Reading and Seeing

Everyone is taught to read. Shapes are associated with sounds; sounds are combined to make syllables; syllables make words; words form phrases and so on. Someone teaches us these things, these rules.

Nobody stumbles upon the skill to read. No one wakes up one day and simply knows how to read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss.

Seeing is the same way.

Not vision. Vision is a natural ability (that most of us have by virtue of properly functioning eyes).

But seeing beyond the words is something taught and learned.

In other words, we are taught to perceive.
We are taught to notice.
To inquire and interact.
To critically engage.
To ask questions.
These are gifts that have been given to us by those that taught us to read and to see. (And if we are not taught to do these things, we are in effect taught not to see.)

If you see what others don’t—in your reading, but also at your work or in your community—be thankful for the gift of perception. Someone, somewhere along the line, taught you that.

Now, your job is to turn and teach someone else to see.