Many years ago, I asked a parish spiritual guide, “Is it envy to want to see like others, since I have never seen the world with the normal appreciation due to my visual impairment?” The spiritual guide replied, “It’s not envy, it’s wanting to be able to see well or understand how others see the world. That’s not called envy; rather, it’s an expression of longing, perhaps curiosity, or even frustration at not being able to experience something that other people take for granted. It’s completely human to want to know the world the way others know it.”

Envy, in its most common definition, involves an intense desire to have something that another person possesses, often accompanied by a feeling of resentment or inadequacy. But when someone desires something they’ve never had because of a disability, that is a legitimate desire for connection, understanding, and inclusion.

It’s normal to feel sadness, frustration, and even injustice in the face of certain limitations. But there is also room to appreciate how unique and special your way of perceiving the world is.