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November 10, 2008
Four Eyes
Over the past year I haven’t read as much as is typical for me. And the last six months I’ve just been skimming the books I need to read for professional reasons.
I’m not proud of this. Especially because I advocate reading. Not only as a way to learn but as a tool for networking. (To understand why and how read Book Yourself Solid.)
So what happened to me? Did I finally reach the tipping point and know everything there is to know? Certainly not. Is there nothing worth reading? Hardly. Did I suddenly become lazy? That’s what I was afraid of. But it turns out it was something else entirely…
I couldn’t see what I was trying to read!
Today I picked up a pair of reading glasses and presto–everything was in focus. I sat for three hours and soaked up every word of The New York Times. Seriously, I think I read every word printed–even the obits. I didn’t loose focus or get fatigued. I’m ecstatic, as you might imagine.
But why did it take me so long to figure this out? Because loosing focus is often a degenerative and incremental process. Slow and steady. And I don’t do slow and steady very well so it’s hard for me to recognize.
This gradual loss of focus doesn’t just happen to our eyes. It happens in our work in our relationships and to our overall health.
The good news is that now I have four eyes which which to focus on the future. Four eyes to explore all options when something’s not working the way I would like. And four eyes envision my work and my life in the crystal clear high-definition.
Aside: Interesting that I got the glasses two days before my 38th birthday. I always thought one didn’t need reading glasses until at least 40. Oh, well, I’ve always been out in front.
