What Do You See?

 Being able to see something makes all the difference in the world 👀. It's even better when you can see it clearly! As most of you know, I am a teacher. During this past school year and especially near the end of the year, I noticed that the words on the front board of my classroom were blurry. Now, the board at the front of my classroom is called a Smartboard. It's like a big flat screen TV. It's amazing! One day, I had a digital program displayed on the board and was teaching examples from it. Now I'm the teacher that likes to walk around when I teach. That particular day (and many other times), I walked to the back of my room and stood there for a moment. It was in that moment that I realized I was struggling to see the words on my Smartboard from the back of my room! I was thinking is it just me or are any other students struggling to see from back here. I remember having to strain my eyes and walked closer to the board, so I could see. Later that day, I remember telling one of my coworkers who wears glasses that I need to go get my eyes checked. I told her about my struggle seeing the words from the back of my room. She agreed that I should go get my eyes checked. She said she needed to go get her eyes checked too because it had been a while. So, while I've been on my summer break, I decided I needed to add an eye exam to the checkups. I mentioned in my last blog post that I was on a roll with taking care of me 😊. I knew what I had to do! I had to get that eye exam soon and not put it off. So, less than 2 weeks after school ended, I scheduled and went to my eye exam. Well, I'm so glad I did! It turns out that I am nearsighted (struggle seeing far away) and deal with astigmatism (blurriness). No wonder I was struggling to see the words from the back of my room and they were blurry. So, for the first time ever, I have to wear prescription glasses! Now, my brother wears glasses and has since he was 7 years old. For me, glasses is a whole new world to navigate and adjust to. The receptionist at my eye doctor's office is so fun and supportive! That definitely was encouraging 😄. I picked out a cute and classy pair of glasses that have a black and white color combination on the frames. I tried on a few different pair of glasses before my final decision. The minute I put on my current glasses though, I felt different. I knew these were the one ❤!! As the saying goes, these glasses hit different!! When I first put them on, it was a whole different world! Things looked brighter and even a little blurry as my eyes had to keep adjusting to wearing the glasses. In general, I have to get used to wearing something on my face all the time and not take them off like sunglasses. I remember the second day I was wearing my glasses and I was about to walk into a building. I was about to take off my glasses when I remembered that my glasses were not sunglasses and had to stay on. It's a big adjustment! I haven't had them for a week yet. Walking around in them and going to different places is a big adjustment. It's been uncomfortable at times. I am maneuvering better with them a little each day. I can definitely see clearer now 😊! Things are coming into perspective more and more. When we think about vision, it's the ability to see. Synonyms for the word vision are observation, view and perspective. When we can see better, we can view things better. Things can be seen more clearly. Details I didn't notice before are coming more into focus. I'm not ready to go back to school yet, but I am very curious how it will be now with my new glasses to stand at the back of my classroom and read words on my Smartboard. Another change with my glasses is that I look physically different. I have to get used to that every time I look in the mirror. My brother said he has to get used to seeing me with glasses too because for so long, I didn't wear them. People who have known me for any period of time (especially my long timers 😉!) have to get used to seeing me with glasses. When I was younger, I remember hoping I didn't have to wear glasses because it was associated with a bad thing as I saw my classmates and other people make fun of people with glasses. I remember thinking I don't know how I would look if I ever had to wear glasses. Personally, I didn't think I would look right. I knew it was a possibility one day though because our eyes do change over time. Now, here in Chapter 40, I have found out that I do look right with glasses 💜! I'm still beautiful! In fact, as one of my cousins told me, I will look even more beautiful with glasses. I agree! I think I'm rocking my new glasses with class and style 😍. Being able to see physically is so important and will help prevent the eye strain and blurriness I was dealing with. I'm so grateful to be able to have the glasses and own my style 😊. I don't want to miss out on anything with my physical vision! It's the same way in our lives. We have to keep our eyes open to what and who is around us. We have to keep out eyes open to what God wants to do in and through us. We have to be willing to take on His perspective and view life through His Word 🙏. HIs Word says He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). His Word says He makes all things new (Isaiah 43:19). We may be in a season or situation where God wants to change the way we look at something. Instead of why, ask ourselves what can we learn from this, how can we prepare for our next, and what do I need to work on. We all have room for improvement in different areas of our life. For me, my physical eyesight needs to get better and is already in the works - praise God 👏!! Maybe, your physical eyesight needs to get better, too. I have other areas I need to keep improving in as well and I'm sure you do, too. However, I also realize that the lens I look at life needs to also be checked, cleaned and adjusted as often as needed. Wearing my physical glasses is going to open up a whole new world for me. The possibilities are endless! For our lives, let's see growth, gratitude, and greatness. Let's see endless possibilities in dreams and goals we can reach. I'm proud to say I wear glasses now! I don't view them as a bad thing now. My perspective has changed about it because it will benefit me and protect my eyes from straining. I didn't know what Chapter 40 would bring, but my glasses have started me on the right track 😊. It's reminding me not to miss out on anything God has for me ❤. It's letting me know that there's a bright future ahead for me. Guess what?! There's a bright future ahead for you too! That's what I see! I hope you do too! See you soon and don't forget to stay open and observant 😊!!