Senses, the Ultimate Illusionist

I wrote something in my last post about how we perceive world:

"Being aware that you see and understand the world only through your senses and brain, helped a lot.."

This sentence made me think even after writing my thoughts down, especially after some recent events in my life.

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Few days ago I had one of my famous headaches, the type where you have to isolate yourself from sound and light in order for it to go away. I am not a person who would use drugs of any kind (antibiotics especially), because I think our body is trying to tell us something with the pain, there is no point in just "muting" it. I just had to figure out why my head hurts, and how to fix it. I knew my headache can come from few things (and many others):

• Not enough water in my body (guilty as charged) ;
• Low blood pressure (because why not);
• Eyesight (wait, what?);

I remembered that I read for few hours, in not so perfect lightning, and I drove my car on a pretty dark highway. I was sure that I have to check my eyesight again, after 10 years. I wore glasses with minimum dioptre few years ago, but mostly while studying. I thought I saw good, not great, but let's say good enough.

I went to the optometrists to check everything out, and to my big surprise I couldn't see most of the letters and numbers on the test board. I was embarrassed, like she is going to judge me or give me some low rating (silly). I even tried to remember the numbers, to perform better, but it didn't work. I just couldn't believe that I can't see that much. The doctor was a professional (thank God) and prescribed me glasses after all the tests, and I picked them up yesterday.

Since then, I can't tell you enough of how much my world changed. I could see (not that I couldn't) everything, every detail, letter, billboard, leafs on the treas, hair on my dog. I was ecstatic! But then it hit me (my overthinking mode) - what did I see (missed) until now?

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Everything I know about the world I learned through my senses, and it turns out they are not even working right! My eyes were perfect for me, and my brain got used to the fact that I see the way I see. I thought of it as "normal". In fact, my brain got so used to it, that now I have a problem adjusting to my glasses and sight (it will get better, they assured me). How can you trust your other senses, and make decision based on the feelings they send you, when they can be wrong (obviously)?

The question haunts me, and I know that I am not the only one. I will read about it more, and I already have some knowledge on the subject, but I suppose no one really has an answer to that question. I came to the conclusion that my truth is not yours (for example we see the world in different resolution), and there all the fun and differences between us begins. My eyesight didn't allow me to see details, it's like a blur in some kind of photo editing. But, I don't see it as a disadvantage, just something different about me. Maybe that same sight made me an optimist (you know, not being able to see all the ugly details :)).
And to be honest, we don't have much choice, since we believe our senses and let them guide us. We made it this far, so I think we are going to be OK.

My inner nerd coming out

What do you think on the question of illusion and senses? Be sure to leave me a comment!

With love and glasses,
Tamara