The Quiet Strength of Being Seen

Some days, the hardest part of my work is not the hot sun on my face or the dirt on my hands after long hours in the fields. It is not the physical exhaustion that comes from bending, lifting, and walking under the open sky. What hurts the most is the way people look right through me, as if I do not exist, simply because I work with soil and crops. It is the feeling of being invisible in a world that depends so deeply on what I do.

Every morning, I wake up before sunrise while most people are still sleeping peacefully in their beds. I prepare myself for another long day of work so that fresh food can appear on someone else’s table. I plant, water, harvest, and carry, knowing that families will eat because of these efforts. Tomatoes, vegetables, and fruits reach kitchens and restaurants because of hands like mine. Yet, when I walk past people in the street, I am often met with silence and empty glances.

That silence can feel heavier than any physical tiredness. It is louder than the sound of machines and stronger than the pain in my muscles. It reminds me that many people do not think about where their food comes from or who worked to provide it. They see the final product but forget the human story behind it. In those moments, loneliness grows, even in the middle of a crowded place.

I do not ask for praise or special attention. I do not want sympathy or pity. I do not need applause for doing my job. All I want is to be seen as a person, not as a shadow in the background. I want people to recognize that I am working with honesty, responsibility, and pride. I want to feel that my effort has meaning beyond just survival.

Respect does not cost anything, yet it is one of the most valuable gifts someone can give. A simple “hi,” a smile, or a short greeting can brighten an entire day. These small gestures remind workers like me that we matter, that we are part of this society, and that our lives have value. In a world that often moves too fast to notice, being seen can be the greatest kindness of all.