Standing on the corner of Canal and Carondelet streets, I knew something must have happened on the St. Charles Streetcar line. I had been waiting for 45 very anxious minutes when four streetcars arrived at the same time, caravan-style.
Consequently, I arrived 20 minutes late for my Head & Neck Anatomy class at Loyola University. Darn it! But as frustrated as I was about that, I was even more annoyed that something was wrong with my eyes that day. As Dr. Levy lectured, I could not concentrate on what he was saying because everything he had written on the chalkboard was blurry. Later that day, I told my mother about it, and she joked that I needed to “get some new eyes.”
But My Mama Wasn’t Joking
I soon learned that my Mama wasn’t kidding because she told me to make an appointment for an eye examination. At the time, I did not think my eyes were the problem. Like most sleep-deprived college students, I assumed I needed more sleep to resolve my vision problem. Thus, I was unprepared for what the Optometrist said. I needed to wear glasses. WAIT, WHAT?? Hadn’t I been seeing as clearly as everyone else all those years?
What Happened To My 20/20 Vision?
Were they sure? I mean, Pearle Vision is a reputable company and all. Besides, I always bragged that I had a 20/20 vision. And now Pearle Vision was going to do me like that? The truth is, no eye health professional had ever told me that I had perfect vision. I just assumed that I did and created that narrative because I had never worn eyeglasses, but I believed it.
At The Front Of The Class
I was always eager to learn. So I sat at the front of the class throughout my schooling. Regardless, when I arrived late to Dr. Levy’s class that day, there were no seats close to the board, so I had to sit in the back of the room. To be clear, Monroe Hall did not have theater-sized classrooms. On the contrary, those rooms were about the same size as the classrooms I had known throughout my school days.
Look at how the students in the photo below sit close to the chalkboard. That was how I always did it, too.
I Had Been Missing Out And Didn’t Know It
Two weeks later, I put on my new eyeglasses for the first time, and suddenly the outlines of everything were sharp! I remember saying to the Optometrist, “WOW!” Everything is so clear!” I was in shock. Or, as the young people say these days, I was SHOOK! LOL!
Good vision is essential to getting the best from our experiences. But a person could have 20/20 eyesight physically speaking but lack good insight into their life’s path. Thus, if you are dealing with blurred lines concerning your personal, business, or even family challenges, let me suggest some things that might help.
1. Lean In
Lean closer. Do you ever keep a distance from some situations because you don’t want to confront the truth? If so, it could mean that you’re pretending everything is okay when it is not. If you get a closer look, you will have to respond to some things. Still, I am asking you to muster up the courage to get closer.
You Might Help Someone If You Get Closer
Like me, you might be shocked at what you see after you move closer to the problem or until your “vision” gets corrected. Maybe someone has been trying to get you to see some things, but you have been too distant. Get closer to what’s on the chalkboard of your life and on the lives of those you love.
2. Pray For New “Eyes”
I am thinking of a story in the Bible about a man they called Blind Bartimaeus. We can be as blind as Bartimaeus was before Jesus gave him a new vision.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” – Mark 10:51 (The Bible)
How Bad Do You Want To See?
I just wanted to ask you, do you want to see your situation more clearly, but cannot? Perhaps, you should do like Blind Bartimaeus and ask a higher power to fix your vision. Ask for insight and wisdom to see your situation in ALL its truth and not only the things you choose to see while ignoring the rest of what’s there.
Likewise, wouldn’t you tell your doctor the truth about your symptoms? That way, they can see what’s happening and create the proper treatment plan for you.
3. Put Some Distance There
On the other hand, you might need to distance yourself from your problem. Stepping away might allow you to return to it with fresh eyes, meaning a new mind.
My eyeglasses prescription corrects my near-sightedness. On the contrary, you may be far-sighted, meaning you lose focus when you are too close to something. Hence, it would be best if you held things farther away from your eyes to get a better look. I suggest you pull back a little and see if that helps you better understand your situation.
Physical Distance, Emotional Distance, or Both?
To clarify, when I say “distance,” it could mean physical distance where you might have to move away from your dilemma. That could mean taking a trip or moving away permanently. It could also simply mean spending a day just walking around your city to air your thoughts.
Additionally, it could imply putting some emotional distance in place. Please stop talking about it. Do something that brings you joy: music, art, or a new hobby. You could also meditate or do any number of things that would give your mind a much-needed emotional break!
4. Stop Being Too Busy Being Busy
Have you ever been too busy to notice things? I have lived in my current home for about five years, and it wasn’t until the pandemic forced me to slow down that I saw something. The leaves on a massive dogwood tree directly across from my home turn a brilliant red color only days before they fall to the ground for the winter season. I thought, When did that tree get there? I felt silly even asking the question. Of course, the tree had been there long before I moved to this home, but I was just too busy to notice it.
Still Bodies But Overactive Minds
The pandemic has made some of us slow down physically, but some of you may still be busybodies, mentally speaking. We are good at occupying our minds with useless things that disconnect us. We are pros at keeping our minds in overdrive, but there are great benefits in slowing it down.
I will write about the practice of Mindfulness in another article. Practicing Mindfulness has allowed me to notice many things I had been too mentally busy to see. Again, it’s like that tree that sits across the street from my front door. Now, I know how to train my mind to “see” many things deliberately.
5. Ask a Trusted Friend To Lend You Their Eyes
Sometimes, we need a different mindset when too emotionally attached to our issue. When we are emoting, we cannot think clearly. That can blur what is evident to someone outside your situation’s emotional realm. That would be a perfect time to get the perspective of someone who isn’t emotionally blinded by the problem.
Others Aren’t Smarter, But They May Have A Better Angle
Therefore, whether you seek the advice of a trusted friend, a therapist, or a clergyperson, they are most likely to have a better view than you. Just know that it is not because they are more intelligent than you are. No, it is because they are not as emotionally charged as you, if at all. They don’t have any emotional clutter preventing them from seeing things from a different angle. Others could be a great help to you if you allow them. That does not mean you should tell your business to everyone you think is “nice.” No. Wait a long minute, and then choose your people wisely.
6. Accept That Things Change
Sometimes, we want to hold on to old ways of seeing things just because it is familiar. You can take me, for instance. Since my first thorough eye exam, I have had to see the Optometrist for annual vision checks. Sometimes my prescription did not need to be changed, and other times, it only changed slightly. Although my visual change was gradual, it was still evolving. So, keep checking your “vision” of your life because people change, and circumstances change. Accept that you may even need to change how you look at something.
Don’t Try To Stop The Clock
Hence, I’m encouraging you to accept that how you looked at things 20, 30, or even five years ago may not serve you well today. You are not the same individual. The people in your life are not the same individuals because they have also changed. So, get over yourself. You cannot freeze people and make them what they were many years ago. So, get over yourself. You cannot freeze people and make them what they were many years ago. Things are not supposed to always revolve around you. Besides, the entire world has changed. So, be willing to adjust your mindset to see things as they are and not how you want them to be.
7. Time To Get A Check Up From The Neck Up
In what situation might you need new eyes? What is there versus what you think you see or wish were there? Are you like me, who thought I saw clearly but had impaired vision the entire time?
Are You In Denial? Being Judgmental? Are You Lying To Yourself?
Perhaps, it is a relationship that you think is beneficial when it is sucking the life from you by emotional asphyxiation. Or is it that loved one you think is on a direct path to hell? What if that person might be on the right track, after all? Could you have just been impatient and judgmental towards that individual? Hmmm. Check your vision and get yourself some “new eyes.”
When Things And People Do Not Change
Are your colleagues making your workdays seemingly unbearable? Well, you could adjust the way you look at the situation. That would relieve your stress while you are waiting for things to change. It can also give you tremendous peace of mind when things don’t change. Accept that as a genuine possibility, too. The people and things you want to change may never do so, so don’t hold your breath.
8. Get Wisdom. Become Enlightened
In closing, please don’t continue to suffer from blurred vision. Listen to your heart. Listen to the hearts of those who might be in trouble because of your near-sightedness or your far-sightedness. If things look a bit hazy, do what my Mama told me to do those years ago. Make an “appointment” and “get some new eyes.”
I wish you and yours all the best!
Feel free to leave me your comments and or questions below. I promise that I will read them all!
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