What else do you do while using the bathroom but look around and find something to occupy your thoughts. As I visited an airport Ladies Room, I pondered the floor. Not just any tile floor. It was a mish-mashed mosaic of bright blue and green crystal shards blended with more plain oatmeal and beige pieces. Close up it looked like a real mess. As I broadened my gaze I could see the brilliance, beauty and practicality of this design. It struck me that someone put much care and thought into a floor that most people will never admire or appreciate.
As I headed home I thought about the things I overlook, the things I miss because I am looking too close or too quickly. We get so focused on ourselves that we forget to see the bigger picture. We zoom in on the one thing that matters to us and we forget to broaden our gaze, look up and see everything in context. We see the tiny pieces within our direct sight and never pause to view or ponder the way those pieces fit together to create the BIG picture.
None of us can imagine the things the people around us are dealing with. Pain, suffering, sadness, loss, loneliness, fear, or maybe incredible joy, anticipation, excitement, and great love. We see the things happening in our own lives and forget that those around us – even those we see everyday – have a different lens in which they view the world. And no matter how well we know anyone, we can still be surprised by their perspective of the big picture. We see the mosaic of bright blue and green and they see the entire floor.
Broaden your gaze. Pause and seek out other people’s views of things and listen. They may just point out a key concept or idea that you could never have imagined.
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