20/20 Vision

For the last few weeks, this phrase has kept popping into my mind: 2020 Vision.

Photo by David Travis on Unsplash

I’m trying to remember how I felt pre-pandemic. I was at a spa, with my 2019 diary, reviewing, praising, seeking, planning. I remember debating and budgeting in for a holiday to Montenegro and I remember, although not using the term 20/20 I did have a vision, an idea of what I was aiming towards this year. I’m never one to put it in concrete, but I do like to seek out an idea that guides me during the year, even if I am flexible to its outworking. This year my flexibility has been worked on; I’m in the beautiful English Countryside, holidaying solo, in a cute Airbnb. At least it’s given me time to write, walk and reflect. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

My Airbnb

Back to this niggling phrase, though I didn’t use it, I saw it everywhere. Of course, it has a ring to it, a familiar phrase, and business organisations and collectives jumped on it. From a marketing perspective, I probably would have too.

I couldn’t sleep. That’s fairly normal for me, and though I have been trying to implement better sleep habits this year, on this occasion my kindle was beside me and so I found myself googling this phrase. I needed to know what it was, was 20/20 vision, perfect vision. I have no idea why it was so strong on my heart, I just couldn’t rest until I found it.

I am no optical expert, so forgive me if what I say next is incorrect, but as I read something grabbed hold of my heart and it hasn’t left me, so here I am typing it (whilst sat in my non-Montenegrin holiday home). First of all; no 20/20 vision isn’t perfect vision. It is, from what I can understand, ‘normal’ vision. It is acuity (sharpness or clarity) at a measurement of 20ft. It’s measured on those charts, where we sit wondering if an F is an E or perhaps a B and was that an O or a D, an R, or a P.

That isn’t so much what struck me, it was this: 20/20 Acuity is only a measurement taken from a static, high contrast, usually dark (except for light focused on your macuala).

Static, High Contrast, Dark.

I don’t know about you, but that describes the last few months for me. Although for me there has been a lot of changing, adapting, learning, growing; in other ways, I have felt static, and in the dark, wondering if a Y is a V. It feels sometimes like my weaknesses have been in high contrast, clear to see; but I am starting to see that so to have my strengths.

The encouragement

This isn’t about me. I know that because writing it in my journal didn’t satisfy and as I said from the beginning, I’m not a very concrete person. On good days, I’ve looked for evidence for where my journey is leading me. I actually am seeing evidence of the vision I had for this year, it’s just on a different path to how I thought it would be, but that’s usual for me. I often see my life adventure like a treasure hunt, my father giving me warmer and colder encouragements with mixtures of frustration and excitement powering my enjoyment.

If you had a 20/20 Vision, which you feel right now is all but lost. If you feel like you are not moving forward like everything is in high contrast or that you are sat in the dark. I want to encourage you that your lenses are being turned. That this is all part of the 20/20 Vision, that clarity is coming and you will see the letters soon.