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Greetings!
"The question is not what you look at, but what you see."
~ Henry David Thoreau
I had one of those unsettling close encounters last week. I parked my car on my way drop something off, glanced in the rear-view mirror to make sure nobody was coming and opened my door... into a person riding a bicycle. Needless to say, we were both rather startled.
Fortunately, he wasn't going very fast and he wasn't hurt physically. We were close to Bike Gallery and were able to walk up to have his bike checked out. It only needed minor repairs, which they graciously handled right away, and we were both on our way in a short time.
I believe that there are no true accidents in life. So, as I went through the rest of my day I pondered why this had happened and a couple of things kept sticking in my mind: 1) always look over my shoulder and not just in the mirror before I open my door, and 2) the importance of helping people see us.
As I was standing with the person who was riding the bike, I noticed that he was dressed in dull grey colors and the bike was also a dull grey. The area where this happened was on grey pavement, next to grey buildings, in dappled shade. After that, as I was driving around in the afternoon, I noticed how common it is to see people riding bikes and motorcycles wearing drab colors or black from head to toe. Not very visible.
The next day, I spoke to a man at a networking meeting who did his best to assure me he wasn't selling anything. He was so focused on delivering that message that never told me what he did for a living and he didn't find out anything about me, either. One has to wonder why he was there. What he had to offer remained invisible to me.
As the week went on, I continued to ponder the idea of being visible and noticed how often people in all areas of life play themselves down and avoid being seen. We've been told that it isn't good to "stand out" or "draw attention to ourselves". Says who? It can be to our detriment in many cases.
When riding a bike or a motorcycle, being seen can mean avoiding injury or death. When marketing a business, being seen can mean the difference between thriving or merely surviving or even going out of business. For an employee, being seen can mean the difference between advancing in ones career or being passed over time and time again.
So, as you go through your days this week, take some time to think about how you can be seen in the ways that are important to your personal and professional well-being. In relationships, be sure your needs are being seen. In activities, be sure you are being seen for safety reasons. In your work, be sure you are being seen for the value you bring to your clients/patients/employers/employees.
And, as you interact with others, be sure your are taking more than a quick glance in the rearview mirror. If that's all you do, you may be missing something important. Look all the way around and really see others, observing their needs and the value they bring to the world.
May you always be seen and seeing in the ways that matter -
Cheri
Small Business Coach
Reiki Master/Teacher
503-970-1973
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