Need Clarity? New Perspective? Switch Lenses!

Hello Peeps!

Do you need clarity or a new perspective to deal with some challenges in your life this week? Sometimes our vision is fuzzy or clouded. Sometimes we simply look through the wrong lens for us or our situation! We strain to see and understand but clarity does not come.

It is Wednesday Wisdom Day at TSJ!

Yes, it is that day of the week when I sit down with our wisdom warrior, Solomon, to have a not-so-private chat with you about things that happen in the week and lessons that come from those simple events. If truth be told, it usually brings up an inner conflict (for me) between sharing what Solomon calls “smart stuff” I read and everyday stuff we experience.

Solomon seems to favor the every day stuff. And Wednesday is kind of his day to rule, unless he is in a mood and decides he has nothing to say or that I am going to ignore him, which I try hard not to do.

As you regular peeps know, this has been a time of change here at TSJ that have forced me to take some risks and let go of the embarrassment of mistakes that occurred in the process. I have gone back and edited the series I sent. Meanwhile, my imperfect work is out in the world. It feels kind of like when your child acts up in public at just the wrong time and place. You know it is normal. You even know it is okay. And . . . you also know there are those who are just plain going to think you are incompetent. Gulp.

Solomon has had some things to say about that. He insists there is something to be said for letting life happen. The pastures of life are for adventure. And life in the pastures is never, ever about perfection or sterile living! So in my world, I guess you keep editing and learning. Editing is about taking a fresh look at things.

And how you see things changes how you do things and what you focus on. Sometimes it is good to look through a microscopic lens to see little things that cause trouble. Sometimes a telescope is needed to help us see a bigger universe. Other kinds of “lenses” might be a parental lens, a spiritual lens, a scientific/mathematical lens etc. There are many ways to look at things. Sometimes we simply need to switch lenses to gain clarity.

Several days ago when I put my contact lenses in my eyes things just didn’t look right. I was very tired so at first I thought it was just tired, dry eyes that made things ever so slightly out of focus. I put some saline drops in my eyes which felt good and seemed to clear things up for a bit. I did some work but felt like something was off with my vision. My eyes still were not happy, nor was I.

Finally I wondered if I had accidentally put the lenses in the wrong eyes! One eye is more dominant than the other but the prescription is very close. So I changed lenses and that changed everything.

Voila! Clarity again! I returned to my tasks and realized I had spent energy trying to see. And I did not know what was wrong. I simply was looking through the wrong lenses.

It made me wonder how many kids in school struggle on a very subtle level like that with how they see or how they hear or how their nervous system is working. The cause of problems can be invisible. Understanding how the brain works is extremely important for all of us. When we cannot see the disabilities or internal differences and see only the behavior that annoys or concerns us–it is often hard to be understanding.

I am re-reading a book by Dr. John Medina called Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. It is packed full of brain friendly information for parents and educators. You can also enjoy free material on his website at www.brainrules.net if you are interested in that sort of thing.

Meanwhile, Solomon thought you might want to know we are doing many things to improve our “vision” here at TSJ. We want to see clearly what is possible and joyful in life. We want to notice when we are looking through the wrong lenses more quickly than I did that morning several days ago! .

Yes, Solomon is smiling this morning. He wonders how you are seeing things today?

Have a happy day and may you “see” where to step in the pastures … I mean what to step around! Solomon sees things I do not. And I see things he does not. Together we love sharing the journey with you.

Playing in the pastures . . . Solomon and Margie