April 23, 2021

Through Your Own Lens

By Sophie Garonzik

I remember the time I tried on my first pair of eyeglasses. I was in kindergarten and highly fascinated by the brown tortoise shell color of the frames. I was mostly excited to see what my peers would think of my new accessory. The second I placed the glasses over my eyes I was overwhelmed with the burst of color that exploded in front of me. Everything appeared brighter, larger, and clearer. I had no idea the world could look that way, and within a matter of moments, the world had transformed before me. Beauty, color, and details I had never witnessed finally revealed themselves to me. The bright glare of the sunshine and the vivid green grass amazed me.

This new-found view I had of life was not only physical. With each chapter I enter, I come to understand how perspective can play a similar role in my life. Something that may seem unimportant and irrelevant one day can suddenly metamorphosize and present itself so differently the next. There are no magic glasses that can create a physical or mental reappearance. While change is inherent in much of life, it is also a conscious decision. I must create change. I am change. Why complain about a problem one day if I can take action and contribute to its solution? Why settle for the second best option if I have the opportunity to achieve the absolute best?

I’m a science oriented person, generally clinging to concrete formulas and mathematical equations. I’m impressed by patterns, sequences, and the precision necessary to derive answers. While following rules to obtain a certain answer is embedded in me, it is my conscious choice to take in the beauty of the science around me. Lying in a hammock, staring up at the swaying poplar trees and listening to the swoosh they create in the air, soothes me. In these situations, I am able to truly form my own appreciation of my surroundings. I can even appreciate the enduring April showers with the knowledge that beautiful, blossoming May flowers are on their way – it relaxes me.

I love to take in everything around me and appreciate their looming presence. Life is too short not to breathe it all in; live in that moment; make a difference; have a meaningful impact. In a moment’s notice, I can change the view through my own lens. I chose for my glass to be half full, filled with positivity and excitement, just as I was when I tried my first pair of eyeglasses.

Edited By Sami Ruud