[Ag-eq] Do I fight or just find some other way

[Nella Foster]

Jody:

I don't really think of you as unusual, but others might.  I've have met so 
many blind people who have let others put restrictions on them.  They 
believe what they hear and limit themselves.

So many of my clients have no hobbies or interests, they have never tried 
new things or taken risks.  They have allowed the words of others to make 
them fearful.

I've always wondered how some people end up that way and others end up like 
you.  What do you think the difference is?

Nella
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jody W. Ianuzzi" <jody at thewhitehats.com>
To: "'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List'" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Do I fight or just find some other way


> Hi Nella,
>
> I never thought of doing motivational speaking.  It would be great though.
> I guess I never thought of myself as unusual.  I do participate in
> Disability Awareness Day at the local high schools.
>
> I usually ask the kids what kind of activities do they think a blind 
> person
> does for recreation.  Then I tell them that I enjoy martial arts, being a
> Major in the Civil Air Patrol, barrel racing and target shooting.  Then we
> talk about stereotypes.
>
> I also ask the kids what they think the hardest thing they think a blind 
> kid
> faces in school.  I hear all kinds of physical barriers then I tell them
> that the worse part of being a blind kid in school is being teased and
> harassed.  I tell them that they might think it is cool or funny to pick 
> on
> students who are different then they are but do they really want to
> remembered that way 40 years in the future?  I explain that I was picked 
> on
> every day in school and I still remember the kids that did it and I
> graduated 40 years ago.  I was very solomn when saying this and I actually
> had a girl leave the room crying.  I don't know if she was a victim or a
> bully but I got through to them all.  I hope I made a difference.
>
>
> If it wasn't for that teasing and harrassment I never would have studied 
> the
> martial arts.  I was tired of being the victim and I wanted to learn to
> defend myself.  Little did I know that the martial arts would change my 
> life
> and I would meet Tom.
>
> JODY
>
>
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