Eyes, ears and hearts should stay open
It can be argued that the old adage of a glass being half full or half empty stands the test of time. The path or journey taken to figure out how someone sees their glass is as unique as the person themselves.
It’s often turned into a question of values and morals because circumstances in life change like the wind. By the same token, something might have happened that influenced a person’s decision to live their life in a certain way. The manner in which people react — and respond — when they’re asked how they look at life has always amazed me.
Some individuals answer without a second thought, while others take time to evaluate why they have the perspective that they do. I was recently reminded of how important it is to stop and truly appreciate the little things when a friend told me that his mother, living her best life, after not having the opportunity to experience simple moments, like eating an ice cream cone or watching TV, at her leisure, which is common for us, but not in their country.
My friend, whom I’ve known since college, is Indian and built a new life for himself here upon graduating. He has been trying to move his mom to the U.S. permanently from their home country for several years now, amid much trial and error.
My soul radiated with joy the day he texted me to say that he finally received permission to bring his mom to America to stay.
I was also elated because I knew they would both treasure this new opportunity and the adventures that come with it. I found immense pride in that alone — and still do — knowing how much my friend loves life. For him to now be able to share that love and look at the world through his mom’s eyes is a true gift. In turn, he has given me a gift as well — by allowing me to witness this — even if it’s through a string of text messages. It has kept me grounded in quiet moments when I’ve looked at my own glass, feeling like it’s half empty.
I realized that this is about so much more than being a friend or sharing a family’s journey. It’s a life lesson for us all to keep our eyes, ears and hearts open. Most importantly, it’s a prime example of what can happen when we don’t take things that are right in front of us for granted. Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual, as much as we wish it would. It’s up to us to decide what kind of person we want to be — and how we choose to navigate the chaos and craziness that comes with this world. Maybe these are more lessons that need to be re-learned. Maybe they’re ones that have been buried underneath hate, pettiness and complaints. I don’t have the answers to that — but if looking at things through someone else’s eyes is what it takes to appreciate life’s little pleasures, make sure it’s someone you love.
Erin Kelly, 39, was born with cerebral palsy in Seoul, Korea, and now lives in Altoona. Email her at WriterWheels28@gmail.com