When I captured this photo of the window washers, my focus was entirely on the three individuals suspended on the building’s side. They seemed almost unreal—ethereal, courageous figures against the glass. I stood there, observing, and my mind filled with questions about their experience in that moment. Were they chatting amongst themselves? Discussing politics? Sharing jokes? Perhaps even laughing at us tiny humans gazing up from the sidewalk? What was happening in their world?

I uploaded the image to Instagram, again emphasizing those three hanging figures. And then, my eyes caught sight of the fourth person. The one down in the bottom left corner.

I hadn’t noticed them at all when I took the photo. They were completely outside my awareness. It made me wonder how often this happens in life. How often do we become so fixated on what’s directly in front of us that we miss the subtle details happening on the periphery? The other narratives unfolding in the broader picture?

Life is a vast tapestry of people, animals, plants, and objects in constant motion. It’s a state of perpetual change and evolution. Sometimes, it’s easy to become so absorbed in what’s right before our eyes—whether good or bad—that we forget the boundless possibilities surrounding us.

And I can’t help but ponder: What story was that lone window washer telling themselves, being separate from the main action above? Did they realize they were unseen? Did they consider themselves the central figure in their own narrative? Or were they so immersed in their work that they were oblivious to everyone else, including the small group of us watching from below?

It all boils down to perspective.

We can choose to see only the obvious elements on our path or to seek out the hidden treasures at the edges. We can focus on the troubles or the possibilities. The ugliness or the beauty. The unhappy stories or the glad tidings.

Our attention and willingness to look beyond the obvious, to explore the periphery of our imagination and vision, determine what we see. It’s about acknowledging different perspectives and the multitude of stories unfolding around us.

I took a picture of three window washers, but it was the fourth one who ended up holding the most meaningful story for me.

(This is a rewrite of a post from August 2018)