It’s All in How We Look at Things!!

Have you ever noticed how people view things so differently? Every little thing in life can be viewed differently by everyone and we are so use to viewing things differently we probably don’t even notice we are doing it.

For instance, fall is finally upon us, and that means something different for everyone.

To some people, fall means the change of the season with cooler weather and the leaves turning all those beautiful colors. To other people, fall means having to rake up all those beautiful leaves, seeing an increase in living expenses due to the cooler weather, and lots of football.

There are words that go unnoticed or ignored by some people, but those words can annoy another person.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s just the way life is. We all look at things differently and it’s the differences of opinion, having a different view of things and different ideas, which make life interesting and why life is exciting for us. It is also why viewing things differently can create a misunderstanding when dealing with others.

Growing up I loved the water and would dive in on any given opportunity. At a young age, we lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and I loved the ocean and took advantage of every opportunity to swim or play in the water. My sister, however, hated the ocean. She would constantly complain that the waves were too much, the sand got all over her, and she was afraid of what might be in the water. To me, the ocean was great but to my sister it meant nothing but trouble. My version of what I saw was the truth for me, and what she saw was the truth for her.

Stay with me. All this rambling is going to make a point, I promise.

We’ve all heard those tired old sayings: the truth is the truth; that’s your opinion; everyone has his or her own perspective; and so on. I especially love the old cliché, “the truth is the truth.” It always makes me wonder if that is the truth for you or the truth for everyone else, because the truth, like everything else in life, is a matter of opinion. However, it is and always will be, that we all do see things a little differently.

First of all, we all filter information based on our own personal experiences. For example, if a child grows up with lots of love in his or her life, that child is going to see the world in a different light than a child who has encountered abuse in his or her life. So, when information is taken in, the two children are going to filter that information differently.

Here’s where truth becomes a part of the equation. Who can say which child is right or wrong in the way they process information or determine how to use the information? You can see now how truth becomes part of the experience and values of the individual attempting to find or project the truth. Simply put, since we all have different viewpoints based on our own personal experiences, it does affect our belief system.

Hopefully you have not given up on this boring column yet and you will keep reading to make it worth your time of doing so.

All of the babbling information provided above is about to make a great deal of sense… or at least I hope it will.
Recently I bumped into friend of mine I’ve known since high school. We were both shopping for groceries and I commented that I wanted some bananas, but they were a little too ripe for my taste. He thought they looked just right. A little difference of an opinion. As we talked to catch up a little, he told me he wanted to see his new truck and he would wait for me in front of the store, or if I finished first to wait for him. So, I did.

After he exited the store, he started to tell me about his new truck and how he loved the color. I listened intently. “Isn’t that the best color?” he asked as we approached the truck. Honestly, I didn’t really know what to say because that truck was the ugliest gray I believe I’ve ever seen, with a brownish trim package. I thought it was ugly; he though looked great. A difference of opinion again.

It is also important to remember that when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at will probably change as well. After I walked away, I thought, it’s ugly. I also thought, it’s new and expensive. I’d drive it.

See what I mean about how a different perspective can change your opinion?

Bored to death yet?