The Subtle Difference Between Seeing and Looking
The other day I sent a message to an old friend. I asked if he
had checked the email I sent him. His reply was, “Yes, I saw the mail, but I
have not been able to look at it yet.”
At first, this may sound like the same thing. But it is not.
Seeing is just noticing. Looking means giving something time and attention. My
friend had seen my email sitting in his inbox, but he had not yet looked at it
with the focus it needed.
This small reply reminded me of the early days of my writing.
When I had just started blogging, this very friend guided me patiently. We
would have long conversations about how to write, how to connect with readers,
and how to improve the style. His words encouraged me to take my first steps in
sharing my thoughts with the world.
Sometimes, after reading a blog I posted, he would send me a
short note of appreciation. Those small messages meant a lot. They reminded me
that someone was not just seeing my work, but truly looking at it. Many others
would see my blog links on WhatsApp status, but only a few actually clicked and
read them. That was the difference again.
In life and in language, such differences matter. People often
mix up words that are not the same. Take hearing and listening. Hearing
is automatic. Listening is when you pay attention and understand. Or knowing
and understanding. You may know the formula of a subject, but only when you
understand it can you apply it. Even watching and observing are not
identical. Watching is passive, observing is active.
My friend’s reply made me think about how important it is to
be precise with words. Words carry weight. The choice of one word over another
can change the meaning completely. And in communication, clarity is everything.
Looking back, I feel grateful. If I have grown as a writer, it
is because of small nudges and honest feedback from friends like him. Just as
he reminded me, even now, that seeing and looking are not the same, he has
always helped me notice the deeper layers in words and in life.
So, the next time we check a message or read an email, we
should ask ourselves: Did I just see it? Or did I really look at it?
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