I wrote the title above having an idea of what I intended to write about and then started wondering if I had the word right?  Or, if there were varied meanings so did I need to make clear which I was thinking about…

From Merriam-Webster (online)

per·spec·tive  noun

Etymology: Middle English perspectyf, from Medieval Latin perspectivum, from neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look — more at

From Wikipedia – (which is not necessarily accurate as the entries can be submitted by anyone..) 

Perspective may mean:

Literally, in visual topics:

• Perspective (visual), is the way in which objects appear to the eye
• Perspective (graphical), means to represent the effects of visual perspective in drawings

Metaphorically, in relation to cognitive topics:

• Perspective (cognitive), one’s “point of view”, the choice of a context for opinions, beliefs and experiences
• Point of view (literature), the related experience of the narrator

Onward, then… “perspective” – “to look more at” and “the way in which objects appear to the eye” – that’s behind today’s thoughts.    Walking yesterday, I turned to check on Karl and saw this tree – backlit by the late afternoon sun.  I walk past this tree once or twice a day – I’m usually looking out at the mountains which are beautiful and majestic in the opposite direction.

But today, by accident of timing, I turned at a moment when this ordinary tree was cast in extraordinary beauty – at least to my eye.

Years ago, during a difficult time for me, I was seeing a counselor and had related some incident that was upsetting to me.  His comment when I finished my rant was simply: “You could look at it that way or you could look at it this way” and he told the incident from a “different” [new to me] perspective.  Either one could have been the “truth” or even some other scenario…

A valuable lesson – actually more than one:  Most of us are not mind readers and it is so easy to look at things, events or people from a point of view unique to our own experience but not necessairily accurate.

Sometimes, we need to turn around, take a step forward, backward, to the side, cock our head – look more at – the world and the people we care about. 

A slight change in perspective can change the ordinary into the extraordinary.