More times than not, we move through life looking through our own specific lens, putting everything into its own little bubble. This lens is usually crafted very carefully by every experience we’ve had so far. But every now and then, the bubble pops… and suddenly, we see the world in a completely different light. The surreal part is that whether that perspective changes for better or worse is irrelevant. What matters is that the shift was meant to happen, its fate. It’s just like how the world looked bright and fairy tale like when we were kids, yet as we grew older, it felt as though a gloom had covered it.

So this week, we asked our community: What’s one thing you looked at every day, but one day, finally saw it differently?

One member shared a beautiful reflection on family:

“Growing up, I had always assumed that he was only my dad, someone who kept everyone in line, someone I had to listen to and respect, someone to pay the bills, refill the groceries, and drive me around. As I’m older now, I realize that my father is more than those things I had reduced him to. My father was once a little boy, a son, a brother, and a friend. He was a teenager with dreams and goals. He probably got into trouble and had to be kept in line himself. It’s a strange, beautiful thing to realize that the man I lean on was once just a boy finding his way, and that now, his whole world is us. To the world, he is a man who leads; to me, he is still that young boy at heart, just as I will always be his little girl.”

This one hits close to home. In our teens, we often see our parents merely as authority figures trying to police us, but as time passes, that view takes a complete 180. We might have rolled our eyes at them when they said, “You will understand when you grow up,” but oh boy, were they right. Because now, I see my parents as those little kids who once had their own independent dreams and goals. They are not just our parents; they are also human beings who chose to make us their whole world. What better way to describe love?

Another member spoke about nature:

“Rain and a warm drink… I used to look at rain like it was something annoying, it ruins plans, causes traffic, makes everything wet, and forces you to carry an umbrella. But now, listening to the rain hit the window somehow feels like a warm invitation. It becomes background noise that sounds like a gentle reminder to slow down.”

This is a perspective I’ve become very familiar with since moving to Sri Lanka, and I can totally see where they’re coming from. I grew up in a place where rain was quite rare….so rare that our schools used to close on rainy days! (It’s been two years since I moved here, and on rainy mornings, I still secretly hope lectures will be canceled). I will never forget the pure happiness that spreads through everyone here the moment we realize it’s raining. In seconds, instead of running inside, we run out to happily get drenched. It makes you realize that when you stop fighting the weather, you might hear something else… something so beautiful it reduces all your problems to nothing. Nature truly has the power to make me feel like I can handle anything.

A short but poignant submission on relationships:

“Him—this is so corny, I know, but there’s something about leaving that makes you realize how little you’ve cherished the person in front of you…”

Such a sweet, bittersweet response. Sometimes, it takes the bitter taste of absence to make us realize someone’s true value. We live in a world so fiercely focused on finding the next best thing that we often forget to cherish what we have right in front of us. Take a moment right now and think of someone you care deeply for but haven’t checked in on lately. Drop them a text and let them know you’re thinking of them. It might sound corny, but none of us are here forever, so why not?

We also received a powerful piece of creative writing:

“I looked at myself every single day… but one day, I finally saw it differently. Not just a girl, but a survivor built from silent battles nobody ever noticed. So I rebuilt myself in silence. I fixed my mindset, my confidence, my standards, and my energy. And slowly… the same girl who once cried herself to sleep became the girl who owns every room she walks into because of intelligence, discipline, emotional strength, and self-respect. Every betrayal taught me standards. Every rejection taught me self-worth. And now…? I am still becoming. Not perfect. But powerful. Not the same girl anymore. One day, you’ll look at yourself differently, too. Not with insecurity, but with pride. Because surviving silently is also a form of strength.” ~ HexiZ

We spend so much of our lives fitting into the labels the world hands us, staying silent just to avoid hurting others. But too often, people mistake that kindness for weakness. When you’ve finally had enough and you look in the mirror, you stop seeing their labels. All you see is a survivor.

You see the eldest daughter who carried weight far too early. You see the leader who guided others even while falling behind herself. You see the “loyal friend” who stayed genuine even after being replaced. That is the vision that should remain permanent. Because as this writer so beautifully put it: “I walk like a queen, not because life has become easier, but because I survived things meant to destroy me.” To anyone currently feeling invisible or underestimated: Remember that your silence isn’t a lack of power. It can be your greatest strength. It is all in how you choose to see it.

As for my own reflection…

If I were to answer this question myself, my mind instantly goes to a more modern dilemma: seeing an iPhone. Before, I used to look at one and simply wonder what model it was. But ever since I actually lost my iphone, the instant feeling of dread hits me before I can even formulate a thought. It completely changed the trajectory of my view, whether for better or worse, I’m still not quite sure!

Reading through all of your responses has made me realize how beautifully this question applies to every single corner of our lives. Being able to look at the same old things and see them differently is a genuine blessing; it gives us a chance to experience life through a whole new lens.

So, as you head into the week ahead, keep searching for the magic in the mundane.

Penned By:

Rtr. Rana Rilwan

Editor 25-26