valley views Welcome to the world of aphantasia E
ver feel lost? Welfamiliar. come to my life. It took me until now to Quite literally. even know I had a condiEver since I can retion, so while I am lackmember, I’ve had trouble ing in ability to visualize, with directions and all I never knew it because things spatial. it’s how life I described has always myself as been for me. Jill Pertler geographicalAnd it Syndicated columnist ly challenged. probably I can’t find would have my way out stayed that of a paper bag. I used way. to routinely get lost in a In the last year, I startfamiliar mall. I thought it ed meditating. I loved was normal. the idea of calming and I was right, and wrong, focusing my mind, but I at the same time. I am found soon, within the normal, but not like most practice, that I was chalpeople. My normal inlenged – in an extreme volves living with a conway – in any meditation dition called aphantasia, that employed the basic which is the inability to technique of visualizavoluntarily create a mention. tal picture – or map – in Simply put, visualyour head. People with ization involves seeing aphantasia are unable to something inside your picture a scene, person, mind. It might be a sunor object, even if it’s very set, a beach, path leading
Slices of Life
letters
Democrats deliver
Editor, I give Senator Jon Tester a hearty Montana thank you for sponsoring and pushing the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with bipartisan support. The Act will create jobs for Montana men and women across the state and will build roads, bridges, airports, and crit10 - December 1, 2021
ical water projects. Also, there are investments to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements, including three settlements in Montana. The Act supports our tourism industry funding wildfire risk abatement, and rehabilitation of burned areas. Good for Jon Tester. That is the bright side of the coin. The dark side, however, is where Senator Daines
into a forest or any other usually positive outdoor scenario that might put you into a good mind space. I loved meditating because it put me in a peaceful place. I found I was nearly an expert at breathing; it was almost like I’d been doing it my whole life. I am also able to focus my mind for at least 30 consecutive seconds at a time, which is just slightly short of the recommended amount of 12 to 14 minutes. I found an infinite reservoir of peace and calm residing within my being. I found myself valuing people and life like never before. I began to understand the importance of truly living in the moment. There was only one problem. I was unable to visual-
ize. Completely. When I close my eyes, I see… nothing. You close your eyes and are able to envision a beach or palm tree? I can’t. I see the light that trickles through my eyelids. I see nothing except maybe a yellow or orangish glow, if it is a bright day. I never knew I was lacking. I never knew I was unable to visualize; I never knew I was mind-blind. I never knew aphantasia was a thing. For the most part, it wasn’t. Although initially discovered more than 140 years ago, the condition has been relatively unstudied in scientific and medical circles. Renewed interest in it occurred in 2005 when a professor from the University of Exeter named Adam Zeman sort of rediscov-
ered the whole phenomenon; it took another 10 years for someone to come up with a name for it – aphantasia. The opposite is extreme vivid imagery capabilities and is called hyperphantasia. It’s estimated that 2.6 percent of people are in this hyper state, while less than one percent experience aphantasia. Lucky me. I’m rare and groundbreaking all at the same time. Honestly, I almost wish I’d never discovered my deficit. But now that I have, I can’t go back. I can’t unsee what I can’t see. I don’t wish the same on you. Still, if you are with me, I want you to know you aren’t alone. We are in the dark together. Quite literally. If you’re part of the less-than-one percent, I’m glad we’re in this
and Representative Rosendale dwell. They both voted against the infrastructure bill claiming that the bill did not fund infrastructure. Huh? Jobs, roads, bridges, airports and drinking water facilities are not infrastructure? Let’s cut through the bologna and get to the real reason they opposed it. They are following Mitch McConnell’s lead
in denying anything Democrats support. They put politics and their own self-interest above jobs and safety for Montanans. They didn’t have the spine to buck the national Republicans and do the right thing for the Montanans they represent. Senator Tester delivers for Montanans. Suz Rittenhouse Polson
Help needed for feral cat population
Valley Journal
Editor, To cat lovers – there’s one in-town colony with 21 kittens. All I can do is feed them to stop starvation. Just a few years ago Life Savers helped to keep the Polson feral cat population somewhat in check. I’m still feeding see more letters on page 11
together. Our commonality might even prove to be enlightening. I just can’t visualize it, but then again, neither can you. Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.
LETTER POLICY Letters to the editor are welcome. The content is the opinion of the letter writer and not the newspaper. The decision to publish letters is made by the editor. Letters must be 350 words or less. A writer will only be published twice per month. Letters may be edited for content or length, or may not be published if considered libelous, in poor taste, spiteful, self-promotional or of limited interest to the general readership. Space limitations also dictate when or if letters are published. Letters must be signed by the author and name, address and phone number must be included – phone number is for verification purposes only. Letters from organizations must include the name of at least one author. Please limit “thank you” letters to four people/organizations or less. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday to publish the following week. Opinions expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the newspaper.
