[stylist] sharing

Fri Aug 14 18:17:55 UTC 2015

I rarely write about blindness, even when writing about myself. I truly
believe it is equal to if I always addressed a physical attribute about
myself. I also find other subjects just as, if not more so, fascinating to
write about. While at university, I had a writing prof who always wanted me
to write about blindness. I refused, and she didn't understand why. She
thought I had something to "work through" with my blindness, and writing
about it would be cathartic and allow me to "move pass" it. I finally told
her that I didn't have a huge struggle with it, except when people want to
constantly define me by my blindness, and that I had a lot of other things
to write about. She was surprised by my response. When I write fiction, my
characters are sighted. I think I have written two characters, ever, who
were blind. I wrote one story from a blind perspective, so no visual
descriptions, and it was a difficult exercise as I'm a very visual person
still. It turned out to be a great exercise for me, and people who have read
it feel it demonstrates well a "blind" perspective, and they say it doesn't
lack anything despite having no visual descriptions. Nonetheless, it was
difficult to write this way for me. There's nothing wrong writing about
blindness or creating blind characters, but there's nothing wrong with not
writing about it either. For me, at this point in time anyway, I don't often
address it.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of EvaMarie
Sanchez via stylist
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 7:08 PM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: EvaMarie Sanchez <3rdeyeonly at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [stylist] sharing

I want to say, "Me three." This is about the dreams and writing of
blindness. I just do not write about blindness. It is not that I make a
point of it, but I do not make of point of doing so. There is so much more
in the universe to inspire one, such as the weather we all seem to agree on.
I also hate being cold, but I am starting to realize that I need to be
somewhere with seasons at least. I think the seasons, exemplified by the
wheel of the year, is healthy for the soul. I feel the deprivation without
them and the lack of water is really hard for me. Also, I love gardening,
but nothing or worth thrives here. Nothing of what I consider worthy that
is.
I need to find a place with balance and then I could make my own paradise.
Thanks for all of you who have been sharing your inspirations.
Eve

 President, National Federation of the Blind Northern Arizona President,
National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Committee Chair, Arizona
Association of Guide Dog Users Affiliate Member, National Federation of the
Blind Legislative Committee Affiliate Member, National Federation of the
Blind Membership Committee Member, Slate & Style Editing Team

"You do not need to have vision to see the stars."

On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 4:52 PM, Barbara HAMMEL via stylist <
stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> And one doesn't have to be fully sighted to struggle with this 
> iea%sue. I had light and color perception until about 2000 when it
completely left.
> And, I still do dream with what vision I had, in fact I'd argue that 
> sometimes I dream with even better vision than I ever had. While it is 
> not primarily the reason I spiraled into depression that demands I 
> take meds, It undoubtedly is a factor. I'd guess, though, if I'd not 
> been dealt the other trials I've borne, it would be more of a nonissue.
> Barbara
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Aug 13, 2015, at 15:37, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist <
> stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > While I would prefer to have my sight, I never really struggled with 
> > much depression over losing it. But I completely understand these 
> > feelings and the difficulty of adjusting and transitioning from 
> > being sighted to
> blind.
> > When I first started losing sight, and to this day, what I struggle 
> > with
> the
> > most is how others view me. How isolating disability can be because 
> > of
> the
> > ignorance of the world. I hate being perceived a certain way. And no
> matter
> > what I do, what I accomplish, how I go about life, too many people 
> > still perceive me in a negative way, refusing to look beyond the 
> > white cane. I often feel stifled and suffocated by the attitudes and 
> > perceptions so
> many
> > people think and feel about me and blindness. I trudge through the 
> > muck
> and
> > mire, trying to set an example, but it's exhausting and daunting at
> times.
> > Blindness itself does not so much bother me, but all the stereotypes 
> > and attitudes do. This has always been more the struggle for me.
> >
> > I find solace and calm in the distractions that sooth me like 
> > relaxing
> days,
> > and my son and husband. These things are my sanctuary and saving grace.
> >
> > Bridgit
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> > William L Houts via stylist
> > Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 11:26 AM
> > To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> > Cc: William L Houts <lukaeon at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [stylist] sharing
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > HI Barbara,
> >
> > I live for these sounds, too, and for environmental sounds in general.
> > family members frequently give me a kind of spooky acknowledgment 
> > for
> all of
> > this, as if my blindness has resulted in wondrous enchanted powers.  
> > I'm always saying, no, what's happened is that I've learned to pay 
> > greater attention to what I'm hearing than most people usually do.
> > For instance, when I first went blind, I was thrilled to be 
> > introduced to talking books.  But I found it hard to listen to them 
> > without falling asleep; my attention nspan, trained for many years 
> > to be centered on my eyes, simply got exhausted.  Nowadays, some 16 
> > years on, I can happily listen for hours without breaking a sweat 
> > or, what's worse, yawning and dozing off.
> >
> > When I first lost my vision, I had a therapist whose job it was to 
> > guide
> me
> > through my considerable anger at my situation.  He told me, Bill you 
> > will come to accept this.  No, I retorted, I will come to be resigned to
it.
> No,
> > he said, unshakeable, I'm telling you, it's going to be all right 
> > with
> you.
> > Well, he was right.  I write, read, eat, enjoy cool breezes on our 
> > front porch.  I'm happy, most days.  Who knew?  LOL
> >
> >
> > --Bill
> >
> >
> >
> >> On 8/13/2015 4:53 AM, Barbara HAMMEL via stylist wrote:
> >> I love thunderstorms, too. Especially the kind of thunder that just
> keeps
> > rolling and rolling. The wind, on the other hand, worries my soul. I 
> > love the sound of falling rain. I like to hear sleet, too.
> >> Barbara
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >>
> >>> On Aug 12, 2015, at 22:35, EvaMarie Sanchez via stylist
> > <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> So there are only 4 of us who have chimed in so far, but it is 
> >>> interesting to see that we are all inspired by the weather.
> >>> Especially strong weather it seems. We are so cool.
> >>> The toddler thing kind of cracks me up Bill. I could picture it. 
> >>> The little tyke saying something and you running to make a mental
note.
> >>> haha Eve
> >>>
> >>> President, National Federation of the Blind Northern Arizona 
> >>> President, National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division 
> >>> Committee Chair, Arizona Association of Guide Dog Users Affiliate 
> >>> Member, National Federation of the Blind Legislative Committee 
> >>> Affiliate Member, National Federation of the Blind Membership 
> >>> Committee Member, Slate & Style Editing Team
> >>>
> >>> "You do not need to have vision to see the stars."
> >>>
> >>> On Wed, Aug 12, 2015 at 7:33 PM, Semirhage via stylist 
> >>> <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Thunder storms rock. Especially when you're all cozy and inside.
> >>>> Here in OR we don't really get the thunder part very often. 
> >>>> Rarely if ever did we in Southern CA, but when we were stuck in 
> >>>> TX for 2 years I remember thinking the huge claps of thunder 
> >>>> would terrify our bird because like me he got wigged out by the 
> >>>> earth quakes. But he was chillin' with the thunder. Didn't flinch or
complain a bit.
> Very
> > cool.
> >>>> Sem
> >>>> I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
> >>>> I get along with the voices inside of my head.
> >>>>
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> >> l.c
> >> om
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > "Oh, Sophie!  Whyfore have you eated all de cheeldren?"
> >
> >
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