There is one thing in this world that I cannot live without, and that happens to be my glasses. Do I say this because I am quite literally legally blind when I am not wearing them? Yes. However, they are a lot more to me than just a means to see.
I have been wearing glasses since I was seven years old and in the first grade — that’s a long time. At first, I hated them and found any excuse to not wear them. I remember far too many occasions on which I would purposefully leave them at home and tell my teachers I forgot them. Furthermore, I felt as though my first few pairs did not suit me at all — they were far too big for my face and that contributed to them feeling foreign as they sat on the bridge of my nose.
Since then, a lot has changed. I have grown to love my glasses in more ways than my seven-year-old self could have possibly imagined. They have become an extension of my physical body and are very much a part of my personal identity.
I happen to now love the way glasses look on me and seeing myself without them feels wrong. I genuinely think I look better with them. People are always surprised to hear me say that, but it’s the truth! In fact, I once attempted contact lenses because I was always getting compliments on the length of my eyelashes. This compliment was almost always synonymous with the suggestion to use contact lenses instead of glasses. After just a day or two of trying them out, I not only missed my glasses but I knew that contact lenses weren’t for me.
Glasses are often seen as bookish and I will admit that I happen to love that — that is part of the reason why I love my glasses as much as I do. Bookish is definitely a word I would use to describe my personality as I love anything word-related or literature-esque. My love of and interest in book-ish things feels somehow heightened by having glasses. It makes me feel studious and like an intellectual, dare I say. I love that and I think it’s a good look for me.
I have to admit, I have not experimented with different types of glasses frames nearly as much as I have wanted to. That is mostly due to the fact that I have a hefty bill each time I get a new pair due to prescription changes and features such as blue light or anti-reflective coatings. I did try something new recently — I always have a backup pair of glasses and went a different route for my current pair of backup frames! The frames are partly clear and I wasn’t sure if I’d like them because I typically stick to black or brown ones. However, I happen to love them and I’ve actually been wearing them more often than my regular pair.
Moving forward, I think I want to try out not only different colors but also different styles! As I write this, I am realizing how much more I can utilize my glasses to express myself than I have before. Whether it’s getting a pair in my favorite color or experimenting with designs, there are so many more avenues I can try to see not only what physically fits me best but also what expresses myself best.
If you’re reading this and you wear glasses, maybe you relate or maybe this alleviates some level of insecurity you may feel about having glasses. I think it is really unique to be able to express yourself through a physical accessory and have it just become a part of your identity. I encourage all of you to seek out how you can express yourself and your identity through similar means.
Zoya Zahid is a Life Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at life@cavalierdaily.com.
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