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How often have we been somewhere and not really seen what we're looking at?
I was in a hotel, and took some pictures. At the time I was looking for something, but didn't know what. I found those pics tonight, and with some manipulation, I think they're pretty striking.
Today I was reminded of an experience I had when I was a child.
I grew up with my grandparents, and my grandmother was losing her sight, and was in and out of a wheelchair since she had broken both hips.
What I remember was one day I heard somewhere - on the TV or radio - that if you wanted to appreciate someone who was blind, and what they were going through, you should walk around with your eyes closed, or in some way unable able to see.
I couldn't have been more than eleven at the time. I don't remember if there was anything about not being able to walk, or about wheelchairs, but I remember, at one point wheeling around with her chair, and walking around with my eyes closed.
My grandmother caught me at one point, and was really upset. She didn't get why I was doing what I was doing. She told me that I should be grateful for my sight. I wish she could have realized that what I was doing was an exercise in appreciation, which could definitely translate into gratitude.
Instead, coming from her perspective which was a life severely limited by the changes in her body, she was angry and, I think defensive - somehow thinking I was mocking her.
I don't remember much about my childhood, but somehow I always remembered that.
It must have been the strong emotion conjured inside of me from the hurt my grandmother felt in her lack of understanding, coupled with my understanding of the intent of the person who made the suggestion.
I was reminded of this today when I saw the following video on YouTube. It is about dining in the dark. It is about how the other senses get fired up when the one that many of us depend on the most is unavailable.
The video is awesome in a few ways, because besides showing sighted people a thing or two to appreciate, it also shows how those who live with compromised sight, can function well enough to even be the wait staff.
If you have a couple of minutes, maybe you want to check it out. Maybe you'll find yourself with an interesting perspective to consider in the process. After all, perspective is appreciated the most when there are a few to choose from. Don't you enjoy the chocolate cake that much more when you choose it over the carrots? :-)
