Eyes

In the popular action anime Naruto, some of the lead characters have abilities that allow their eyes to see what others cannot. They can see kilometers into the distance, see things behind the back of their head, see through objects and illusions, and even copy the movements and abilities of people just by watching them do it.

In the minds of young boys (and maybe adults too), it's an alluring fantasy to innately possess a trait that symbolizes your uniqueness and dominance over the common crowd.

But more seductive than that, perhaps, is this idea that you can see things that others can't, that you can discern invisible things and deep secrets just by looking at a person's face.

Some of us have this idea in our heads that we can tell what a person's character is like just from their physical appearance. One person, who is many years my senior, subscribes to this strongly and often has remarks to make about people just by looking at their pictures. Personally, she has much more life experience than I do and I can't simply discount what she says.

That said, I believe that yes, you can tell things about a person's character based on their facial features. The question, however, is whether or not we correctly interpret what it is we see. While the accuracy of such interpretations probably improves as we gain more experiences in life and meet more kinds of people, most of us would find it hard not to agree that in such a subjective matter, there should always be room for doubt.

But it's hard to let go of impressions based on such instinctual processes; to do so would be to deny affirmation to what we feel is our unconscious power. It's hard to relinquish the security that comes with being able to mark out who will or will not hurt you. There is a sort of pride and implication of spiritual ability (or maturity) that comes with the idea that we can read people.

It's thrilling to be able to know what comes next (like being able to predict the poorly-concealed gank attempts of lesser players). It's satisfying to say to others, "I knew it all along".

But sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, what's more important than being able to see the flaws in people is to be able to see the good in them.

I'm somebody with a short list of achievements, most of which only pertain to gaming. I didn't get stellar grades in primary or in secondary school. I'm not in a particularly prestigious branch of university education. I stopped playing the piano because of a lack of enthusiasm.

In spite of that, when it comes to being able to accomplish tasks (other than anything involving folding, tying ropes, or fitting things together), I'm confident in my ability to complete them or at least contribute to the process. I don't think I would have this same level of confidence if not for my mom and my friends, who give me reaffirmation from time to time.

Often, we need others to believe in us before we can achieve our fullest potential. The importance of loving yourself if an oft-taught moral lesson, but the reality remains that the average person needs at least a few important people to genuinely like and believe in them, before they can believe in themselves.

There are those people who laugh a little too loud, say the wrong thing out of nervousness, rub people the wrong way, or dance weird dances that are frowned upon by certain members of the larger dancing community. Too often and too easily do we write people off. Once in a while, I think it's worth it if we can open our eyes and see more in people than that which is before us.

P.S. Writing this, I'm at least somewhat aware that I've already crossed the line over into hypocrisy on this matter, several times at least. Well, I did say "Once in a while". Lol.


Cryptic comment of the day:

"If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet your father, kill your father. Free of everything you are bound by nothing, live the life that is given to you." -Genjou Sanzou, Saiyuki