Seeing - Once Again

To "see" doesn't mean just to register images; it means to interpret. - Damon Knight, Developing Your Talent as a Writer; Learning to See

When you walk in a meadow, see a tree - what do you see? Some might say, "I see a tree." Some might say, "I see an oak tree." The point is not only what you see but how you interpret that tree. Some might say, "The huge oak with its many knots and wide branches shifted and swayed with the afternoon breeze while impressing nature with its strength, health and breadth over the land under the shadow of its heavy branches filled with leaves cluttering and caressing one another as many mothers to their younglings."

Yes, a bit much but I want to get the point across. Seeing a tree is one thing but seeing it and interpreting what you see into more than just a simple tree is something unique and special. It tells us a story and in karate-do what we see in our environment and how we interpret what we see matters.

Today I was reminded just how complicated interpretation is and that interpretation involves seeing, interpreting and knowing what you see is vital. So many video's are made of folks on the streets that it becomes a witness and a threat. I have viewed two today that I misinterpreted completely because I don't have full knowledge of the incident and I have no experience as a professional interpreting the events that were recorded.

I viewed the video, I attempted to see the event and I judged - too quickly and incorrectly. I was lucky a professional provided me much needed feedback on the events that once explained opened my eyes to seeing that his interpretation was far superior to mine and rightly so.

I then viewed another video of a violent encounter between two reported street members. I came to realize that avoidance is so much more important. Violence is unforgiving. I actually thought the person who received the most damage that he was dead or at the very least would suffer a lot of physical complications later on.

Seeing things with clarity and properly interpreting events, people and actions is most difficult and can be so misleading - a dangerous mix if you are ever in a violent encounter. Trust me, I will run fast and far if I am lucky enough to see it coming and my pride will not be an issue nor will my ego. It is so much safer.

Knowledge, interpretation and reality seeing - another important aspect of self protection.