New Perspective

My favorite spot in our office is next to a poster that reads,

"Change your perspective,' with the added delight of it being inverted. Initially, I wondered why it was displayed this way on the wall. But after a bit of pondering, I came to appreciate the opportunity to visualize another aspect of the same picture from a different angle.

Challenging stereotypes and altering perspectives are the thoughts I wish to share today. The human brain is indeed a powerful yet occasionally perplexing organ ??.

Let's do a quick exercise:

a) Picture a sky and clouds: Blue sky & white clouds

b) Think of a Christmas tree: A green or white tree adorned with colorful string lights.?

I previously referred to our brain as 'dumb' because, when prompted to picture the sky, we almost always think of it as blue. The same goes for the Christmas tree—it's usually green or occasionally white. It's nobody's fault; our brains have been conditioned this way. I'm not implying it's wrong, but by doing this, we inadvertently limit ourselves, closing our minds to alternative possibilities.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to volunteer at an event sponsored by Jay Care for Challenger Baseball athletes living with physical, cognitive, and/or communicative disabilities from all across Canada.

The event was brimming with activities for athletes of all ages, and I was stationed at the Tattoo and Face Painting booth. It was an immensely joyful experience interacting with all the athletes, and it imparted valuable life lessons and a fresh perspective.?

In the early morning, I was engrossed in engaging with kids, painting faces, and applying tattoos. My heart melted each time I exchanged high fives, fist bumps, and chicken wings with them. I noticed a girl peeking out from her mother's back, smiling yet a bit shy. With some icebreakers, I helped her choose her art activity—'Face Paint.'

Here's where I admit to behaving like our 'dumb' brain sometimes does.

Let me explain why:

She eagerly exclaimed and chose a 'Christmas Tree.' I berated myself for assuming I needed to find a green color without even asking her which color she preferred.

As I searched for the right color, she piped up, 'Can you please paint MY Christmas Tree in BLUE?'?

I paused and realized I had no right to limit someone's imagination. Who was I to dictate the color for that little child? She hadn't asked for my suggestion; she had her own vision of her Christmas tree, and it was blue.

But what truly touched my heart was when she happily asked, 'My Christmas tree can be blue, right? Just like I see the SKY as PINK for me... and it is beautiful. Have you ever seen it?'

?For a moment, my eyes welled up. She taught me that 'Sometimes we do not need new ideas but a New Perspective.'

?Don't shy away from new ideas, from experiencing something different, from pushing your limits. The entire universe belongs to us, and we can make choices that resonate with our happiness.

?In summary, it was a truly exceptional experience and a profound learning.!"

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