Perspective–it’s so much a matter of perspective when we assess the situation, isn’t it. My sister’s younger son once had a moment of imbalance and tripped, not quite falling but giving the smallest yelp of surprise as he righted himself. His brother, two years his senior, rolled his eyes and sighed ever so indulgently, ‘Ah, Youth!’
Big brother was four years old.
There’s a lot of value in considering others’ point of view, not least of all when it happens, in the literal sense, to be at the same level as one’s own knees, or the top of the kitchen table. The whole world is remarkably different from such an angle. People treat us differently, expect different things from us, more often require time and patience and wisdom to interpret our words and ideas and actions.
We assume, quite rightly, that the young require this sort of accommodation and flexibility in our conversations and interactions. How much more so, then, should we be willing to see the universe more clearly through another’s eyes if we can consider him equal to us in age, experience, or status. We are all children in other people’s worlds, when it comes right down to it, barely able to see over their windowsills or fence-tops, hardly understanding a word of their language even when the speak, it seems our own. We’re none of us so truly far past two years old, apparently.
Art-Colored Glasses 
Ah, Wisdom! “None of us so truly far past two years old, apparently.”
In my family, it becomes evident mighty quickly, to be honest. 🙂
great post 🙂
Thanks!
Wisely written. Thank you dear Katrthyn, have a nice weekend, with my love, nia
May you have a lovely weekend too! It’s sunny and almost like summer here. Hard not to enjoy that. 🙂
xoxo
Kathryn
This is really well written and thought provoking! Thanks for sharing this! 🙂
I appreciate your coming by here, Friend! 🙂
Anytime! 🙂
Sometimes we need to balance the wisdom of maturity with the innocence of children! Lovely post…
Thank you, Tanya, you are too kind. 🙂
Tanya aka Chica Andaluza phrased it perfectly!
🙂 Mandy
I believe in the concept wholeheartedly–not absolutely sure I *grasp* the maturity and wisdom stuff as well as I do the childlike part, but I’m working on it! 🙂
As one who is currently getting a refresher course in Life Through a Two-Year-Old’s Eyes, I couldn’t agree more…
Everywhere we go, Angel greets people with a cheery little “Hi!” Most people smile and respond in-kind. A few weeks back, a young woman in a rush looked at her and just kept going.
“Why that lady mad?” she asked…
Why indeed! How can anyone ignore an Angel, I ask you? Of course, that *is* the eternal conundrum: we’re all generally nice and smart enough, but never so mature we wouldn’t still walk right on by an angel unawares . . .
Your little Angel is a quick learner! So glad she has such a grand teacher. 🙂
xoxo
So wise, Kathryn! “We are all children in other people’s worlds” – I think that this is truly wonderful, and so true. 🙂
It’s intimidating to realize how naive we remain forever, but somehow makes me more hopeful as well! 🙂
Because Wisdom is like our endless universe; we are all children in other people’s worlds…
&as John Muir says, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”
Mr. Muir certainly knew whereof he spoke!
Children often play-act…putting themselves in situations where they quite naturally take another view…
As adults perhaps that would be a good thing to continue…at least in our thoughts, when forming opinions, making judgments and even decisions, etc.
Very wise and beautifully put. Especially like: ‘How much more so, then, should we be willing to see the universe more clearly through another’s eyes if we can consider him equal to us in age, experience, or status.’
What a pity that we think by leaving our childlike qualities behind we are growing more ‘mature’, when what we often do is simply become more circumscribed and narrow and fixed in our thinking. Better to retain a little of that whimsical flexibility that allows us to see things as they *might* be . . .