[Blindtlk] the meaning of confidence

Wed Mar 2 16:18:36 UTC 2011

Dear All,

If I am in a large building that I don't know my way around in, I just ask 
someone until someone can direct me.
I also listen for the sounds of flushing and paper towels being used or hand 
dryers running.  Mostly I just ask, the same way even other sighted people 
do when they don't know either.
My guide dog Jack could maybe sniff it out, but asking works a lot easier 
and better for the most part.
there are certain areas of buildings that can be used to find such common 
places such as near the stair wells.  Contractors run the pipes in common 
locations, so if you find a water fountain in the hall, likely their will 
also be a restroom near by as well.
If you know where the restroom is on one floor of a building, but are on 
another floor.  The restroom on your floor is likely in the same general 
area above and on your floor.  Same footprint, just a different floor level.
So many times, we are so afraid to ask a simple question of other people, 
that we will stagger around, lost and searching for something that we forget 
to just ask a question.
It is as if we will lose face or show some weakness or something.
Don't be afraid to just ask a question of people around you.  It is Okay.
It actually shows that you have the confidence to ask a question and take 
charge of your direction.
Please read Doctor Jernigan's "the Nature of Independence."

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] the meaning of confidence

> Please tell me as well how someone finds/locates a bathroom in a large
> public building if they have no familiarity with the structure?
> Steve
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kelby Carlson" <kelbycarlson at usfamily.net>
> To: <gwunder at earthlink.net>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" 
> <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 4:16 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] the meaning of confidence
>
>
>> How does one go about finding a bathroom? I've never been good at
>> that (although, as I've said before, being in high school and not
>> having access to transportation I'm usually with people.) Is it
>> just a matter of asking where it is? Especially in abigger place,
>> I wouldn't want to wander around getting hopelessly lost
>> (especially if I really needed to use the bathroom!) Maybe it's
>> just that I'm unfamiliar with the particulars of the structure
>> discovery method, but it seems to be similar in part to how I
>> travel.  I'm just not sure, since my training hasn't come
>> directly from the NFB.
>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Gary Wunder" <GWunder at earthlink.net
>>>To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>Date sent: Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:07:23 -0600 (CST)
>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] the meaning of confidence
>>
>>>Hi Julie.  I like your post--the humor and the serious parts.
>>
>>>For me confidence is composed of two parts--having the belief in
>> myself to
>>>try, and practicing what I find difficult enough that it becomes
>> less
>>>difficult and hence more doable.  An earthy example if you will
>> permit it: I
>>>hate trying to find bathrooms in a public place and used to take
>> foolish
>>>pride in my bladder--how long I could go without going.  Well,
>> it's wonderful
>>>that God blessed me with a good bladder, but it is more
>> productive to
>>>address my tension at having to practice structured discovery and
>> just go
>>>find a bathroom.  Age has helped me along with this issue, not
>> only because I
>>>believe more in myself, but my bladder doesn't let me ignore it
>> for eight or
>>>ten hours at a time.  I've also found that I'm more uncomfortable
>> being
>>>physically uncomfortable than I was being mentally uncomfortable.
>>
>>>Confidence may be an overused word on this list, but for me it
>> really
>>>represents two very important areas of growth: knowing I can
>> safely venture
>>>forth, and making that trip a minor event rather than something I
>> would
>>>ponder exhaustively before taking it.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>Behalf Of Julie J
>>>Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 8:03 AM
>>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>>Subject: [Blindtlk] the meaning of confidence
>>
>>>I've noticed that often we toss out the word "confidence" in our
>>>discussions, but I often wonder what exactly is "confidence"?
>>
>>>I've read promotional material for guide dog schools that tell
>> you if you
>>>get a guide dog you'll increase your confidence and independence.
>> I've seen
>>>claims that if you have good blindness skills, you'll be
>> confident.  Jeeze,
>>>I've even seen deodorant commercials claiming increased
>> confidence if you
>>>use their product.  *smile*
>>
>>>But if it was that easy wouldn't we all be confident people?  We
>> aren't and
>>>even those who claim a strong level of confidence still have
>> moments of
>>>insecurity.  What then is confidence and where does it come from?
>>
>>>I would assert that confidence comes from within.  It isn't based
>> on a cane
>>>or a dog or a certain number of skills attained.  I believe it is
>> an
>>>attitude, an inner knowing.  It is being comfortable in your own
>> skin.   I
>>>don't think there is anything or anyone that can give us
>> confidence.  I
>>>believe that it is something we must claim for ourselves.
>>
>>>Certainly there are extrinsic circumstances that assist us on the
>> road to
>>>claiming confidence for ourselves, like good cane skills or a
>> guide dog, but
>>>I do not believe that those things *give* us anything, except for
>> perhaps
>>>the opportunity for self discovery.
>>
>>>Thoughts?
>>>Julie
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>blindtlk mailing list
>>>blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>>blindtlk:
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/gwunder
>> %40earthlin
>>>k.net
>>
>>
>>>_______________________________________________
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>> for blindtlk:
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>> rlson%40usfamily.net
>>
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>
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