From Another Perspective – Meaning Of Perspective

What Is Perspective?

Let’s just discuss the definition first. The word perspective is a noun and it means “the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.” In other words, perspective means point of view.

Skewed Reality

My mother has always been blind in one eye. No one can tell because she appears to have two working eyes, but one just doesn’t see. Because one of her eyes doesn’t send a picture back to the brain, Mom has no depth perception. That means there is no distance or three dimensional view of any scene.

Many times Mom has reached out to set something down on a table only to have it *BANG* on the surface because in reality it was a whole lot closer than she thought. On the flip side, Mom has also let go of an object too soon and subsequently watched it crash, splash, spill or shatter.

No, life has not been dull with my mother and her skewed vision often creates a perception of reality that is actually wrong. In spite of this whole “handicap,” Mom has a great sense of humor about it all.

This Country And That Country

The Internet has brought the people of the world together with just a few clicks on the computer proving that “it’s a small world after all.” We can appreciate the beauty of nature, cultures and people from all around the world through blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and thousands of other websites. Actually, thanks to Google Translator, we don’t even have to speak the same language in order to communicate.

I think we are all pretty sure that there are no fire breathing dragons or giant dinosaurs roaming the planet. All people are filled with hopes, dreams and thoughts while experiencing work, school, love, laughter, hunger, pain, sadness, depression, sickness… We also know that smiles and tears are universal.

Our perspective of people in another country now is based more on fact than fiction.

The Hot Buttons

There are some things that people will never agree on or see the same way. These subjects are controversial and passion runs high on both sides. A few examples of some hot button subjects include:

• Politics
• Religion
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Marriage
• Divorce
• Sex
• Parenting
• Education
• Diet/Nutrition
• Music

Lovely list isn’t it? I dare say that if we had five people of varying ages in a room, they would not be able to agree on all of the list. Each person’s perspective is different on the varying subjects because it is based on their individual beliefs and experiences.

The PTSD Perspective

I hope that you’ve read about the horrible day that became the catalyst of my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Each time you read another post where I express another symptom that plagues me, I hope your perspective of PTSD is closer to reality and makes sense.

Writing about PTSD and my struggles saved me. My perspective on our existence will always be different because of that day when I held my daughter close and begged God for her life. Even now it makes me sick in my stomach to think of the agony I have suffered.

Marriage And Divorce

When I got married both times, I truly thought the marriages were going to last forever. My perspective of my life and marriage was a happily ever after scenario. To say that I feel like a failure is an understatement. Is it really that hard to have a relationship that lasts?

Yes!

Even people that have been married for sixty years say that marriage isn’t easy. Men and women are as opposite as porcupines and elephants. The two genders do not think, speak, act, feel, parent, play or love the same. Our perspectives on just about everything are different.

Porcupines and elephants? That was really a good analogy. LOL

From Another Perspective

People often think that not only is their perspective right, but that it is the only perspective that is worth acknowledging. Other perspectives may cause them to feel uncomfortable, confused or angry, so rather than exploring to understand, they hold it in or sometimes savagely let it out.

It is easy to prove that the world is round, the sun is hot and the moon has craters. For everyone to come to the same understanding about love, pain or sorrow is completely impossible. That is why it is absolutely crucial that we learn tolerance, patience and understanding in order to co-exist with other people and their perspectives.

As I sit here alone in a very quiet home without a husband, with PTSD and with a beautiful daughter who will soon move far away to continue her education, my perspective on life has changed dramatically from what it was when I was a twenty-one year old newly wed.

I don’t even think I know that twenty-one year girl anymore. She seems so naive and out of touch with reality. How did I believe that just because I was a “good girl” that hardship and pain would not touch my life? How could I devote myself to another human being only to have them break my heart in the end? It seems all rather foolish that I even tried because my reward is a scarred and broken heart.

At this point in my life, my perspective is about as close to reality as it has ever been:

• People have freedom of choice in all things.
• I can only control my reactions.
• I can’t control circumstances or other people.
• People I love die.
• Just because I give my everything to someone doesn’t mean they will reciprocate.
• A marriage is a reciprocated love – not just a feeling and words, but actions to back up the feeling and words.
• PTSD makes people who don’t have it uncomfortable, so they either ignore it or say that it doesn’t exist.
• Some people are just evil.
• Men and women are waaaaaaaay different.
• People who love you don’t keep track of “who called last” or “who helped last.”
• When times get tough, people who love you stick around to help.
• When people want to do something, they do it. Likewise, when people don’t want to do something, they don’t do it.
• There are many warning signs that scream, “He’s Just Not That Into You.” Being blind to them will only hurt you in the end.
• Ignorance is not bliss ninety-nine percent of the time.
• There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Someone has to pay for it one way or another.
• Most people are lazy or lack ambition.
• I don’t love myself enough.
• Life is hard and definitely not a fairy tale.
• Every day I’m alive is another day to get it right.
• I’m blessed and thankful beyond words.

Yes, I’m blessed and thankful beyond words.