Do you ever focus your complete attention on movements that you normally make automatically and unconsciously?

You turn a doorknob and flip on a light switch. You push back a lock of your hair. You butter the toast, you twist off a cap, you walk across the room and open the refrigerator door. You turn your car into your driveway and park. You scratch an itch.

Unless you’re a student of Zen practice, you probably don’t think about these tiny, insignificant routine actions when you perform them. Or do you?

If you do, what do you think? Does your awareness change anything? Do you ever feel amazement and gratitude? Does consciousness impede you? Or do you just take it all for granted without a thought?

Tags as I wrote them: consciousness, awareness, Zen, mobility, motor skills, what we take for granted.