How eyes see
A friend recently reposted a blog by a mutual friend. Her comments caught my attention since it started out with “Stupid, dumb, lazy, retarded…” (What’s that tell you about me? ) I continued to read which lead to reading the blog about people who criticize others for not using words like their, there, they’re in the proper context or using its and it’s incorrectly. These criticizers appear to also assume the writer is stupid or lazy or lacks education when, in fact, it’s a function of the way their brain works. They are dyslexics and I’m married to one. (Which may explain to many old friends why he married me!)
I can’t profess to understand it. I don’t but I accept that others have dyslexia and reading and writing doesn’t come easy to them. For me, it’s a no brainer to read and write. Reading is a hobby for me. I couldn’t understand why Ron never read fiction. For him reading requires him to focus in order to read. When he does read, he wants it to count, to give him information that will improve him, or help him with his work or project or help him understand how something works.
Some of us have brains that function differently than others. Your brain decides how you see. The retina sees the world upside down and your brain turns it right side up. This explanation comes from The National Eye Institute.
What people forget, myself included, is that what we see with our eyes is truly forms, patterns, shapes, lines. The eye collects all the information and then sends all of it to the brain to process. The optic nerve carries all the information to the brain which then processes and tells us what we are “seeing” like a “cat” or a “dog” or a letter “A”.
Yet why do so many feel compelled to tell another that they are using words incorrectly or have grammatical errors or assume that the writer is dumb? Why do so many have this need to show another that they are wrong or less than? And less than what? Why is there a standard and who determined the standard? Why must one defend their writings by telling another “I do this because of my dyslexia.”
Our society teaches judgment. In talking to the Food Savant, we determined that what was important was the message, the content of what is written and not the misspellings or grammar mistakes. Yet I pointed out that humans are taught to judge and if the mistakes weren’t there, or the misspellings, then someone would focus on the lifestyle or the hair style or the clothing style or the belief system of the author to criticize.
We have choices. We can read for the message and ignore the misspellings or misuse of words. The message is the important thing. Judging the author muddies the waters. Maybe this could be your one daily act of kindness toward another. And the authors have a choice too. We can ignore the corrections and recognize that others opinions are just that. They are none of our business. Send them love and enjoy your day as you choose.
Wonderful Thank you !
I’m so glad you like it. I took some time writing it. It has had many versions. Just remember the comments from detractors are coming from a place of lack. SEnd them love.
I am so glad I read this. At least 3 of my children have at least mild dyslexia. I grew up with a mother asking me how to spell things. I got to where I hated it as an adult because I couldn’t remember how to spell those words I worked so hard on remembering as a child.
I don’t know if it’s nature or what but I have always looked past the words or person. Maybe I was just raised to understand that people aren’t always what they seem. Often the mean ones are the most hurt. It’s the bully syndrome. “I put you down so I get a false sense of being better than.” It’s hard to see, especially on the net where we forget that real people get that “feedback”.
Oh and I still have to focus on the tricks to remember which there goes where. 🙂
As for your husband. Lucky you. I know that dyslexics are often some of the most intelligent people on the planet. Thanks for writing this!
Funny, my husband has always felt I was the smarter one. Yet I have talked to him and been surprised many times by how he thinks about issues and some I admire. (I can admire the ones I disagree with! LOL). I think he is far smarter than he gives himself credit. Dyslexia has nothing to do with smarts and most everything to do with communication skills in writing. Luckily we don’t have to spell which there is being spoken! I’m very glad this has touched you. Thank you for your lovely comment.
I love this post!! Just today I saw someone correct someone else’s post on Linkedin – as a “professional courtesy!” You know what I thought: what a jackass.
@twitter-435317318:disqus, you truly can make me laugh out loud! Thanks.
I am so on board. Spelling has never been my strong suit. And though I am grateful for the little red squiggly lines that help point out a place I need to revisit, I hate being corrected if its unimportant. If its important and will help me in my goal then for some reason I can find love there. But please decide if its important and then send me a private message. Otherwise, you are a jackass (Kim Dalferes)
Laughing again! Why is it that everyone knows how to spell jackass? LOL. Thanks for commenting and giving me a chuckle!
Great post and great perspective! Interesting where the judgement comes from – so often from our past, only to be reinforced by our environment. You are absolutely right and we need to read the message!
Love this post! Thanks Julieanne!!! ♥
Thank you , my sweet friend! Miss talking to you!
I agree the message is important. i am a good speller and i have been noticing some dyslexia tendencies with my typing- sometimes I correct them, on my blog post i do go back and fix them-= love Kim’s comment
yes send them love and embrace the message
We all need to listen more and speak/think less. Thanks for commenting!>
It used to bother me before I became more awakened. Now grammar nazis annoy me lol – still judging in one way or another (I am). You’ve seen that thing that flies around FB every now and again that looks like nonsense but you can read it so now I figure if I can read it who cares. I do still get annoyed by people who use slang deliberately but that’s another story 😀