I've had this black eye/monster deformity for more than a week now. Every time I walk out in public I'm embarrassed, knowing I might have to explain one more time how I got my injury. Or defend myself against people who think I have an evil boyfriend that secretly hits me.
Sometimes, folks I work with that don't know what happened have seen me, made eye contact, said "hi, how are you", and spent several seconds without registering what I look like. When that happens I get real close to them, move my bangs aside and say, "how do you think I am?".
To be fair, one of the guys was someone I've known for years, and he's never looked north of my chest as long as I've known him. But two others talked to me for at least 15 seconds without even registering what was wrong!
I know I'm as guilty as the rest - we look at people without really seeing them all day every day. It made me wonder how little we also hear, or how little we feel when touched. We're all in our own little complicated world, and sometimes our reality doesn't mesh with what's in front of us.
I want to do a better job of really seeing, really hearing, really feeling what people have to say. It won't be easy - in fact I wonder if it can be done.
Just another lesson my experience has taught me.
And, don't forget to eat your vegetables!
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