“Seeing is of course very much a matter of verbalization. Unless I call my attention to what passes before my eyes, I simply won’t see…. It’s all a matter of keeping my eyes open.”
- Annie Dillard
huh I don't think I usually relate to Dillard but there it is.
in context does she mean "Seeing is..." for her? I'm pretty sure it is *not* "very much a matter of verbalization" for everyone. for most people, I think, the verbalization is after the seeing. but I also really do not see what's there unless I call attention to to what's before my eyes by articulating it.

“The journal is the ideal place of refuge for the inner self because it constitutes a counterworld: a world to balance the other.”
- Joyce Carol Oates
oh I was misunderstanding that. I was liking the thought that when one takes notes, can experience it as a counter to oneself, as a talking to and with.
but she means, doesnt she, an inner world to balance the outer.
I was interested in a balancing of yourself ~ by yourself, when writing notes.
better name for the activity I mean? than "notes". hmm. am not thinking of one...

quotes in post Praise to journal keepers: by journal keepers, for journal keepers at Frederick Giasson’s Weblog: I keep many journals: Blogs, Moleskine notebooks, writings and highlightings in books. All these journals have their place; each try to cope with a specific task; all are priceless.