I was once requested to elaborate upon Helen Keller’s quote “the seeing see little”. At the time I did not know that in explaining my understanding of these 4 words I would embark upon a journey of self-discovery and learn to appreciate the true beauty of our world. However, to truly grasp the depth of Helen’s words, let us 1st endeavor to understand what exactly is it which the seeing are unable to perceive even with the gift of their sight.
Nature has indeed painted our lives with countless shades of an infinite variety of colors. From The muddy brown earth upon which we walk to the blue blanketing sky whose pearly white clouds chase us wherever we go, from the golden glory of the rising sun to the sea of a fiery orange which shrouds its daily slumber, everything around us radiates a beauty of its own. In fact, dear reader, if you would just take a closer look upon yourself, you would find your very own self a wonderful blend of most natural colors. From your blood and skin, eyes and hair, to your clothes and car, your house and hearth, do you not see how He who has fashioned the entire creation has painted our own? Indeed, He has done so with wonders from a palette whose miracles and their magnificent beauty can just not be described by our inadequate words. It is precisely this beauty which eludes the not so seeing eyes of the seeing; and is just as evident to the darkened but most perceptive vision of the unseeing.
Simply put, most of us are so used to being surrounded by all these colors that their true life and essence is just not visible to us and escapes our notice. Consequently, we end up belittling their beauty with our ignorance or indifference or perceive them under the black and bleak shades of our harsh experiences. Even so, there is yet another miracle of colors in connection with human existence which defies those of us who persist in maintaining that no matter what happens this world and our life in it is just colorless. Synesthesia is a neurological condition which allows a person to taste, hear or smell colors or even shapes. For instance, a synesthete would see distinct colors with every voice he/she hears. It is also possible that in some other type of synesthesia they would smell or taste the color or shape of every word they hear.
“If you have synesthesia, you might notice that your senses tend to intertwine, giving your perceptions of the world an additional dimension. Perhaps every time you bite into a food, you also feel its geometric shape: round, sharp, or square. Maybe when you’re feeling emotional over a person you love, you can close your eyes and see certain colors playing at your field of vision. You may be reading these words with a series of accompanying voices in your head, characterizing each sentence with an identity of its own as you would a person you were speaking to on the street. All these experiences are examples of synesthesia.”
healthline.com
In essence, dear reader, there is always more to life than what we would originally have ourselves believe. The limited scope of our daily experiences, their pains and pleasures often turn us blind to the all nurturing beauty we are surrounded by. If given the chance, it would most definitely heal our world weary heart. If not, then Helen’s words would sadly end up becoming more than an observation; it would then indeed be a sorry but an undeniable truth. So let us explore life beyond the boundaries of our site! Let us relish the essence of things and bask in the beauty of our lives! Let us not be deceived and handicapped by our abilities or what we have come to believe as a result of our bitter experiences!