April Word of the Month!

While participating in the Seder the other night , we got side tracked (what a surprise!) in yet  another energetic discussion.
During the reading we came upon the word "observe".
It became obvious to me that this should be my 
April Word of the Month:
OBSERVE

verb

1. 1.
   notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.
2. 2.
   fulfill or comply with (a social, legal, ethical, or religious obligation).

As you can see there are 2 distinct and completely different uses of this word.
In our discussion over the word OBSERVE, even though the context in which we read it clearly pointed to the 2nd use, when the guests at our table were asked what the word meant every person's first response was the earlier use.
Interesting!
Am I an observant person or an observant person?
Do I simply watch and view ((observe) life  or do I participate in it fully?
Do I observe the laws,customs and traditions associated with Passover or do Iobserve?Am I observant of my religion or am I observant in it?
Can I be both?
I am not sure that the 2 uses are necessarily connected.
Each stands alone. I can perceive something as significant and leave it at that. I can participate in something fully even when it is not significant or I have not perceived it as important.
There is the little matter we call choice. 
I can observe a thing to be significant and choose to observe the actions that surround it.
Clearly the word significant is significant here!
To OBSERVE is a choice.
When I observe that choice becomes mine
Chew that over for a while . 
I have been for a few days and it's starting to hurt my brain!