O wad some Power the giftie gie us 

To see oursels as ithers see us.

… And the English version;

O would some Power with vision teach us

To see ourselves as others see us!

-Robert Burns 1759-1796

After noticing a louse on the head of a woman he sat behind in church one Sunday, Burns wrote the poem, Ode to a Louse. His observation was that the louse had absolutely no consideration for the woman’s new hat or her superior station in society. The poem serves as a reminder to all of us not to think too much of ourselves. After all, the louse didn’t think too much of her before it climbed onto her head.

With all due respect to Mr. Burns, I’m going to twist his intention a wee bit:

What if we could see ourselves as those who love us see us?

Sometimes those who love us see our whole selves, the good, the bad, and the ugly… and our talents.

My family, and others who love me, see me as far more talented than I consider myself to be. I have a sister who thinks I am always caught up on everything, e.g., one step ahead of laundry, housecleaning, and my homework. Oh. I wish. 

I think she overestimates my organizational skills, which are really unimportant in the big scheme of my life. But I so appreciate her support of my writing. If I could see myself as she sees me, I’d be a bigger version of myself. And nothing wrong with that.

Vincent van Gogh’s younger brother Theo loved Vincent and his talent enough to financially support his artistic endeavours for years. I am aware that Vincent had mental health issues, but what if he could have seen himself as Theo did? Maybe, just maybe, he might have loved himself and his talents a little more. What a powerful gift that would have been.

Keep your joy.

Contentment is for Cows: Short and sweet reflections on life’s complications.

Posted every Sunday, unless it’s a holiday.

The comic panels below bring chapter four, “I Bella, Me Muttley” to a close. Next week we begin chapter five, “Oops, Wrong Box.”

Chapter Four, Scene Twenty-Two

The End.