There has been a question that has curiously popped up in my life in more ways than one quite recently. It really came to my attention after reading the question posed by a character in a book I’ve been reading, just a week or so after it was posed to me by a friend, who we could consider quite a character as well.

Do I dazzle you?

Hmm…interesting. A forward question, yes. Fundamentally, to dazzle is to hinder one from thinking clearly, to be so brilliantly overwhelming for one to act without normal, logical behavior. Wow. That’s quite a power to have over another human being.

The character in my book is found to be dazzling by his counterpart, obsessively so. I like to say that I’ll admit to being dazzled by a few persons, places and things in my life. When I was 10, my room was plastered with Jonathan Taylor Thomas posters. I don’t know if that constitutes dazzling, maybe just obsession. I had a bag once that was bedazzled. But I don’t think that counts either.

Japan was dazzling. There were many moments when I was there where I couldn’t quite get a hold of myself. I was inundated with the sights and sounds, flooding my senses. It was beautifully overwhelming.

The first time I saw Coldplay live—dazzled beyond belief, still am.

If you were going to stick strictly to the definition of this word, no wiggle room, my list of dazzling people that I have actually met face to face would be slim. I’ve been surprised by many, impressed by others. I’ve admired and respected. Been shocked by this one. Moved by that one. But to dazzle is to take all of that, stuff it in a firecracker and watch it explode right before your eyes. It is something so extraordinary.

I wonder if I’ve ever been dazzling. I’m sure my mom would think so, maybe that time I wore the sparkly dance costume in recital circa 1996. I’m not sure if I would be confident enough to ask that question. I’m not sure I’m certain enough to answer it either.

But when a person of such sure ability does happen to stop me in my tracks, I’ll try my best to tell them. It would be something I would like to hear. That I do know.

So now you know.

And knowing is half the battle.

Thanks G.I. Joe.

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kat.berry.