A More Clear View

It's been fifteen months since I got my glasses, which in turn translates to the most fifteen headache-free months I've had in a long time. Glasses make my world clearer and therefore it's a lot more enjoyable to do activities like sitting in church, driving, and being in meetings since I can actually focus on what's going on. There's even a big difference with what I can see while doing my hair three feet away from the mirror.

Do you know what's crazy though? Nearly every morning I resist putting my glasses on. It's not that I don't like them (because I do). Nor is it that I find them uncomfortable (because I don't). It's actually that every morning an annoying, subconscious warning whispers insistently "No, No, No! They're dirty! Your vision will be blurry! You'll regret it!" at me. So I often don't wear my glasses until I've been up and working in my office for several hours, which is actually rather silly.

To combat the cringing feeling I get at the thought of smudgy glasses I wash them regularly, including each morning before I put them on. And do you know what? I can't remember the last time I regretted putting my glasses on.

Before glassesPutting on my glasses is like getting feedback back from a beta reader. (Y'all knew a writing comparison was coming, right?)

Feedback is so incredibly helpful. It makes my writing and books better; it helps them be more focused and clear. Feedback narrows and enlightens, helps me figure out what the next step is, and helps me see from other people's perspectives. (If only my glasses could do that...)

After glassesOn the flip side though, feedback also presents me with a whole new stack of problems to wash away and that can be a bit overwhelming. Plus, when I receive conflicting feedback from beta readers, it can smudge the clear view I thought I had of the book and confuse me while trying to decide who's feedback to listen to. 
That means that sometimes even though I want to get the feedback, I'm also half-way cringing inside as I read it. I've discovered a very important fact though: In the end I'm always thankful for feedback, even when I don't fully agree with it. That's because feedback, like my glasses, have a job to do and make life better when I don't shy away from them.

Currently I have a stack of emails with feedback sitting in my inbox, I have my glasses on, the world is clear, and I'm excited (mostly) to tackle today.