Instant Perspective

In the toolbox we carry through life, the most difficult yet important tool to utilize is Perspective. In my opinion, the best way to get familiar with this tool is to bring out everyday and use it for everyday small jobs. That way, when you are faced with a mammoth Perspective job you are not overwhelmed or confused.

My favorite example Perspective tool was given to me years ago by a one-legged bike messenger. I had found myself deep in a case of the Mean Reds. I was angry at how my life was, or more to the point, was not progressing at that moment in time. I found myself in the middle of the day, head down and miserable walking through Times Square when from nowhere, I was passed in the street by a bike messenger with but one leg. Not only was my fellow human occupying a job for which he has physically not suited, but he was singing as he breezed passed me. It was a moment of instant perspective and inspiration.

After years of telling people this story in an effort to propagate proper Perspective (who doesn't love gratuitous alliteration), I finally learned the man's name: Dexter Benjamin.