TUNNEL VISION

Tunnel Vision

Tunnel vision : defective sight in which objects cannot be properly seen if not close to the center of the field of view.

(Informal definition : the tendency to focus exclusively on a single or limited goal or point of view)

Do you have tunnel vision?

I asked “what is the most beautiful thing in the world to you?” Someone responded with Human connection

Let’s think back to a time when a stranger said or did something nice for you. How did you feel? Did you tell anyone about it?

LAST WEEK

I was in oregon and my friend and I pulled off to this diner for breakfast. When we were done, the waitress told us our meal had been payed for. A stranger, someone I will never see again, did something for me that i will never forget.

2 YEARS AGO

My mom and I are in the car. Most of you have never met my mom. She got abused as a kid. She was homeless for a little as a teenager. We were talking and she said,

“Paige, you never know what just a smile or a ‘hi’ did for me. When people actually treated me as a human being”

I was always taught to be nice to strangers and be friends, but in that moment promised myself I would be even better at it. I would not judge. It takes no effort on my part to make someone’s day better.

We are so stuck in out problems. We are so caught up with social media and trends. We think people care more about us than they actually do.

I like to think of it like this:

We are all stuck on this planet. No one really knows how we got here but we are all just trying to live our lives and get through the days. Why don’t we talk to each other and all be friends with each other? Why is it normal to pass by people and put your heads down and not say anything? Why do people look at you surprised when you say hi to them?

You know when you have that friend that you found out went through some terrible or hard things. Then, someone talks bad about them and you respond with “well you don’t know what they’ve been through” or “they’ve been through a lot” We need to have that mindset with everyone.

Here’s some news, you’re not special.

You are not the only one going through that. I’m not the only person with a dead mom. My mom hasn’t been the only kid to be abused. We have to get outside of ourselves and be more compassionate. There is so much oppportunity to connect. There’s been so much more my mom has gone through. Yet she was still able to say, “yes it was bad but it could be worse.” She could still feel bad or mourn with me when “small” things happened to me.

Last week I did a project ‘What is the Most Beautiful Thing in the World?’

This week, I recognize not everyone may be able to see the beauty in things. So, this is my apology letter on behalf of humans, to humans.

I’m sorry if someone has taken away your ability to see people as beautiful.

I’m sorry if someone has made you scared to trust people and to be able to open up.

I’m sorry if you have to fear people instead of love people.

I’m sorry if you see the world negative.

I’m sorry if you can only see the worst in things.

I’m sorry if it was because of someone who hurt you that put you in this position.

But here is me, giving you an opportunity to change that. To change the narrative and do a complete 180 on how you look at life.

It’s actually so beautiful. Being able to appreciate the small things is a gift, and I want to keep that gift forever.

-PJ