“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” — Alphonse Karr
Perspective.
Each of us possesses a particular view on life and the world which is tinted by all the experiences we’ve collected throughout our existence on the planet.
We can share a moment and react in totally opposing ways.
I used to think there was one truth. Now I know there are many, and they are achieved through perspective.
Have you ever discussed a childhood event with a sibling? If so, did you agree? Did one of you see it one way, the other totally different? Share in comments if you’d like. I’m finding perspective an interesting topic these days.
Renee Johnson is the author of Acquisition, and The Haunting of William Gray. She is currently working on a Young Adult novel, while editing a suspense novel which has international flair–an homage to her love of travel and foreign food. She lives on a farm in North Carolina with her husband, Tony Johnson, and two very spoiled German shepherds named Hansel and Gretel.
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What a beautiful photo, Renee. Is that your property?
Just recently, my sister and I were discussing a fight we had as children where I pushed her down the stairs…yes…it was the younger sibling’s revenge, yet she didn’t even remember it. How is that possible? Have a great holiday!
Yes, Jill, and thank you. It’s in the backyard. You would think siblings would have the same perceptions but that’s not true either, as you point out!
Oh boy. You are so right about perspective. It took me a while to understand the flexibility of “the truth.” But we know, as photographers, that the camera’s position relative to the subject can completely change the truth of the resulting image. It only stands to reason that as individuals who have all experienced different things in life, we respond to events based upon our previous experiences.
I, unfortunately, have an older sister whom I should mine for information about our mother. Her perspective would be interesting. The only problem is that I don’t believe she has ever experienced the epiphany that points out to us that there is no one truth. Instead, she pontificates about how it was. She is not interested in anyone else’s perspective because hers is the only one that is true. This is a major problem for me in writing about my mother’s life. No matter what I write, it is wrong.
My experiences with my sisters is quite similar. Four girls all with their own story and unique perspective on our time with our Mom. I’ve come to think that what actually happened is probably somewhere in the middle with a combination of our accounts.
Which is probably valid. It’s only annoying when one person thinks they own the story.
Hi Linda and Michelle. Love your conversation here. I think the good news is you can all be right. Write your version and know it is your truth. Everybody else can do the same.
Ask my three sisters and me about any given circumstance during our childhood and you will get four different versions of what happened. My Mom passed away when I was twelve. My youngest sister was 8 and the older two where 16 and 18. Whenever we tried to share memories of our Mother it usually ended in an argument. It took me years to realize that they weren’t crazy and neither was I. We each just saw it from our own unique perspective.
You are wise to arrive at that conclusion. My sister and I have had the same strange occurrences where one of us says something and the other immediately say, “that’s not how it happened.” Wow.
Beautiful photo. It reminds me of paintings by ‘Thomas Kinkade’
I enjoyed your thoughts on perspective and I agree with them.
Rarely is a childhood event discussed with total agreement. I find the perspective lies in the way an event effected each of us.
It’s good to see you posting again. I’ve been wondering what you’ve been up too since your last holiday across the pond. 🙂
Thank you. I’ve been gloriously wrapped up in life and writing. In fact, I’m attempting a post on reneejohnsonwrites about a summer writing opportunity but it is getting rather lengthy. May need to break it up into bites. Glad you enjoyed this post. It is the only way to make sense of some discrepancies.
You are so right, Renee. I first came to the realization about this when my father passed away. My brothers saw him as a hero, and I saw him as someone with feet of clay. It was really eye opening. Love, love, love the photograph. Breathtaking!
Thanks, Monica. Yes, we see our own family members through particularities. And the good news is that we can then understand we’re all right in our own truth. It’s very freeing.
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing.