In this conversation, we delve into the sense of vision, exploring its significance in shaping our world perception. We discuss the developmental aspects of vision in infants, the role of experiences in shaping perception, and the importance of mindful engagement with our senses. The conversation also touches on our emotional connections with food and how these experiences are intertwined with our sensory perceptions.
In our latest episode of Illuminating Being, we explored one of the most dominant yet often underestimated senses in our daily lives—vision. More than just the mechanics of sight, vision influences the stories we tell ourselves, the assumptions we make, and the emotional associations we build from infancy into adulthood.
Sight is usually the first sense we lean on, but what we “see” is never just about the eyes—it’s about how the brain interprets, filters, and believes. Our thoughts, memories, and emotional states influence how we perceive everything around us.
Born to See, Built to Interpret
Dr. Somers opened our conversation with a reflection on newborn development. At birth, babies can see—but their vision is limited. They’re nearsighted and rely heavily on other senses. However, their brains are hard at work gathering visual cues, especially facial features. This early imprinting lays the groundwork for recognition, bonding, and safety.
Over time, vision becomes one of the most refined senses. It’s not just about detecting light or color—it’s about how the brain organizes and gives meaning to what’s in front of us. And yet, as Keith shared, every experience shapes what we see and how we see it. Two children raised in the same household can perceive the same moment in vastly different ways based on temperament, timing, and emotional wiring.
Seeing Food, Feeling Nourishment
When it comes to nourishment, we don’t just taste our food—we see it first. Presentation, color, texture, and plating matter. Babies often experience food through their eyes before they even taste it. Watching a child in a highchair playing with spaghetti or squashing berries is a sensory exploration, not just a meal.
As parents, we can sometimes rush past the beauty of that moment, worried about the mess or focused on the goal of getting them to “eat properly.” But those messy, joy-filled food explorations are often powerful moments of connection, learning, and freedom—they’re part of how a child builds memory and trust with food and their environment.
Seeing Shapes Memory
We talked about how vision intertwines with memory. While most retrievable memories begin around age three, our visual experiences long before that are recorded and stored—often tied to emotional states and sensory pairings like sight and sound, or sight and smell. This is why storytelling, visual rituals like family meals, and even something as simple as a walk in nature can leave a lasting imprint on a child’s sense of self and safety.
Keith reminded us of how powerful shared visual moments are in parent-child bonding. A child learning that a “cow says moo” by pointing at a picture book isn’t just a language or learning milestone—it’s a relational moment built through repetition, curiosity, and visual engagement.
Rituals, Nature, and Mindful Seeing
We also reflected on how vision shows up in ritual and nature. Whether it’s the bursting colors of spring blossoms, birds soaring overhead, or the visual order of a family meal, nature is our first teacher of visual beauty and harmony. Exposing children to nature is one of the simplest ways to stimulate all five senses—and especially vision.
Rituals like holiday meals or shared readings of picture books, complete with vibrant illustrations, aren’t just comforting—they are foundational to emotional security and sensory development.
Practices to Connect More Deeply with Vision
Read Picture Books Often: Sit with your child, turn pages slowly, name the images. Vision is connected to language, memory, and emotion.
Slow Down During Meals: Notice color, texture, and arrangement. Let your eyes appreciate the beauty of nourishment.
Walk Outside: Look up. Notice light filtering through trees, colors shifting with the seasons, movement in the environment. It reawakens a deep human sense of rhythm.
Play with Food (Sometimes): Let children see, touch, and explore without rushing. These messy experiences are how they learn.
Take Mental Snapshots: Pause during everyday moments—your child’s laughter, the way sunlight hits the table, the joy in a shared look—and let your mind imprint that scene with gratitude.
Book Reflections & Resources
Dr. Somers recommended Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin—a powerful exploration of how tuning into our senses can reignite joy and mindfulness. He also mentioned Forks Over Knives, a plant-based cookbook full of vibrant food photography, reminding us that how food looks can inspire what we choose to eat.
We ended with a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh’s How to Eat:
“When we look at the people we’re eating with, we can see them fully in just a few moments. If we are really settled within ourselves, we only need to look for a few seconds—and that is enough to see our friend.”
Final Reflection
Sight is powerful—but it’s only part of the story. The more we connect vision with awareness, intention, and emotional resonance, the more we can experience life—not just watch it go by. Whether you're looking at your child, a plate of food, or the sky at dusk, take a moment to truly see—not just with your eyes, but with your heart.
Join us next time as we wrap up the senses series with a conversation on hearing—and explore how sound shapes safety, presence, and joy.
