A Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious: When Seeing is not Believing

Why do we refuse the obvious? One of my favorite lines from Barbarians At the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco is “A blinding glimpse of the obvious.” Whilst I know this line, know this way of thinking, I and others ignore it. I’ve had trouble seeing for the last 4 months. I delayed going to the eye doctor because it wasn’t time for my yearly exam. I had great difficulty reading, it was just uncomfortable and not enjoyable. Mentally, I wrote it off as, well, I don’t have a lot of time to read. I found myself memorizing my cello lessons, because in reality, I had trouble reading the music. Finally, after I failed to recognize someone about 50 yards away, I chose not to wait any longer.

If I really had stuff to read, I’d take my contacts out. I self diagnosed that I finally needed readers even though I’m still using small font on my iphone. Finally, I was so annoyed with my blurry vision, I did not wear my contacts when I walked  20 blocks to my eye appointment. If you have not figured this out already, neither had i even though it is a “blinding glimpse of the obvious.”

My contacts are too strong. I don’t need them. My new prescription corrects my astigmatism. My right eye is 20/20 and left is slightly nearsighted which is why I don’t need readers. The crazy part, other people won’t accept it. “Maybe the prescription you had was wrong to start with.” To which I’d respond, I’ve had that prescription for 5 years. At this point, people disengage and just say, oh you are weird. Which in my mind is also a way of saying, I don’t believe you.

For those who engage long enough, I actually do a have a logical explanation. I changed jobs.  I am no longer on a laptop 10 to 15 hours a day. That seems more reassuring, but, makes me ask, why we don’t accept the obvious, myself included in the first place.  Even though I would take out my contact to “see.” I was so sold into aging and worsening eyesight I missed the obvious, what I was doing almost unconsciously. The weirdest part, this week, I found my self a little nervous about driving with my naked eyes….ok I am weird.

This week, consider, are there things you accept, things you do based on, lets say the wisdom of crowds despite your experience?