O is for Optical

I wear glasses or contact lens.  I see a huge difference when I take them off.  I can't remember this book, but
it was probably mentioned in a feature in. Parade magazine.    It mentioned how sometimes in life we need to adjust our view, see through the eyes of someone else.  Someone you know may
be acting or reacting poorly, or perhaps a school teacher, isn't her self.   You know something is off...
My daughter was in 4th grade; she came home complaining her teacher was mean. This woman, was not really friendly before, so I knew it must be bad.    She acted like she was teaching middle school.  I did some volunteer work in her class room, so I knew first hand.  She was nice to the parents, but a little rough around the edges with the students.  I wanted to move my daughter out of this class, but I didn't.   I explained to my daughter, sometimes when people are mean, ugly, not so friendly; They need a bit more kindness then others.   I said it is like my glasses, when they are off, I don't see clearly.  I said, her vision is off, something has happened to her, or someone she loves, and she is acting out.   I said, we need to adjust, tilt our vision and give her benefit of the doubt.  She is struggling; I said, "you know students like that, don't you".    She agreed, I said, "when people aren't nice, sometimes just a smile or a kind word, snaps them out of it."   We need to adjust our(virtual) glasses and look at them a bit different and hopefully their vision will change.    A few years later, my daughter needed glasses. this subject came up, about virtual glasses.   She said," they can't see Mom, that their mood affects others."   I said, "no their vision is impaired, like ours, but when you aren't focused your emotional level  is off."   

I know seeing is believing and  we can't walk in anyone shoes, but our own.  We need to not always get defensive when someone is rude in the check out line, etc.   We need to take the high road and cut them some slack and hope as we have adjusted our focus, someone will help adjust theirs, when the view is compromised.