Lens

Recently, someone asked me which house I’d belong to in Harry Potter; I thought they chose you. Shows how much I know.

On the subject of choices, I’m certain I’ve never chosen a pair of glasses; they’ve always picked me. While that sounds absurd, had I been asked to design them myself, I doubt I’d have opted for a rimless pair with an off-gold frame. Predictably, the Emporio Armani spectacles were among the most expensive of the selection.

As I tirelessly photographed other frames, attempting to convince myself there were alternative options, each shortlist was whittled down to the same design. Regardless of whether I preferred different styles, the Armani frames’ subtlety complimented the contours of my face.

For those who wear glasses daily, you can’t underestimate the importance of selecting new frames. When I remove mine, I see a different face; they’re as memorable as any other feature. More profoundly, these two pieces of warped glass are the portals through which I observe our world.

No matter what life you’re handed, your perspective defines your experience. We’re all looking at the same thing, half full or empty, and see it differently.

Watching others with enthusiasm for life, I feel my cheeks lift, at least until I realise we don’t share the same perspective. While those with a positive disposition smile, I quietly contemplate the nuances of living without restraint, only to depart early due to overindulgence or attempt to age gracefully during a climate crisis. It’s some choice.

So why are we all watching the same events unfold, yet our opinions of how they transpire vary wildly? One assumption is that storytelling shapes our perspective, and throughout humanity, we’ve consistently been captivated by the most convincing reciliation of events we did not witness.

My concern is that divisive debates have become binary, causing our perception of life’s protagonists to become ones or zeros, heroes, or villains. Our appreciation of one another’s perspective diminishes as our existence becomes increasingly insular. Often, debates dismiss that nuance as a gift. How could you debate a definitive answer? It’s why antiheroes enthral us; they’re multidimensional.

That’s not to suggest I’d select Slytherin as my house, but I’d understand if it only took a little influence to convince me. It’s how my glasses found my face. I must’ve appreciated the design enough to try them on, but I didn’t decide how they fit.