Eyes up.

When I meet a new person, I often look into their eyes. And in that pair of eyes, what can I see? Is there anything to see apart from my own reflection? Do I see the deep dark pits in the centre of their eyes or the strained streaks around it? Or perhaps it's not the physical scars but the ones that lie beneath, I notice. Those silent marks that cannot be replaced, just covered. And I delve deeper imagining how painful it must have felt if I were in their shoes. And thinking if it was justified or instead someone's rage inflicted upon them. I begin to consider what my scars are and if I accept mine or hide their existence? There's so much to someone's life by seeing it through another's eyes.

While the eye holds immense physical and emotional characteristics, it's the auxiliary components that add to the depth of a person's story. The main features, eyebrows, eyelids, and eyelashes, contribute to emphasised or reduced expressions of your eyes. Some of us choose to accentuate ours and glamorise ourselves, and others prioritise other features of themselves. Our vision can be viewed as our most powerful sense if it is even possible to order your senses. If we get something stuck in our eyes, we might panic and be scared because we can't see clearly. This is a temporary struggle. Now I ask you to think about those people who have permanent sight loss and consider their battles. Or maybe we should understand how they enjoy life and know how they see the world. It may be through the other senses or through the eyes of others, that they can see the rest of the world and us.

In the above sentences, you may review your appreciation of your own sight. You may wish to give it to someone who can't see even just for a second and imagine their joy. Here's someone who's colour blind being able to see colour. Through technology, we can help them see colour. And it can break a grown man or woman to tears (forgive the simplistic YouTube content but appreciate its deeper meaning).

I know we are not at the stage of giving sight to people as easy as it is to go to the dentist and the technology isn't there yet, we can still help. Some charities make a difference, and I've listed the 'International Eye Foundation'. This started in 1961 with its aim of 'preventing blindness and restoring vision.

Secondly, I’ve chosen Orbis because they fight blindness globally and reach out to communities to help provide improvements and aid locally. Now during COVID-19, the emergency fund is high priority for them to focus on. Through mentors and supplies, we can step together and allow more eyes to blink.

Why do we feel strongly about this, and why are we giving? Are you solely wishing to give, or is there a feeling of guilt or pity? Are you trying to make up for your wrongs? If you are, this is a good step towards helping the broader community and being a better person inside. You're not a bad person, but sometimes you think you are.

So, what's the good in each of us or where is it? I ask you to think about that yourself. Perhaps, I'll ask you to think about what you value most, or what you use daily and how you would feel if you lost that ability. Or ask your friends for what they see in you. Go and ask them how they perceive your actions and the way you express yourself. And do the same for them. I request you to ask them today and to take this moment for a little reflection and think of those people that you've cherished throughout your life, or just adore them crossing paths with you at least once. They could’ve seen anyone else but it was you. The reflection of us is always around us, but it's how we interpret it and act on these characteristics that can define us. Don’t let life go past you, but flow with it. I ask you to see the potential that you can bring to this community, so we can see each other.