[nfb-talk] Wanting to See

Sat Jan 7 01:52:53 UTC 2017

Perfection isn't really something that is the same for everyone. I'm pretty 
perfect to myself, for example. If we see ourselves with blimishes and 
imperfections, we won't be able to see the amazing things about ourselves.

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On January 6, 2017 7:27:57 PM John Heim via nfb-talk <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org> 
wrote:

> I, fortunately, am perfect except for the fact that I am blind.
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> On 01/06/2017 07:08 PM, Devin Prater via nfb-talk wrote:
>> I think it's mostly about how you view yourself. I'm fat, at around 235
>> pounds, and have been blind since birth. I accept both my big belly, and
>> blind eyes, so I don't worry about either, which leads to much less
>> stress on that front.
>>
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>>
>>
>> On January 6, 2017 6:52:28 PM John Heim via nfb-talk
>> <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hey, I didn't insert the word "defective" into this debate. My point has
>>> been that you can even say I am defective and it means nothing to me.
>>> Defective, disabled, handicapped -- I don't care.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 01/06/2017 06:43 PM, kaye zimpher via nfb-talk wrote:
>>>> First I want to say, that having read the original post, I am wondering
>>>> how we got from "are feelings normal" to "we are all defective morons."
>>>> Well, John didn't say moron, that was a joke, but that is just to say it
>>>> has stretched the topic a bit. But enough of that, now on to my response
>>>> to Jen.
>>>> Personally, I too have been blind from birth. I actually can't remember
>>>> a time that I ever wanted to see. There was a time, when I was much
>>>> younger that I did not accept myself, or my place in life, but as I got
>>>> older, and realized a few things, I have grown to love my life as a
>>>> blind person.
>>>> I have found that many of the things that people "wish they could see,"
>>>> I already have a basis for in my mind, and like you, I don't want to
>>>> ruin that. I am a perfectly capable person, and I would not want, at the
>>>> age of 46, to take the time to truly relearn life. Also, and here's
>>>> where many may disagree, I am a believer in God, and I truly believe
>>>> that He made me this way for his reasons. It is upon me to accept those
>>>> reasons and live the life He asks of me.
>>>> I've been asked before if I feel that God will heel me. I usually say
>>>> that if he sees the need, he definitely has the power, but I believe
>>>> this is exactly who he wants me to be. Why would I challenge that?
>>>> When it comes to conveniences, I feel that much of what a sighted person
>>>> does, I also do. Have you ever lived in New York? Nobody there drives,
>>>> they all take the subway or cab, or now Uber, so how is that different
>>>> from me? I watch TV, I listen to books, and while many sighted folks
>>>> don't listen to audio books, some do. I cook, clean, work, complain
>>>> about my relationship, my job and the state of the world, and I crave
>>>> snack foods when I'm dieting. *smile* So having said all this, I find my
>>>> life to basically be the same as everyone else's.
>>>> As for whether or not your feelings are normal. They are your feelings,
>>>> so they are your normal. Only you can feel the way you do, and noone can
>>>> take it away or tell you not to. It is all in how you deal with those
>>>> feelings that matters.
>>>> Sorry for the long post. Everyone have a great weekend.
>>>> Kaye in Jacksonville Florida, where it is *not* snowing!
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jen via nfb-talk"
>>>> <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: "Jen" <spiderweb1 at sbcglobal.net>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2017 8:30 PM
>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Wanting to See
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>>
>>>>> As I posted on my "driverless cars" thread, I'm totally blind from
>>>>> birth.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have always been interested in visual things. They include
>>>>>
>>>>> * pictures, especially pictures of pictures
>>>>> * colors
>>>>> * the sky
>>>>> * videos
>>>>> * light and the various ways it can be manipulated, like with
>>>>> shadows and
>>>>> optical illusions
>>>>> * rainbows
>>>>>
>>>>> ... and so many others.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now here's my question. I wish I could see sometimes. Is this normal
>>>>> for a
>>>>> blind person? I'm not consumed by these feelings. I don't feel sorry
>>>>> for
>>>>> myself for being blind, and I have incorporated alternative techniques
>>>>> into
>>>>> my life. So personally, I consider myself as a well-adjusted blind
>>>>> person.
>>>>> At the same time though, I wouldn't want my sight back because, since
>>>>> I've
>>>>> never had it, everything would be too much clutter for me. Also, I
>>>>> have my
>>>>> own pictures of visual things in my mind's eye, and I wouldn't want to
>>>>> ruin
>>>>> them.
>>>>>
>>>>> My family and friends, who are sighted, tell me it is normal to have
>>>>> these
>>>>> feelings. But it would be great to get some feedback from my fellow
>>>>> Federationists.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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