This eye chart hangs in the main entry/exit point of my house. It was originally hung as a functional joke when we were homeschooling and were talking once about things homeschool kids may miss out on by not going to more traditional schools. After everyone's vision was tested, I decided to leave it hanging because the memory of our eye test day made me smile.
Over time, it became a symbolic reminder to me to check my metaphorical vision--both when leaving and when entering my house. I want to always ask myself: How am I seeing the world? How am I seeing the people I share my home with? Am I looking for the good? Am I letting any bias blur my vision? What can I do to improve my vision, inward and outward?
Much later, I bought myself a beautiful bouquet of roses and decided to dry them once they were past their prime. There just happened to be a screw in the wall right above the eye chart, so I hung them there without much thought. Fairly recently, an admirer sent me some gorgeous flowers, and when they were beyond their display value, I plucked a couple of roses out of the bunch in order to preserve the memory of such a sweet gesture. Since I had kind of already set a precedent of hanging flowers to dry around the eye chart, I tied the newer ones onto one of the tacks holding it up. The whole scene became sort of artistic, and I have found that I love to look at it every day as I enter and exit my home.
Not long ago, someone was at my house and saw the eye chart, which prompted questions, as you might expect. As I explained its presence and newfound purpose as a reminder to check my symbolic vision, I caught myself paying closer attention to the roses, and the symbolism became even deeper.
When I pause to "check my vision," I see the big bunch of flowers I bought for myself, and I'm reminded how important it is to love myself well. When I do that, my vision is clearer and I can show up in the world as my very best self. And showing up as my truest, most authentic, best self, is not only a gift to myself but a gift to the whole rest of the world.
A glance at the chart also allows me to see the smaller cluster of flowers, which reminds me that I do not have to do life completely on my own (which sometimes tends to be my default MO). There are people who care for me and can add beauty to my life. This bundle is smaller and hangs a little lower because I will never find true fulfillment and happiness in another person or group of people, no matter how wonderful they are. While others can contribute to positive experiences for me, peace and joy and love really and truly come only from within. The relationship I have with myself will always set the tone for every other relationship I ever have. And keeping this in mind also contributes to better vision for me.
One thing both sets of roses have in common is thorns, and I did get poked a few times while tying up the roses to dry. Whether I'm examining myself and trying to learn how to love myself well or interacting with my fellow humans, I will experience some discomfort. But growing through that discomfort is what allows my vision to be refined so I can see what's truly beautiful.
Without the roses, the eye chart hanging on my wall seemed a bit dull, in addition to just being weird (though privately entertaining for me). But when the roses, with their many thorns and their beautiful symbolism, were added to the eye chart--on a plain Jane wall, in the least beautiful room in my house--my vision improved so much more and a lovely work of art was born.
