Heads Up (The Friday Ficks S6 E34)

“Look left. Look right. Look up. Look down.”

These simple instructions from the doctor during my recent annual eye exam got me thinking about how much they transcend the medical world.

Years ago, when I was a young lawyer, I had a ritual after leaving court on fall Mondays: stop at McDonald’s, grab lunch and read the New York Times sports section for the weekend’s NFL highlights.

There were no smartphones in the late ’80s. No scrolling. No notifications. Your head wasn’t down. It was up. And because it was up, you noticed things.

One Monday, as I walked into McDonald’s, I watched a familiar maroon Monte Carlo pull into the drive-thru. I recognized it immediately. It belonged to a good friend whose car had been stolen months earlier.

Three things gave it away: he was not driving, his license plates were still on the car, and so was the UConn sticker on the back. I called the police from the restaurant’s landline. Minutes later, officers arrived, blocked the car and arrested the driver.

I wasn’t looking for a stolen car that day. I was looking for football scores. But my head was up and because it was, my friend got his car back.

Life is full of things worth noticing. A familiar face. A beautiful sunset. Someone who needs a hand. An opportunity you didn’t expect.

But you can’t notice what you’re not looking at.

So the next time you see a crosswalk sign that says “HEADS UP. NO PHONE ZONE,” take it as more than a safety reminder.

Look left. Look right. Look up. Look down.

Just look around.

You never know what you’ll see, or who might need you to notice.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl