Welcome to 2020! A beautiful number indeed, because this could be the year you discover living with blindness in a positive way!
January also marks the beginning of a new series – ‘Insights for Living’!
With insights gleaned from over 40 years of being visually-impaired, my desire therefore is to share the many, many ways we really can enjoy our lives with less sight.
It truly is about having a 2020 Vision – on the inside; where your attitude and mindset set your sights on what is possible (or not).
The truth is that challenges are a natural part of living. Sometimes life requires determined action, while at other times it requires a gentle grace to accept one’s limitations.
So let’s begin the journey together in 2020 as I delve into my Insights for Living treasure trove and reveal common fears most of us face with a visual impairment. If we know what is holding us back in spite of vision loss we can remove the barriers by taking a different approach around the obstacle.
‘It’s the possibility that keeps me going, not the guarantee.’
Nicholas Sparks
What do people fear the most about losing their sight?
In a nutshell – a sense of forced-change and a kind of ‘death’ to the way things are.
The thought of going blind is the second most feared prospect for people next to being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
For example, you can turn the thought around: if we can realise that blindness is a word, not a life-sentence, and that there is an adjustment phase we all go through including a time of grieving, we are able to emerge with renewed courage to look at other ways of managing the challenges ahead.
The main thing to know is that life does go on, and can be rewarding and meaningful in many other unexpected ways.
What is the first hurdle to overcome when coping with a loss of sight?
The biggest hurdle when living with blindness is our own attitudes, both personal ones and those of society. It is not so much being vision-impaired that will bar the way forward but how we react to oncoming obstacles.
The first obstacle is the ‘stigma’ of being seen as a ‘disabled’ person.
Unfortunately society places people into broad categories as a means to govern a population with diverse needs. So the first challenge is often being able to disregard the ‘stigma’ you may feel when you are diagnosed with an eye condition.
Take heart, and remember, that you will always be more than your vision loss. There are innovative possibilities you haven’t discovered yet!
How can people live well with low vision?
In my book, ‘Blindness for Beginners’ I write that ‘to live well with low vision means being able to bend and flex – to sway with change without it breaking your spirit’.
The key is being open to other possibilities which lead to never giving up your quest to experience a loveable life.
There are new skills to master, for example assistive technology to investigate, methods of adapting the home and work place, as well as reaching out to many supportive organisations who assist people with sight loss to further their daily living skills.
What are some essential skills for independent living
After becoming aware of your attitudes to vision loss, you have other ‘life-saving’ qualities that come to your rescue, skills you already possess but need to develop further.
These include relying on your other physical senses of touch, hearing and smell. You can also tune into your intuition and sense of humour, boost the brain’s capacity for recall and adapt the home with simple modifications.
What is your advice to someone who is new to living with blindness?
I know that living with blindness is a challenge, a difficult prognosis to come to terms with because it seems to turn your life upside down. But, when you can accept that change is happening, the best thing is to go with the flow and dont fight the process
For instance, be proactive in seeking out support and finding a person you can share your fears with. There are other tools that can help you maintain a sense of independence which you can find in my book.
Blindness for Beginners: Why this book?
Ah, I’m glad you asked! One reason why I wrote ‘Blindness for Beginners: a renewed vision of the possible’ was in order to offer hope and a positive perspective, to uplift and inspire others new to vision loss.
The other reason was to dispel some of the common myths held by my community.
I open a window which gives a fresh viewpoint for people to consider. The stories and strategies in my book are aimed for the reader who wants to gain a better understanding of living with low vision, for people in the disability profession and also for those who really need a guiding hand to cope with this life-challenge
Garment of change.
I write that having to adapt to living with blindness is like accepting the garment of change.
‘When we face and accept the ‘garment of change’, we also discover the gifts hiding within its deep pockets that enable us to manage the changes with less fear and with much more skill.
So with a willing heart and a practical approach to adaptation, we discover the real gift blindness can bring.
Understanding ourselves as we truly are connects us to a richly textured life.
Get a Signed Copy!
If you would like a signed copy of Blindness for Beginners, and you live in Australia, you can email me: maribel@springstudio.com.au
For vision-impaired readers, an audio book version is about to be launched!
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2 Overcoming Challenge
3 Mastering the ART of Being Blind – Interview