I sometimes ask myself a question: “What would happen if everybody became blind and deaf at least for a couple of days per year?” Probably, people would appreciate what they have then. Maybe in complete silence a person could really appreciate all incomparableness of sounds.

I sometimes ask my acquaintances what they can see around. Last time I asked this question to a friend who returned from a walk in the forest. I heard such an answer: “Well, nothing special …”. Can the person, who was walking in the forest for the whole hour, see nothing that could attract his attention? In spite of the fact that I am blind, I can feel a lot of things only by touching. I touch a leaf and I draw its shape in my imagination. In spring I touch tree twigs trying to find the bud, which tells me that the winter is over and nature starts reviving again. Sometimes when I rest my hand against the tree, it seems to me that I feel the way its twig trembles from singing of the bird which sits on it. If only touches give me so much pleasure, who knows what I would feel if could see all this!

I was thinking all the time about what I would like to see most of all, if I was only given eyesight for three days. Who knows what I would be able to see for all this time! I don’t know what feelings overcome a person when he sees somebody. I know my close friends to such an extent to which my touches to them help me to do this.

On the first of three precious days I would invite my closest friends to my place and I would take a good look at their their faces trying to read the beauty of their character and soul. Then I would look at a new-born child’s face and I would take much of his innocent beauty for myself. After dinner I would go to the forest and enjoy the divine beauty of nature. And then I would ask the Most High to make the sunset more beautiful than ever on that day. I would not close my eyes even for a minute on that evening!

The next day I would go to meet the dawn early in the morning. The rest of the time I would use for experiencing the world in order to see the extent of progress achieved by the mankind. I would visit museums in order to follow the history of this development. But most of the time I would undoubtedly spend admiring the natural works of art. Because they are the most masterly and inimitable art in the world.

On the third day I would meet the dawn again and I would study the people hurrying to work. I would stand in the most crowded corner of the street and I would try to read expressions of the passer-by’s faces. I would be overfilled with happiness, if I saw cheerful faces around; I would pleased; my heart would be overfilled with compassion, if I saw sorrow and grief on the people’s faces. Then I would stroll along the central streets of the city and I would try to perceive the colors and forms of city turmoil. I would tirelessly watch the miracle of color harmony in people’s clothes. Yes, I would probably be more thrilled by colors than by fashions.

After this I would stroll along the poor areas of city, factories and parks where children usually play. I would try to keep my eyes open as wide as possible in order to make out the expressions of happiness or sorrow on the faces of people who earn their living by hard work and to understand them in the best possible way. The rest of the third day’s time I would probably spend taking a good look at the endless expanse of space and I would be fascinated by the beauty of the stars flickering in it.

And it is natural that for these short three days I would not be able to see everything what I would like to. But at least, I would realize what I lost returning to my dark world.

After all, I am the person, who has the eyes but is not able to see, would like to give such advice to people: Use your eyes in such a way as if you can lose this ability the next day. Certainly, we should not underestimate other feelings … Listen to birds’ singing and harmony of sounds so attentively as if you can become deaf tomorrow. Touch everything with such love as if this feeling may be taken away from you tomorrow. Enjoy smelling flowers and try to feel all the coloring the food taste you eat. Try to use all the opportunities given to you as much as possible. Try to notice the beauty of the world with their help. But nevertheless I continue thinking that eyesight is more important than the rest of the feelings.