Seeing my world is definitely one pleasure I am so thankful for! When I was 12 years old I started having trouble seeing the writing on the blackboard in school. Since I always sat at the front of the class anyway, I didn’t notice the insidious changes of nearsightedness.
Soon the front row seat stopped helping me see the board clearly. Squinting my eyes to focus on the teacher’s writing was futile and tiring. So I had my first real eye exam and found that I needed glasses for nearsightedness.
How badly I needed them was not “clear” even to me until I put my first new pair of glasses on. I was sitting across a small table, maybe 2 feet wide, from the man who adjusted my new, pale blue, plastic glasses frame to fit my face and ears. The first thing I said was, “I can see the hairs on your arms!!” (Where had they been all my life?)
Then when I walked out of the store’s door, I still remember looking at the trees and seeing individual leaves and branches. Everything was clear and bright and so beautiful!! How had I missed all of this and not realized it? Evidently the changes in my vision were so gradual that I hadn’t “seen” the difference. Everything around me became new and more beautiful.
Years later, sometimes I would take my glasses off and look at the trees’ leaves just to remind myself of how the world had once looked through nearsighted eyes. Then as I put my glasses back on I almost cried at what a difference they made in my vision when all of the beauty was suddenly brought into focus. I was given a new view of my world, thanks to those glasses!!
Even now, over sixty years later, I enjoy observing my surroundings. That started me thinking about how easy it is to get caught up in our busy lives and neglect to pause and look, to “put on our glasses,” and really see what is there in front of us.
Sometimes when you have to wait for someone or an event, take a look around you and see what you might not have noticed before. If you are waiting at a long, stoplight, carefully look around you at the scenery, the people, the sidewalk, or even a building; you might be surprised at what you see. You may even see someone looking at you waiting for a smile or a wave. You will be less bored and much more appreciative of your world through noticing the sights you didn’t notice before.
Now that we have cell phones with a clock, calendar, schedule, maps, information, texts, messages, photos, social media, and even a flash light, it is easy to sneak a peek at our phones at the stop lights, thus making ourselves “nearsighted.” But if we use those moments at the crossroads and look around us we may be amazed at what beauty is right in front of us..
When we are walking around shopping, exercising, or even sitting on our porches, it can be a wonderful experience to see things through all of our senses; to feel, smell, hear, and really see what there is in our lives that we have been missing. We can be isolating our senses from a wealth of sensations.
As a photographer I sometimes see things in a different light, or a series of objects, or often a rather unusual sight! Now I get to share some beautiful sights through my photography with my friends. The first picture I took while stopped at a light; I was shocked to see a hawk on the side of the road.
I remain thankful for my corrected vision and my glasses. The pleasure of seeing and enjoying the beauty of the easily neglected sights often reminds me to pay attention to my environment.
There are many amazing things in this world to be awed and inspired by. Some sights or photos remind us that things will get better. Others encourage us to make it through the hard times by reminding us that there are beauty and inspirations around us if we look for them.
Sometimes just bringing a little smile to someone’s face may help them remember they are not alone. That is what I like to try to do. So here are some photos for your viewing pleasure. Take a look and see.
joyful2beeblogs 
Eye opening story. How super fantastic to get glasses due to near-sightedness when you were young, then now being a photographer. It’s almost like your appreciation grew to the point of wanting to share your visual perspective with the world. Huge!
I especially like the hawk on the sidewalk. And I think the building is pointing outwards. If it upwards, I’m cool with that vantage point as well.
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So glad that you liked my story and photos. I will have to share the story of how I rescued a red tailed Hawk soon!! Unfortunately I didn’t have time to photograph him. The corner was taken from inside looking at an outward corner. Thank you!!
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I had a similar experience when I was 12! After I got my glasses, I was amazed at the details that I saw and that the moon really didn’t have a ring around it! Now I find myself struggling with my vision again as, even with bifocals, it’s getting harder and harder to read small print. What’s that all about??
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It’s called getting older whether we want to or not. I feel your pain. We’re all in this aging thing together. Sort of. Lol
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I remember being so jealous of friends who wore glasses in elementary school…there was a certain ritual to them, and many of them were those large, blue-framed variety. Your post, and pics made me smile, and reminded me of the MIL, who had laser surgery and could see the dust on her furniture for the first time ! Blessing and curse ??
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That would be one time I would say, “Ignorance is bliss.” LOL. Thank you for commenting.
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Isn’t it nice to just take a moment and enjoy all the beauty around us? Life goes by so fast and taking in those moments are so special.
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Yes they are like a lifetime in a few minutes sometimes and too precious to miss.
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I had the same experience with glasses as a child. One of the nuns at my school sent a note home to my mom to get an eye exam. I have always wished I had perfect eyesight! Taking the time to see what’s in front of us is important.
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I hope that children with nearsightedness are diagnosed much earlier than it was when we were kids. Thank you for commenting, Thank you for your comments and interest.
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I think they are. I see really young kids with glasses.
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Glad eye Care has advanced so much since we were kids.
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I enjoyed the photos and what a good post…putting things into perspective!
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Thank you, Anne Leueen! I really appreciate your support and comments. Perspective is important on so many levels.
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This is a really sweet story and it’s so true. Often, when we complain about glasses we forget what makes them wonderful. So thank you for writing this eye opening story.
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Thank you for your comments. I am thankful or my eyesight and just as thankful for the glasses. Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians make life more beautiful!!
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what a wonderful story, and i did not get glasses until i was an adult, then saw how many things i was missing. love your positive post!
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Thank you Beth. Things got stranger when I developed presbyopia which meant I needed bifocals to read! But I was thankful for them for sure.
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I so understand
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I am so very thankful for my glasses too!
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I know the feeling! Thanks for sharing this with me!
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Great story. It is wonderful that we can have glasses if needed to see all the beauty around us. I enjoy your blog so much. We seem to have a lot in common when it comes to things we enjoy.
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I agree, Mags! We are both probably in the same age bracket too, which gives us even more in common. Thank you so much for reading these posts.
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❤ glasses changed my life for the better
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I know what you mean.I sometimes wish people could wear glasses and see the people they know or love better. Thanks,Beth.
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