THROUGH CORTLIN COLORED GLASSES BY CORTLIN MORRIS

I always thought everyone's favorite color was Cortlin...

Everyone sees life through their own perspective or "glasses." So, I have no idea why I am just

realizing how Cortlin tinted my glasses are. Just as seeing the world through rose-colored

glasses is dangerous, so is seeing them through your own tinted lenses. Separating yourself

from a situation is about as easy as separating church and state in the twenty-first century or

tearing a twenty-something away from their smartphone. Don't be fooled, it's not impossible -

just difficult.

I finally took off my glasses. Mid conversation with a friend, I realized how I always connect what

she feels to what I am thinking - usually aloud. To me, I am showing her that I am listening and

understanding. To her, I am invalidating her feelings. Why is it that we always speak instead of

listening?

You know exactly what I'm talking about. Imagine going through a breakup, and all of the

sudden your closest friend says, "girl I feel you, my boyfriend used to be the worst at..." When in

this situation, I always wish I had a drink to throw in someone's face. There are few things more

frustrating than a happy person belittling a sad person's situation. When you speak too loudly,

you can't hear the quiet.

I am guilty of solving problems. When someone complains to me, my gut instinct is to give

advice and to alleviate the issue at hand. Unfortunately, that's not what people want, it's not

even what I want. For most of us, venting is what helps the most, not getting advice from friends

who have not been in your exact shoes. In fact, I'm beginning to realize that one woman's

stilettos are another's sneakers - we can't compare our experiences because we all are wearing

different colored glasses.

I hate taking off my Cortlin colored glasses, they're my favorite accessory next to my fake Gucci

belt. But, the tough reality is that we all have different ones...