Beloved,

The saga with my vision continues still. I decided that
I would go back to wearing glasses full time instead of
having a multitude of readers of various strengths laying
about including in my bathroom because I could not see
the lines in some of the measuring devices.

I felt like a complainer at the highest level. I know so many
people who are ecstatic after their surgery because they can
see so much clearer. Many do not need “readers” and the
ones that do don’t seem to mind that they need them to read.
I, on the other hand, feel so helpless when I cannot read, see
close or even do my nails. With the help of my glasses, I
had a complete roundabout vision. I could see far and near
with glasses and if I really needed to see closer, I would lift
my glasses and look at whatever it was without them.

I have worn glasses for at least 65 years so not seeing in the
distance without glasses did not affect my immediate world.
It only affected me if I wanted to drive a car and to see the
street signs and my glasses helped with that so I was all set.
I took my type of vision for granted. I had a choice of either
having better far vision or close vision. I chose the far
vision because I had never seen far before without
glasses and I wanted to experience it. Boy, did I goof.
I did not do enough research before such a radical step.

Then…..my life turned upside down, in complete reversal.
I suggest anyone who is having cataract surgery to make
a concerted effort to be completely aware of just how much
they look at that which is close. I was never aware of just how
many times I needed my close vision to maneuver around
my home and my daily life. From reading a recipe, knitting,
interpreting a label, seeing if I have sleep in the corner of
my eyes, did I have dirty fingernails,I could not see to
pull the splinter out of my finger, even charging my cell
phone: I could not see to plug in the charger. Reading
prescription labels was a problem, going grocery shopping
and reading the ingredients or trying to read price tags had
me squinting and then having to ask someone to help me. It
also took me much longer to shop.

I could not tell the markings on a measuring cup for my
daily breakfast of oatmeal or even make phone calls as
I could not see the numbers. I went out and bought a
new phone with larger numbers, also an outdoor
thermometer with large numbers so I could see
the temp without glasses as it is usually 5 degrees
colder here than the weatherman says.

It seemed every where I looked in my daily life I
could not read what I needed to so that was when
I made the decision to go back to wearing glasses
full time. It was suggested that I get Progressive
lenses as that is what I wore before the cataract
surgery. I got the Progressive lenses in my new
glasses and was assured that I would “get used
to them”. Well, guess what…I tried so hard to
see but the only time I could wear them was
when I was watching TV as I was not moving
my head or walking around. I was beginning to
think it was all in my head. Have you ever felt
like that? I felt like a whiner and complainer but
that did not alter the fact that I was spacey,
sick to my stomach and off balance.

I need to compliment WalMart because they
took back the glasses and their optician gave
me a lot of hope as she said many people
have that problem. How come we only
hear about the ones that can see good and
not the ones that can’t? At least, that is what
it seemed like to me. The Optician suggested
trifocals which I had worn about 15 years ago
and did well with until I switched to progressives.

Guess what? I was anxious as I went to get my
“new” glasses but I could actually see with these
trifocals. Sure I could see the lines but after
all my years of experience I know that my
brain will eventually stop seeing them. And…
it was the same prescription. GO FIGURE!

Throughout this whole ordeal, I became aware
of a deep appreciation for the vision I had
before and now for my new vision. MY
PERSPECTIVE HAD CHANGED and that
is so valuable. To be able to “see” differently
gives you a whole new perspective as well as
a whole new world. I am much more aware
of the intricate balance of viewing the world,
my world and the outer world. I need to have
more patience with myself as well as others
who see things differently from me. I know I
am much harder on myself, judging myself
much harsher than others. I was upset because
I did not want to complain to the ones who
could help me but if I didn’t, they would not
know that I needed something different. I had
expected a much different outcome and was
disappointed in myself that I did not achieve it.
Does that sound familiar to you? Have you
ever felt that way?

Let me make a pact with you . I will be a lot
softer with myself if you will be softer with
yourself. I will love myself a lot more if you will
love yourself more. I will be more patient with
myself if you will be more patient with yourself.
What a wonderful world this would be if we
all did the above. Love would be flowing
so easily from one to the other that our whole
planet would be at peace .

Here is something that I tried to figure out while
it was being created but I failed.
Again, perspective is everything as I saw
different things right up to the end.
See how you do.

THIS IS AWESOME!!!!
I guarantee you will watch spell-bound until the last
drop of paint is put in place. When you think it is
over…there is more.
Make sure your sound is turned up
www.youtube.com/v/QZFkZiwMLZ4

Love and Light

Mary Grace
www.TheWoundedChalice.com
www.TheWoundedChalice.com/blog
[email protected]