the fundamental need to feel seen, heard, and cared for remains the same. However, as a community, we often fail to recognize the importance of attention, both in giving and receiving it.

Three cheers for self-reliance and independence, but to what extent?

To the extent that we isolate ourselves, believing we are above the need for community?

Or to the point where we feel outcast, unable to integrate with those around us?

Life, in many ways, is where the attention is. A person’s well-being, a business’s success, or a community’s strength often depends on whether and where problems are being attended to.

But this raises deeper questions: how are we as individuals and as a society distributing our attention?

Are we prioritizing what matters most, or are we leaving essential needs unattended while focusing on trivialities?

The act of paying attention is a profound one. It demands presence, empathy, and action.

As a community, we must learn to share the load. If one person struggles to carry their burdens alone, others who are more capable can step in to help. This collective attention can transform lives, strengthen relationships, and foster a sense of belonging.

But the first step is recognizing the importance of attention—to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.