I first started wearing glasses when I was nine. I will never forget the first time I put those glasses on and went outside - it left a lasting impression, even at that young age. All of a sudden with the glasses on my world came into focus in a way it never had before. Colours seemed to have a certain - crispness, a clarity. Everything had an edge where there was only blur before. I never knew before how crisp everything was supposed to be, how wonderful the contrast between light and dark was or even how vibrant a colour can be until it has that crispness to its edges.

Still today there are times when I look around and see the crisp, clear colours and my world seems to come into focus again. Most of the time, it’s after a time of personal darkness or in times of sorrow. Often I never even realize how out of focus things have gotten. I feel thankful to be alive, and realize that many people will not be so fortunate as to see another day as beautiful as this, no matter how ordinary it seemed only a moment before. On these days, I feel a certain sadness in the knowledge of inevitable loss and an appreciation for the beauty this world can provide if only we focus our eyes on it. To put on our glasses if you will.