June 28, 2024: The First Day I Could See

June 28th, 2024, was the first time I truly saw. For those of you who know me, this statement might be perplexing since I barely even wear glasses. So, what in the world am I talking about?

That week, I was with a middle-aged client who was reliving parts of her childhood. She realized there was a little girl inside her who was hurting, a little girl who just wanted to be seen. This thought lingered in my mind as I drove the following day at sunrise. In the silence of my car, I watched the sky transform through shades of blue, pink, orange, and purple. I saw the clouds form shapes, spiraling into new forms. As I drove, it struck me that I have the ability to see. Just as I could really see the colors and shapes forming in the sky, I could see the hurt of the crying child inside the middle-aged woman.

For over 30 years, I have begun each morning with a prayer, thanking G-D for giving sight to the blind. This prayer had become routine, something I recited without much thought. Even when I was younger and the blackboard grew fuzzy, the prayer remained a background habit. It wasn’t until I first opened my heart to truly listen to people that I realized I could see.

I see the woman who never socializes and stands next to her husband after services. I see the man walking his daughter to school in a downpour with a broken umbrella. I see the woman standing at a function, away from everyone, and I wonder if she is alone by choice.

Seeing isn't about having superpowers; it's about choosing to open our eyes and truly look at our surroundings. Notice who is standing with a group but feels removed, and who is eyeing the group, yearning to be a part of it.

There's a man who often sleeps in front of the supermarket near my home. As a social worker, I’m not in a position to diagnose, but it's clear this man faces mental health challenges. I’ve noticed his beautiful artwork and occasionally put coins in his cup. I thought I saw him until one day someone asked if I knew him—let's call him Jacob. I said no, but as they described Jacob, I realized I knew who he was by sight but not by name. This person truly saw Jacob, spoke to him, knew his name, and a bit about his background. He saw Jacob and spoke to him instead of walking around him.

Each and every one of us has the power to see. Please, open your eyes, show people they matter. This may change someone’s life.