Staying in a motel, the alarm clock in the neighboring room goes off. There is no one in the room and it doesn’t turn itself off, even hours later.

At first it irritates me but after awhile it disappears into the background and I only occasionally even notice it. I’m able to go about my business with the alarm furiously going off and it doesn’t even bother me.

An alarm is supposed to get your attention so you can respond. This one, though not mine, failed.

This got me to thinking.

I’ve been so busy that I’ve not been able to hear the alarm clocks going off around me. Oh, I heard them but, like my little alarm buddy in the next room, I got used to them and their insistent “alarming” faded into the background.

We all do this. I suppose the difference is if we take the time to do something about it, to “reset” our awareness.

That has become my top priority.