[nabs-l] "you are amazing"

[Littlefield, Tyler]

Darrian,
I think this is a really cool topic actually because I've seen people's 
reactions and they are drastically different.

First, when someone says they are amazing, it means to me that they are 
looking up to me somehow, or that I am somehow inspiring them. While I 
do believe it's because they think I've done a ton to overcome some 
debilitating disability that should've left me sitting at home waiting 
on my golden platter, it always makes me feel a bit better. Not because 
I like to hear it, because I know there are just as many blind people 
out there doing what I am, but because I know that I can have that 
affect on someone and perhaps it will help in some way. So my reaction 
is to generally say thanks, or to take the conversation forward from there.

On the flipside, I've found myself doing the same thing for a couple of 
people. One person in particular for example has been through more than 
I could really imagine ever having to deal with and is an amazing person 
at the end of it all. When I use amazing in that same context, they 
obviously say they are not, which always kind of brings me full circle 
to when people tell me the exact same thing. So just some food for 
thought there.

I do think it's worth noting here that when people generally tell you 
this, it's not them feeling sorry for you, but looking up to you. I feel 
like we should treat this similarly. Don't give them a bad reaction, but 
give them an inspiration, give them someone to look up to.
On 11/15/2013 11:42 AM, Darian Smith wrote:
>   Hi all,
>
>    I am sure  that all of us  have had someone tell us  that we are amazing   at one time or another.
>    Many times we are convinced  this  is because  the person telling us has a low expectation  of blind  people.
>    When we are convinced  of this, how do we communicate that we are not amazing, do this with a positive attitude, and finally do you or do you not find yourself being offended by the statement?
>   
>    Darian
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-- 
Take care,
Ty
http://tds-solutions.net
He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he that dares not reason is a slave.