I am sharing the poem that sang through my heart this morning before my last classes.
Choosing to focus on compassion brings gifts.
This morning, I realized the gift of myopia (nearsightedness)…
As a child, I couldn’t see the sharp boundaries that separated one thing from another.
I could only see the way things blended together at the margins of their physical beings.
Now I realize the power of learning to see the world through that perspective.
At 8, I got powerful lenses that helped me see that leaves on tress were distinct and separate
not a massive cotton-ball sitting on top of their trunk.
Yet I can’t go back and unsee their connections –
-
- to each other,
- to the tree trunk,
- to the earth that gives the tree footing and sustenance,
- to the sky that is above and surrounds them,
- to the winds that sometimes caress and whisper through them, and other times ravage the branches they cling to tenaciously,
- to the birds and squirrels that seek connection and sanctuary amid a leafy home,
- and to those who take time to observe them with wonder and gratitude.
Sometimes the things others call deficiencies
turn out to be among our most precious gifts
if we are fortunate enough to be able to overcome the limitation they may impose.
My childhood was not easy. It forced me to find inner strengths to survive…
*
*
I hope you are able to remember how you learned to see the world as a child.
Voices from the Margins 
Lovely thought and gorgeous photo.
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Diane. I am so grateful to hear from you. The news from California often makes me worry about the safety of the friends who live there. Sending my best wishes and gratitude to you and Lola, 💜
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A wonderful reflection…and reminder. 💖
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Carrie. Sending my best wishes to you, dear friend. 💜
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I learned to see the world through books and through several adults in my life. Grateful!
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Such delightful childhood memories about how you learned to see the world, Bette! Thank you so much for sharing these. 💜
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Beautiful guiding words leading one to gratitude. Thanks for sharing dear friend.
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It’s such a delight to hear from you, dear brother in spirit. Thank you so much for your kind and love comments. Sending my best wishes to you. 💜
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I’ve often thought of what would I do if I didn’t have hands, or couldn’t walk, or see and those thoughts always lead to gratitude and creativity. Thanks for sharing such sweet reflections. Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, safe holiday season and a wonderful new year.
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Thank you for sharing such important reflections about being grateful, Skywalker. We do take so many things for granted. I may have already shared a story with you about a young man who spoke at a conference I attended many years ago. He was seriously injured in an accident and became paraplegic as a result. He used his experiences as an inspirational speaker advising people to realize that we are all temporarily able-bodied. I am often grateful for his message. I know it’s something you realize everyday in your work with elders.
Sending my best wishes to you, too, dear friend. 💜
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A lovely and thought-provoking reflection, dear Carol Thank you. I’m just dropping by to send blessings of peace and hope at Christmastime. Happy Christmas, my friend.💜💙
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments and kindness, dear Izzy. Sending blessings to you as well, dear friend. May to spirit of joy and peace and wonder be with you and fill the world this holiday season and through the years to come. 💜
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Bless you, dear Carol 💙 May the Light of Christmas Hope illuminate your path for the coming year 💙
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💜
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