Eye opener

I am not sure why, but all of a sudden I have been very interested in the eyes. More so than usual. I feel very lucky to have great eyesight and I have even been thinking about going into a career of Optometry. I wonder if I can find work in a shop selling glasses to get the gist of it to start?

As a child, and still now (to be honest) I am not a fan of being in pitch pitch dark. When I was recently in Portugal staying in a house I did not know well, I woke up in the middle of the night to head to the bathroom and I could not find the switch. I had a moment of panic.

I have always had an interest in the lives of those who are blind, or their vision is obscured. Perhaps it is my lucky opportunity to have been introduced to people, amazing people, who have lost their vision. Some were born with an impairment, others lost it later in life.


I have had the luck of meeting people like Miles Hilton Barber who has adventured his way around the world more than once. He came to visit my parents at our farm and I was so interested in him. His enthusiasm and determination. We sat beside eachother at lunch and I was so nervous about the fact he had a slab of chicken stuck to his cheek.... he could sense I was nervous, wiped the food away and told me to relax. Do yourself a favour and check out his site. But I warn you, be prepared to get inspired.

http://www.mileshilton-barber.com/

I met another amazing man while working in a store. He was shopping for winter jackets. I spent a lot of time with him to help him find the perfect fit - he could sense the colours of the jackets. My mother has a cousin in South Africa who lost her vision very young due to an illness - I have been told stories of her riding a bike around a pond and picking the best fruit ever. Her sense of touch was impeccable. And on a daily basis here in Paris I witness and try to help when I can, the vision impaired navigating the streets and non-accomodating metro system.  

During my 5 years of practising yoga a few teachers have mentioned the exercise of the eyes. Looking back, way back. Stretch the eyes. Open eye meditation. I was not sure how and if any of this meant anything. Anyone who knows me, or my family, would agree we are all quite wide eyed and have alot of expression in our eyes - our eyes have sort of been a defining feature of our family. I love it. I also love that I have always been taught the importance of looking in the eyes. Looking into someones soul. I find eyes amazing. So, this rant is basically me sharing this great article I found on exercise of the eyes and its importance.

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/79?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=DailyInsight&_wcsid=0421906D81CD6A64EF57C859FAF8E484346366295FBFDE51

I hope you find this interesting. I hope you appreciate your eyes. And more than anything, I hope you offer assistance to those in need of it. Some may accept it and some may not - do not take it personally.

Look at someone in the eyes today.
Test your tolerance. Test theirs.

Namaste,
Pippa