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Most people don't know this about me: I wear glasses. Really, I should say "I have glasses". Because I don't actually wear mine, except to drive. And sometimes to watch movies. I am near-sighted. But not enough so to impair my daily functioning. (Actually, "functioning" is debatable and highly subjective. But the bottom line is, I CAN see.)
I can say that with full confidence in contrast to my husband, who is also near-sighted but CANNOT SEE without his glasses. I remember feeling rather shy and sheepish when we went swimming together on one of our first dates, hoping he wouldn't notice all my figure flaws. Then I realized he had to take his glasses off to swim. Yippee! He had no idea how my thighs were really shaped. I was safe!
I'll admit sometimes I can't see quite enough.
I squint like crazy at restaurants where I have to order from a menu on the wall. I don't recognize friends from a distance. (I almost didn't recognize my own MOTHER-IN-LAW from across a large gallery in a museum a couple of weeks ago!)
But usually I can see just enough.
I can't see the dirt in my house, unless I get down on all fours. I can't see the flyaway ends in my hair unless I pull one right into my face. I can't see the blemishes in my skin unless I practically kiss the mirror. And I kind of like it that way. The good news? is that I can't see YOUR flaws either...don't notice the dirt and the dust, the blemishes or the frizz. Everyone is pretty much beautiful to my artist's eye.
I choose to live in a world that I can see, but not too sharply. It's all just a little soft around the edges. Like an impressionist painting. And I like to think that translates into a softness of attitude too. Choosing to overlook certain details around the edges and looking harder for the ESSENCE of those around me. Catching fleeting impressions. Seeing more by seeing less.
It's the way I paint. And it's the way I live.
9 comments:
Your wonderful fluid illustration says it all! I can see. I can see. I can SEE! Love Dad
I swear! You are the Coolest! How did I get so lucky to be your sister?
Once again, LOVE this post and love the way you think.
Did you paint that water-color? I love it!! Post some more paintings!
I liked it when I lived in a fuzzy world, but then the headaches came because I was making my eyes work too hard. I still do try to curb my attention to detail when it comes to dust, dirt, and flaws, because I so love it when people don't notice my own.
Great post. Sometimes that sharpness illuminating everything brings out the natural woman and we need to point out flaws- either in ourselves or in others. Great analogy. Thanks!
I love your warm and fuzzy perspective! My world is all fuzzy too, even with my contacts in (without my contacts, I'm blind as a bat. I wouldn't recognize my own children. Seriously.) I never really stopped to appreciate it the way you explain it here, though!
Oh, and the painting? GORGEOUS! As is EVERYTHING you touch...
I love this, and your painting is beautiful. I am more like your husband in that without my lenses I'm a little lost, literally, but if I've had an intense day I take out my lenses and let life blurr and it's very calming.
Mr B is long sighted and I am short so its quite funny when I hold something close for him to see and he has to push it away so he can see it. Unfortunately I suppose it also means he can see all my flaws. Hmmmmm. I think he loves me anyway. :D
very pretty painting... lovely to be sure.
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