It’s always amazing to see the ways people interpret things: events, art, actions… whatever. What they perceive, versus what the intention may have been, is an outstanding insight into the lens from which they see the world.

The fun of writing is seeing the response people give to your work. Sometimes, it provides insight into the reader and other times it provides great insight into myself.

How am I being perceived?

There’s what I intended and what I think I’m conveying, but if it’s been taking a different way, it’s time for serious self reflection.

However, sometimes people are just going to interpret and take from you as they will. There’s not much you can do about it except shrug.

For instance, in my first year of theology, I had a professor who brought in art objects every lesson and asked us to provide our insight/interpretation. One student in the class would consistently remark on the phallic nature of said objects.

And when I say consistently, I mean every… single… object.

It didn’t matter what it was, just like sometimes it won’t matter what you do—people will just take from it what they will.