Perceptions' Reflections

A friend shared one of this week's comics, Pooch Cafe.  (Thank you, Ron!)  It closely tracked my musings:

• How do I see my world?
• Are there ingrained filters that limit what I see?
• When might my perceptions of people be inaccurate or untrue?

These reflections began at my youngest brother's milestone birthday celebration last weekend.  (Happy Birthday, Kevin... age purposely not disclosed!)

Through what filters do you see the world?
~ ~ Click on image to enlarge ~ ~
(Photo credit:  Pooch Cafe, Paul Gilligan, May 2, 2025)

Looking around at my siblings, nieces, nephews, their spouses, children, and Kevin's friends, I realized [again!] how much my sisters and brothers have changed since we were young and lived together with my parents.  Our journeys have diverged, and we have sought out different interests, adventures, and discoveries. (Wonderful variety and diversity!)

 

Going back even further, I recalled an assignment I gave my second-grade class: with a black marker, I created different squiggly lines on art paper.  The students were asked to use their imagination and creativity to draw what they saw in their individual squiggly line.  The results were wonderful, drawing on that person's unique views and experiences.

How do you use your imagination and creativity?
(Photo: Brian's Creative Snail, 1979)

Being a church-based school, another assignment I gave the class was to write about their favorite Bible story.  Tommy wrote about David and Goliath.  Looking back these many years, I see much of Tommy's early life in his reflected story: standing up to older brothers and a parent who minimized him.

 

I wonder:  How do these family stories and filters define our lives?  Are we constantly living or escaping these stories?  Where did Tommy take his story after he moved on with his life?

What are your favorite stories?
(Photo: Tommy's Favorite Bible Story, 1978)

As we become aware of how we see or experience the world, maybe our challenge is to show up with honesty and humility:  that is, showing up as we are today AND sharing with others the person we are becoming.

 

Our invitation -- using imagination and creativity -- is to honor the squiggly lines that began our Life's Journey and respect the variety of paths we and others have taken.

 

I am curious: where are you in your journey this week?

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

Foolish Perspectives

One of the unique features of each Holland America cruise ship is in the elevator: the day of the week is imprinted on the floor mats.  Crew members are tasked with changing out these carpet pieces each evening so that passengers know the day of the week.  It's a nice feature... until you realize time is quickly passing and your vacation is coming to an end!

Talking to a cruise director one day, I mentioned that an interesting April Fool's joke might be to place a different day-mat in each elevator on April 1st.  How many passengers would notice?  Imagine the confusion!

How many clues do you gather each day?
(Photo: Holland America elevator floor mat - Larry Gardepie)

As humans, we receive a vast array of sensory input throughout the day, and our minds are constantly trying to sort out and understand this information.  What I find interesting are the various methods we individually distinguish between what we pay attention to, what we consider to be true and accept, and what we decide to believe or not believe.

For instance, observing myself and other passengers seeing a floor mat that says "Saturday":

• Some people looked at their watch or phone to confirm the day;
  
• Some talked to their companion to confirm the day;
• Others simply shook their heads in affirmation; and,
• A few didn't say or do anything.

When are you too close to a situation to see it fully?
(Photo: Holland America artwork - Larry Gardepie)

Another nice feature of Holland ships is the artwork scattered throughout the vessel.  I have always admired creative simplicity:  being able to artistically tell or display simple scenes.  One art piece was covered with colored plastic bubbles that had been squished.

 

Looking closely, you could appreciate the technique and amount of work - the placement of each plastic bubble; the evenness and consistency when depressing the bubbles.  Stepping back, the viewer could now see, understand, and appreciate the full image.  Both closeness and separation were important to appreciate what was before us.

Can you step back and appreciate a different view?
(Photo:  Holland Artwork - Larry Gardepie)

I would suggest that Dialogue invites us into meaningful conversations about differing ideas, opinions, thoughts, and truths.  It attempts to differentiate between facts and assumptions we have held closely, and to build foundations of shared meaning and understanding.

 

Dialogue doesn't presume that everyone will agree on everything.  But it relies on goodwill and trust to look closely and then step back on various topics, issues and concerns.  It asks that we develop an awareness of where we gather information and with whom we check it out.

 

I am worried, though, that our society is playing with the anti-thesis of dialogue:  to push out narratives and perspectives that push away opportunities to come together.  Like my April Fool's suggestion to the cruise director, today's narrative attempts to confuse.

My prayer as we enter each Holy Week of our lives, let us release the foolish perspectives that separate and divide, and let us be drawn together to resurrect New Ways of Being together!

 

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

(click on link for website)

Facts or...

I've always enjoyed math and science!  There is something reassuring when math problems have solutions, and where we can explore questions about our world.  For me, having some level of trust in math and science became very real this past Friday: I found myself in the Emergency Room!

Professionalism, education, and compassion came together as doctors and nurses provided care and reassurance as they observed, asked questions, and applied their knowledge to my situation.

I am home and doing well, but I am left with many questions about this World Divided, a world needing and seeking healing.

When are facts real?
Click on comic to to enlarge
(Photo credit: Family Circus by Bill Keane, 10/28/20)

 For instance, I wonder about:

• Can we have a dialogue about the facts?  (As Billy asks his mother, "Will two plus two always equal four?")
• How can we listen to another person's experience... without minimizing that experience?
• Are we willing to be patient as we explore questions and situations where solutions may be very complex and seemingly elusive?

And, what happens when we receive new information that has the potential to change our perceptions:

• Are we able to  change our conclusions about that person or situation?

What happens when your definitions are challenged?
Click on comic strip to enlarge
(Photo credit:  Pickles by Brian Crane, 10/26/20)

 
Rather than readily -- or automatically -- absorbing another person's opinions or social posts, maybe the challenge is to become personally engaged in the process of curiosity:

• What don't I know?
• Can I become open towards exploration?
• Am I willing to Birth the Truth that emerges from our relationship?

How do you adjust your perceptions?
Click on comic to enlarge
(Photo credit  Pluggers by Rick McKee, 10/16/20)

Moving through my ER experience this week, I could not rely on my general knowledge of math and science.  Instead, I realized that healing in my situation required that I trust the people who have pursued medical solutions.  I was not asked to give up my role in my recovery.  Listening to their knowledge and experience, I was being educated on how my life could improve.  I had a choice: am I willing to listen, learn, and heal?

 

As we move past Election 2020, the Dialogue invitation is similar:  to practice -- to try on -- the attributes of:

• Humility:  I don't have all the answers.
  
• Exploration:  I am open to new possibilities.
  
• Acceptance:  I am willing to change my perspective.
  
• Loving:  I care for and can show compassion towards all people.
  

 
Healing will take place if we work together to build up... rather than tear down.

 

 

May peace reign in our hearts this week! 

 

 

Larry Gardepie

Dialogue San Diego Consulting

(click on link for website)