The Queen Card
We were playing charades with friends the other night, one of those lighthearted games that somehow always turns into a mix of comedy and competition. The stack of handwritten cards sat in the middle of the table, and someone drew one that read simply: Queen.
They jumped up, adjusted their invisible crown, and began waving regally to the room. We shouted guesses—“Princess!” “Royalty!” “Crown!” “Queen!”
“Got it!” someone yelled, and everyone cheered.
But then, a voice from across the room said, “Wait… that was supposed to be Queen the band.”
And just like that, everyone laughed.
Two people had the same word in front of them, but saw it completely differently—one as a monarch, the other as a rock band. The same card, the same letters, two completely different interpretations.
Later that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That little mix-up said so much about perspective—how we see, hear, and interpret the world around us.
We each carry our own lens: our experiences, assumptions, and emotions shape how we understand what’s in front of us. To one person, Queen means crowns and castles. To another, it means guitars and Freddie Mercury. Both are right. Both make sense. Both come from where we’ve been and what we know.
It made me wonder how often this happens in life—not just in games, but in conversations, relationships, and leadership. How often do we think we’re saying one thing while someone else hears something completely different?
Perspective is powerful. It can connect us or divide us.
Neuroscience tells us that our brains are wired for pattern recognition. We make quick judgments based on what feels familiar. It’s efficient, but not always accurate. The brain fills in gaps with assumptions drawn from memory. That’s why two people can look at the same situation and walk away with two entirely different understandings.
Kindness is what bridges that gap. It invites curiosity before correction. It gives us permission to pause and ask, “What did you see?” or “What did you mean?” before assuming intent.
When we slow down long enough to listen, we learn that most misunderstandings aren’t about right or wrong—they’re about perspective.
That night, our charades moment became something more than laughter. It became a reminder that we all see life through our own lens, and no one lens holds the full picture.
The truth is, we need each other’s interpretations. The rock band and the royalty. The teacher and the student. The leader and the listener. Together, we make the picture clearer and kinder.
5 Ways to Be the Light
Pause before you assume. When something feels off, ask for clarity instead of jumping to conclusions.
Seek another lens. Ask, “How do you see it?” Listening widens perspective and deepens connection.
Hold space for both. Two truths can exist at once. That’s not contradiction—it’s complexity.
Choose curiosity over correction. Curiosity calms the nervous system and creates room for understanding.
Lead with kindness. Whether in charades or real life, remember: the goal isn’t to be right—it’s to stay connected.
Being the Light means remembering that everyone sees the world through their own story. It means laughing at the mix-ups, learning from the differences, and choosing to keep showing up with empathy and grace.
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