Habits, as reflections of our thoughts and perceptions, serve as a mirror to our inner selves. They are the remnants and imprints of our thoughts, including opinions and biases, that necessitate regular, honest introspection. This reflective journey, free from the need to seek approval from others, is vital in stopping a skein of words from taking root in our hearts. It helps prevent the growth of assumptions that often lead to views that seem accurate but are rarely correct.
Tonight, I will not see a single star in the sky. Days old, thick cloud blanketed the sky with a menacing face, hiding the beauty of the pearl of the night sky. Though all stars seem to be tiny dots of luminary, our best option to view them all is from Earth. Because we could see fewer of them if we had traveled in space. What a dichotomy! The astronauts can only see stars if they are preciously in a specific location – albeit briefly – during their fast rotation in a space vehicle around the Earth.
Our ability to see is intricately tied to the wavelength of light. We cannot detect ultraviolet light even if we are drowned in it. More than light, we also need prior knowledge about an object to truly comprehend what we are looking at! Poor villagers with excellent eyesight in developing countries may not recognize many objects from a prosperous society—they have not seen the item before. All our understanding is rooted in knowledge and experiences. We cannot rely solely on our eyes to enlighten our perception and shape our interpretation of the world; knowledge determines what we see. This leads to an intriguing question: could a blind person, unencumbered by visual stimuli, perceive and understand the world in a different, perhaps even better, way?