While on a road trip recently, the following conversation emerged. “Look at those beautiful fields! The green is so full and lush. It looks so soft, and great to roll in!” Our eyes were capturing this image while we were at a distance, and moving by at our own speed.
And then we got closer…
The fields were full of green weeds with spots of hard dirt between them. Yes, the plants were green. However, our eyes and perception had deceived us. The environment was far from lush, soft and “roll-in-able”. No perfect summer meadow here!!
Our eyes see things in life through our own frame of reference and assumptions. We often look at others lives and say “Boy, they have it all. Their world is really great.”, “That persons’ life, work, relationship are really ideal”. Then we set about chastising ourselves for our life, or trying to get our world to match this vision we see of others–when we look at it from a distance, traveling at our own speed. Get what I’m saying here?
We are IN our lives. We see our dirt patches and weeds. We look at other peoples lives from a distance and often see soft fields and lush growth. Lets remember, these fields are often similar up close. So when we make assumptions and push ourselves toward a vision we created from a distance based on one sense (what we see), and assumption or comparison with others, we do not have the whole picture, and it can lead to being harsh with yourself, and disillusioned about others.
“objects in the mirror are closer than they appear” Does your car side mirror say that? Life at a distance is different than it appears—oh the tricks our eyes play!! What can you do to keep it real?
