We Don’t See What We Always See

We always encounter people in our daily lives. From grocery shopping and other chores to treating ourselves some time.

One time, I thought about what those people think and feel at that moment. Were they happy or sad? Were they celebrating a win or were they experiencing something heavy deep inside? What if it is the latter?

We don’t see what we always see.

We see someone walk into an art gallery. But we don’t see someone who seeks a companion from the abstract pieces that silently offer comfort and reassurance of emotions that words cannot reach and portray.

We see someone purchase books in a bookstore.
But we don't see someone who pays for self-help books and wishes for the pages to at least guide them on how to lead the life they live. We don’t see someone who buys fiction books so they could dive or fly into a jovial distinct universe escaping from their wretched reality.

We see someone assemble a jigsaw puzzle.
But we don’t see someone who attempts to distract their mind from the chaos and the deranged thoughts that keep on popping in every nook and corner of their sanity.

We see someone indulge in sweet desserts and sip some hot or cold coffee. But we don’t see someone who hopes to find peace of mind in every bite and gulp, and then think of what their next move in life should be.

We see someone play bowling. But we don’t see someone who throws balls of frustration because they can’t strike the life goals they set. We don’t see how they pretend to knock down all the pins of disappointments tossed from the people around them.

We see someone eat ice cream.
But we don’t see someone who tries to ease their sore throat from all the screaming and crying even though they know that it couldn’t cure what ails inside them.

We see someone climb a mountain. But we don’t see the traces of someone who pulls their feet despite the weariness they feel. We don’t see someone who ascends to alleviate the heavy backpack full of expectations that they carry every single day.

We see someone swimming on the beach. But we don’t see someone who tries to paddle in the sea to wash away the cramp of despair even though in their inner realm, they are almost drowning and hardly floating on the surface of the ocean of overwhelming burdens and responsibilities.

These are examples that possibly we don’t catch sight of from behind. And there are hundreds, perhaps a thousand more things that we can’t notice. So think of others and be kind.

-gold