[Home-on-the-range] From your monitor

Tue Jul 13 03:13:11 UTC 2010

Hi, Maryse:

Thanks for your strengthening and affirming response! OK, I have a question
and it's been bugging me all night long so I have to ask, as I think that my
rusty French failed me!

Is it Tout le Monde, or is it Toute La Monde? Merci, mon amie!

Peace and Goodness,

Susan

From: home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of maryse figueroa
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 9:59 PM
To: NFB of Kansas Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Home-on-the-range] From your monitor

Susan,

    Great response and this is exactly the directtion That I wish the list
to take.  So, you get an A+.

In response I say that when everybody has the same the same goal,the same
energy,the same forward movement,the energy builds up to such a point that
each and everyone of us gets filled with that positive energy and there is
nowhere else to go but to the vision.  What an incredible space to live
one's life in and it can be applied to our individual's lives.

Thank you so much for your sharing.

Bonsoir Susan

Maryse Home-ON-The-Range monitos.

On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 4:44 PM, Susan Tabor <souljourner at sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

Bonjour, Maryse, et toute la monde!

Thank you, Maryse, for your suggestions and for sharing your reactions with
us. Here I go with mine, and if it's too long, please forgive me!

I hadn't attended a convention since the late 1980's (or was it 1990?), and
it felt soooooo good to be back! As our conventions always seem to do, it
got me to thinking---about a lot of things.

First, there are always options, even if one has to stretch the envelope!
(Blessed is Saint Gumby, as s/he will not break!) Stretching myself to look
outside convention (no pun intended) when looking at options, moves me into
a creative zone where options appear that otherwise would not have. I'm
going to be reminding myself to stretch and flex my imaginative muscles
(physically and mentally, I might add!)

As I heard Dr. Maurer talk at the banquet, I realized how much of a beating
I had been giving myself emotionally for not being where I want to be in
some areas of my life. It was a reminder to not push the river; it's not
safe nor does it encourage the appreciation of scenic beauty to careen down
life's highway at breakneck speeds! Also in speeding, I may miss something
I'm supposed to notice that's important. So I will give myself permission to
take time to process and to spend my time processing feelings and
information, not beating myself up for processing!

I also re-experienced in a grander way (as there were 2,441 other blind
people around) the special bond that we as blind people share. It is always
my goal to be compassionate and supportive in relationships rather than
judgmental and critical, as it breathes life into relationships. I can still
state a concern or a preference without being competitive or critical. So as
I observed myself and others interact, this posture was validated for me;
something that is a nice affirmation to receive now and then. I was
especially inspired by Dr. Maurer, Barbara Pierce, Melissa Riccobono, James
Gashel, Mike Hinkson, Donna Wood, Tom Page, Tonya (sorry Tonya; I don't know
your last name), Randy Pfifer, Maryse Figueroa, Leonard amd Meg Silkey,
Diane Hemphill, Andrew Chapman (who I keep wanting to call Patrick), Sharon
Luka, Susie Stanzel,  Chikako Mochazuki, Emily (sorry, Emily; I can't
remember your last name either!), Cheryl Miller and of course, Rob Tabor,
the love of my life who lives with all of my good stuff and my imperfections
each and every day!

And on days when I or someone else feels tired or surly, which will
inevitably happen, knowing that they'll still be there in spite of it all is
very comforting. We are all on this journey together and we need each other
for support and for nudges in the right direction now and then.

This kind of affirmation helps remind me again that it's really OK to dig
into my weak areas, because if I allow it, they will lead me back into my
strengths with new knowledge and perspective.

Lately I've been having to deal with some additional physical challenges,
which I haven't liked doing; the journey has been very difficult and
frightening. I discovered, though, that I should be applying more of my
NFB-based blindness coping skills to this situation as well and no matter
whatever happens I'll be OK (I'm working really hard to believe that!) I
plan to have a better handle on it by Orlando's convention next year!

And to Floyd and Charlie who were our drivers, I have one thing to say:  You
guys rock! What troopers! Thanks for coming along with us and for the good
stuff you added to our experience!

Thanks to all who attended; each of you played a role in making this a
wonderful and insightful experience for me! And for those of you whom I
didn't know well, I really appreciated the chance to know you better!
Everyone adds richness to our Kansas NFB family! See all of you here in
Lawrence for the state convention in November!

Peace and Goodness,

Susan

From: home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of maryse figueroa
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 3:13 PM
To: home-on-the-range at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Home-on-the-range] From your monitor

Heello Federationists.

    As the monitor of "Home-ON-The Range list", I would like to see this
platform develop in an active exchange of thoughts, ideas, and discussions.
The national convention is a great starting point.  For instance:

1- What did going to the convention mean to you

2-What did you learn?

3-Was it a life changing experieence?

4-what are you bringing back to apply to your life and to help change
another's.

DID  DEEP.

     Thus, I sart with me.  Going to Dallas to attend my first NFB
convention was a life changing experience at many levels.Let me explain.  I
am legally blind and fall in the category described, at the banquet ,by Dr.
Maurer as a middle-of-the-road blind. I then realized  I never really deep
down accepted this new challenge of 6 yrs. ago. Therefore I desperately
tried to function as a sighted person,only to experience but mediocre
results,impatience and frustration.

   The convention taught me that I can function as a bi-visual person.(no
other connotation meant!)  Yes, I am a bi-vsual person.  In other words,when
I need some sight it is there and when I need blindness skills,they are
there.  This in essence makes me a confident and competent individual better
able to serve my NFB family and enter a new career with knowledge and poise.

Thank you Kansas Federationists for having adopted this new American citizen

Sincerely

Maryse

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