Most recently we visited our granddaughter – she is now two and a half months old. It is an ongoing wonder to see her grow in between our visits. This time our daughter put her on her belly, and we got to see how she can prop up and already hold up her head. She was looking around the room from her perch high up on the changing table. That evening, I was looking at the picture I took – her wide-open eyes looking into the camera. It occurred to me how a person’s life can be measured in the increments of new perspectives that are gained over time and the radius of action that grows along with it. Not long ago she was laying on her back – mostly in the bassinette looking up – perhaps as her eyesight developed, she could see things hung above her – like a toy. About a month ago, with the initial head movement, she could look left and right on the blanket on the floor – first images of picture books and more toys and items in the room. And now – elevated with her head able to scout about a quarter-sphere – what a new perspective! And so much more to come.
Looking back at my own childhood – at one point we were roaming around between the apartment blocks – playing soccer and hide and seek, taking a trip to the grocery store about a hundred yards away. Then we had bicycles and would go all over the neighborhood – perhaps within a 2 miles radius (remember no phones back then!). This meant I could reach all my classmates from school on my own. As we grew older the radius grew – the swimming hole was about 5 miles away; the gymnasium starting at 8th grade about the same distance – reachable for us by bike or by public transportation. At 16 I had my own first small motorcycle and the radius grew substantially – eventually to cross country trips with friends. All along we saw new things and had to navigate the known terrain previously visited with our parents or through school or sports or even new terrain on our own. Jumping forward in bigger steps – studying abroad, traveling and eventually relocating to the US. With the expansion of the action radius and new perspectives comes impressions, experience, skills to navigate new circumstances and confidence in being able to do so. For me it also comes with a curiosity to do more and see more. And it makes me want to show our granddaughter the world in ever growing increments as she grows older!