I was born premature at six months, and shouldn't exist. Yet,
here I am. Historically, I will be: Kenneth Udut: 1972 - ????
I don't know or care what those ???? numbers will be. I just
know that I am in the - part right now.
Living in my -, I have only my eyes to see with, my ears to hear
with, my brain to think with, filled with whatever concepts have
been shown to me thus far. I piece them together as best I can.
I don't even have "normal eyes". 1 eye is extremely nearsighted,
the other has a black spot on the retina that keeps me from
centering on anything. There is a "black snow" that makes it
impossible to focus in on anything in particular, even if
glasses make it sharp. So, my two eyes merge together as best
they can. I wouldn't be typing here without glasses.
I have an ear that has never heard anything much at all, and the
other goes only up to 5000 hz, due to being premature.
In short, I *literally* have a limited perspective on the world
and everything in it.
So, I compensate.
I listen more closely to what people have to say. I have to
interpret their words (whether spoken but also written) more
carefully. My brain is forced to pay more attention to the
limited perspective it is given on the world.
Yet, I consider myself entirely normal. I have no reason to
assume otherwise. Just because a majority of people seem to
see/hear differently than me, doesn't matter to me. I'm glad
they have better eyes and ears and more perspective on the
world. I listen to everybody because each person can see
something that I don't see. They're not in my body or mind. I'm
not in their mind or body. So I make the most out of
communication and strive to always walk away from every
encounter having learned something new.
If I haven't learned something new, then my extra effort in
listening was wasted energy.
I don't care as much if someone agrees with me. I just like them
to walk away feeling that "Ken is a nice guy", because when they
do, maybe they'll want to share more of their perspective of the
world with me again in the future.