Pay attention.

What do you mean by paying? And does giving attention differ from paying attention? And what if it's stolen, not paid, not given?

Attention is the torch you carry in a dark storage room. Wherever you point it, that thing gets the spotlight.

Everyone wants your torch pointed at them.

And they beg, borrow, steal their way to getting it.

Where do you want to give your attention? And if you're paying it, what are you getting in return? And how do you keep it from being stolen?