Civility and manners,  Personal growth

Perceptions

“We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.”~Anais Nin

It’s easy to be blinded by our own perceptions or preferences, as French writer Anais Nin reminds us in today’s thought. Whenever I find myself offended or angered, personally or politically, I’m tempted to adopt the stance of self-righteousness.

That’s when I need to ask myself if I’ve stopped to consider the reasons behind another person’s actions or opinions. Have I taken time to understand what that person might be going through at the time? Am I holding him or her to a standard that I always live up to myself? Is there another way to view the situation? ~CL

Did you know there are more “Life Lines” features that aren’t included in your daily email? Visit the Life Lines home page.

Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.