Perspective
Perspective is how you perceive something---from your point of view.
Your perspective is similar to your opinion; you have one.
One of the more common and unnoticed perspectives is simply height. Think about it for a moment and you will realize that we have been conditioned to accept height as a sign of authority or importance. Anytime you enter a room where someone is occupying a space
that is significantly higher than the rest of the room, you automatically know who is in charge. A courtroom would be one example of this. Another example might date back to the earliest memories of your childhood. You were shorter than the adults around you, and they were the undisputed people in charge. This mental conditioning may have followed you through most of your school-age years when the things that you learn shapes your thought patterns for the remainder of your life. However, understanding the possible cause of a problem does not help to make it acceptable.
There is a population of people that use wheelchairs for their main mode of transportation. This does effectively make them appear short, and allows them to view the world from a different perspective. From this lower vantage point, the person can see things that might be overlooked by a taller person. For example, a spider’s web on the bottom of a freshly cleaned shelf would be obvious. Therefore, from this perspective it may appear that you live like a pig!
There are people that have hearing loss and live a life of silence. Try to imagine the world from their perspective. They see you move your mouth, with no chewing gum involved, and may inwardly think you look silly. They see you grab at a telephone, for
some unknown reason, and then watch as you nod and bob your head while moving your mouth like an oral contortionist.
Another perspective uses all of the senses with the exception of sight. A visually impaired person might perceive the world to be a noisy and smelly place with only a hint of real humanity. From their point-of-view, it might be easier to put unlimited trust in a helper dog than in another person.
I am sure that you understand by my words that I have my own opinion, and it is unique only to me. I am also confident that you will view things differently. There is no right or wrong…it’s just a perspective issue.
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend (who knows the stigma of being disabled herself), karen lynn in texas. :D