Through the Lens of Gratitude

Invisible People “I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen.” ~ John Steinbeck These words, penned by American author John Steinbeck, can be found in his book, The Winter of Our Discontent, the last novel he published. While a major theme of this work is the effect of societal pressure, there is much more a reader can glean from reading this classic. This particular quote, which I find to be a bit bothersome, challenges me to ask myself a troublesome question: Who, in my lifetime, have I looked at, yet never seen? There are many needs we have as humans: love, appreciation, and recognition, to name a few. It’s this last need — recognition — that comes to mind when I ponder Steinbeck’s words above. I’m fairly certain that I’m not alone in wondering how many people in my life, people I have encountered on a regular basis, I failed to acknowledge.  Some of these individuals, such as the homeless man or woman begging for money outside the local grocery store, may be people we notice, but consciously or unconsciously choose to ignore. Others, however, may be people with whom we feel we have no meaningful connection. This category of people might include the baristas at our local Starbucks, sales people in retail stores, postal service letter carriers, or landscapers who maintain the property where we live or work. Others in this category might include receptionists in offices, random people walking around in our neighborhood, or coworkers with whom we have minimal direct contact. Unfortunately, it is quite common that people fail to see some of their neighbors — the elderly in the community, or people with disabilities. Some of these individuals describe the experience of feeling invisible, well aware that there are people who don’t want to see or acknowledge them. So what are we supposed to do, say hello to every random person we pass on the street? Well, that is certainly a viable option. And why not? A simple nod of the head, accompanied by eye contact, lets the other person know that, if nothing else, you noticed them and acknowledged their presence. A gentle “Good morning!” can do the same thing. In fact, it might be the only “Good morning!” the person hears all day.  Steinbeck’s words challenge me to consider how many people I have ignored or taken for granted in my lifetime. I know I’m guilty of doing this, though as I’ve gotten older, I’ve made a more concerted effort to consciously acknowledge others, and even to engage them in conversation. More often than not, the experience of doing so has been positive. We all want and need to be loved, appreciated, and recognized by our fellow humans. I’m grateful for the opportunity to remind myself and others that no one deserves to be treated as though they were invisible. Reflection Questions 1. Who, in your lifetime, have you looked at, but never seen? How does reflecting on this question make you feel? 2. Have you ever had the experience of feeling invisible to those around you? How did you cope with this situation?