It's hard to imagine what the world looks like through the eyes of others. I'm not saying that when we look at the sky we don't all see blue. What I mean, is truly looking at the world through someone else's eyes. As I wait in line at the grocery store I look into the eyes of the elderly woman in front of me and I wonder, "what has her life been like. Who is she really behind those faded blue eyes and grey hair perhaps once the colour of sweet dark chocolate?" I try to imagine how her eyes see the world. She has lived through so many changes and has had to adapt. Does she see the world as being more beautiful, the people kinder? Does she view technology as something necessary to keep our world, our lives, in motion? Perhaps she does not give these things a second thought. She may be indifferent and accepts the changes as she continues to move through the final years of her life. Or, does she look at her past decades especially her youth, viewing the world as simpler, more innocent and happier. While at home does she embrace the music and fashion trends of today, complimenting her grandchildren on their clothes and spending time trying to understand and appreciate their music and methods of communication? Or, does she sit by her window looking through pictures of friends and family of days gone by? Those pictures in black and white but in her mind everything is remembered in colour. When looking at the pictures, she may recall how beautiful the floral print of her favourite skirt was and how good she felt about herself in her full piece modest bathing suit. Does she play "her" music. The music she grew up with? The music that reminds her of her first kiss, her first dance or maybe her wedding. Is she saddened by those images, thoughts and feelings or is she thankful for them, cherishes them but leaves them in the past to live and enjoy the present? As I walk along the street I see a young man, sitting against a cold brick building. Tattered coat and discarded blankets covering his frail body. His dog is sleeping beside him, curled in a tight little ball to keep warm. How does this man view our world? What has brought him to this unforgiving resting spot on the street? I'm sure his view of the world is very different then my view or that of the aging woman. Maybe he sees the world as cold and cruel. It's people and his fellow man as being harsh and judgemental. Perhaps he doesn't look at the architecture for its beauty, but instead solely as a place that may offer protection from the elements. The only music he may hear is that coming from the cars as they pass by him, oblivious to his existence. So, for him music may be meaningless. For him, technology, cell phones and computers maybe a detriment to society. The society in which he lives in, his own personal world. Does he think to himself, "how unjust is this world. Teenagers are scouring the stores for the newest technology and here I am, a young man only asking for a warm drink, some food for my dog and a place to rest my aching body". His perception of the world through his eyes is one of selfishness, greed and ignorance. Or is it? Inspite of what we view as hardship and sadness he may view as peaceful and solace. He may not want "frivolous" items. He is happy living his life. His dog is his best friend and there are others that live like him and who enjoy each other's company. His music, the birds, are comforting and he feels closer to nature, the world and the beginnings of mankind A woman sits next to me on the bus and on her lap is a toddler, perhaps 2 or 3. His eyes wide and round and sparkling. They dart around the bus looking from person to person, occasionally stopping to stare at someone and wrinkling his little forehead. What about that person has caught his attention and has him so deep in thought? He must view the world as wide and vast and ready for exploration. His mom is loving, kind and gentle and so must be the rest of the world. Perhaps he touches his moms skin and feels soothed by its softness or snuggles into her chest and feels secure by her warmth. Maybe, when he looks around he views all people this way. At home he may have a pet. A cat whose fur tickles his face and whose purr soothes him to sleep. Yes, in his little mind all is perfect and right in the world. But that is what I see when I look at him through my eyes. Maybe his world is not so friendly. His mother, not hurtful, but distracted. Her hands are cold and sends shivers down his chubby little arms. His mothers face is not one who smiles at him. Her eyes are tired, her face is pale and her lips are turned downward in sadness. So, in his just newly started life, does he see the world as unhappy, colourless and solemn. When he stops to study a strangers face, is it because that face is what's familiar to him, sadness, coldness and uncaring? And maybe there is no cat or dog or any furry companion of any kind at home, so to him these creatures are scary. Perhaps dangerous. We don't know what the world looks like through his eyes or how his world will mould this innocent being. I am home. I've have seen so much today and my mind jumps from the elderly woman, to the homeless man and finally to the toddler. All day I have asked myself the same question about each of these people,"how do they see the world thru their eyes?" You may say the answer is simple, "just ask them what they see through their eyes" but asking people this question doesn't allow us to see the world through their eyes. All it does is allow us to see their world through our own eyes.
It's hard to imagine what the world looks like through the eyes of others. I'm not saying that when we look at the sky we don't all see blue. What I mean, is truly looking at the world through someone else's eyes. As I wait in line at the grocery store I look into the eyes of the elderly woman in front of me and I wonder, "what has her life been like. Who is she really behind those faded blue eyes and grey hair perhaps once the colour of sweet dark chocolate?" I try to imagine how her eyes see the world. She has lived through so many changes and has had to adapt. Does she see the world as being more beautiful, the people kinder? Does she view technology as something necessary to keep our world, our lives, in motion? Perhaps she does not give these things a second thought. She may be indifferent and accepts the changes as she continues to move through the final years of her life. Or, does she look at her past decades especially her youth, viewing the world as simpler, more innocent and happier. While at home does she embrace the music and fashion trends of today, complimenting her grandchildren on their clothes and spending time trying to understand and appreciate their music and methods of communication? Or, does she sit by her window looking through pictures of friends and family of days gone by? Those pictures in black and white but in her mind everything is remembered in colour. When looking at the pictures, she may recall how beautiful the floral print of her favourite skirt was and how good she felt about herself in her full piece modest bathing suit. Does she play "her" music. The music she grew up with? The music that reminds her of her first kiss, her first dance or maybe her wedding. Is she saddened by those images, thoughts and feelings or is she thankful for them, cherishes them but leaves them in the past to live and enjoy the present? As I walk along the street I see a young man, sitting against a cold brick building. Tattered coat and discarded blankets covering his frail body. His dog is sleeping beside him, curled in a tight little ball to keep warm. How does this man view our world? What has brought him to this unforgiving resting spot on the street? I'm sure his view of the world is very different then my view or that of the aging woman. Maybe he sees the world as cold and cruel. It's people and his fellow man as being harsh and judgemental. Perhaps he doesn't look at the architecture for its beauty, but instead solely as a place that may offer protection from the elements. The only music he may hear is that coming from the cars as they pass by him, oblivious to his existence. So, for him music may be meaningless. For him, technology, cell phones and computers maybe a detriment to society. The society in which he lives in, his own personal world. Does he think to himself, "how unjust is this world. Teenagers are scouring the stores for the newest technology and here I am, a young man only asking for a warm drink, some food for my dog and a place to rest my aching body". His perception of the world through his eyes is one of selfishness, greed and ignorance. Or is it? Inspite of what we view as hardship and sadness he may view as peaceful and solace. He may not want "frivolous" items. He is happy living his life. His dog is his best friend and there are others that live like him and who enjoy each other's company. His music, the birds, are comforting and he feels closer to nature, the world and the beginnings of mankind A woman sits next to me on the bus and on her lap is a toddler, perhaps 2 or 3. His eyes wide and round and sparkling. They dart around the bus looking from person to person, occasionally stopping to stare at someone and wrinkling his little forehead. What about that person has caught his attention and has him so deep in thought? He must view the world as wide and vast and ready for exploration. His mom is loving, kind and gentle and so must be the rest of the world. Perhaps he touches his moms skin and feels soothed by its softness or snuggles into her chest and feels secure by her warmth. Maybe, when he looks around he views all people this way. At home he may have a pet. A cat whose fur tickles his face and whose purr soothes him to sleep. Yes, in his little mind all is perfect and right in the world. But that is what I see when I look at him through my eyes. Maybe his world is not so friendly. His mother, not hurtful, but distracted. Her hands are cold and sends shivers down his chubby little arms. His mothers face is not one who smiles at him. Her eyes are tired, her face is pale and her lips are turned downward in sadness. So, in his just newly started life, does he see the world as unhappy, colourless and solemn. When he stops to study a strangers face, is it because that face is what's familiar to him, sadness, coldness and uncaring? And maybe there is no cat or dog or any furry companion of any kind at home, so to him these creatures are scary. Perhaps dangerous. We don't know what the world looks like through his eyes or how his world will mould this innocent being. I am home. I've have seen so much today and my mind jumps from the elderly woman, to the homeless man and finally to the toddler. All day I have asked myself the same question about each of these people,"how do they see the world thru their eyes?"
You may say the answer is simple, "just ask them what they see through their eyes" but asking people this question doesn't allow us to see the world through their eyes. All it does is allow us to see their world through our own eyes.