[Stylist] article under 500 words

Sat Jun 1 18:40:51 UTC 2019

Hey Ann,

Not sure if you were just sharing this, or looking for feedback. But I'd
have to agree--for me, traveling solo to somewhere new is the most
challenging aspect of being blind. Back in 2010 I went to a writer's
conference deep in the hills of West Virginia. The good part of that trip
was that people were so friendly, and very helpful to me when I got lost,
which was often, as the sessions were in different buildings, then there
were dorms, which were all exactly alike, and so on. The most difficult
part, though, was on Saturday night, when there was a big bonfire, lots of
writerly bonding, and bottles of moonshine being passed around. Me, being
the social butterfly that I am, was the second to last to leave, and had to
find my way back to my room with a relatively high blood alcohol level.
Somehow I made it, but I think I took a short cut through a swamp along the
way. Eventually the skin on my legs cleared up!

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ann
Chiappetta via Stylist
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2019 8:46 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Ann Chiappetta
Subject: [Stylist] article under 500 words

Challenge Your Comfort Zone

By Ann Chiappetta

Traveling can be a great way to increase one's independence.  It keeps us
active, socially engaged, and will challenge and correct some of those
irrational fears. Many years ago, when I first became blind, I went out
on my own only when it involved my children's needs or something important
like a doctor's appointment.  I didn't travel to unfamiliar locations
without another adult. I just could not get past the anxiety of traveling
alone. I missed out on worthwhile experiences due to the fear of the
unknown.

I knew developing good travel skills and being able to rely upon my white
cane skills was paramount to returning to work and gaining independence. I
just needed practice.    

Part of building reliable traveling skills as a blind person is to plan a
route and make it happen.   One of the first traveling challenges I planned
independently was attending a scholarship dinner at a State conference.   I
was able to independently navigate the airport and the hotel, and this
resulted in increased confidence. It was well attended and I received one of
the awards, which was an added incentive.   

Building self-reliance takes time, patience and practice. The next trip was
a family trip to Florida including a one-day trip to a National Blindness
conference. This conference was intimidating at first but I somehow managed
not to get lost or trip folks with my cane. The added bonus was that my
family came with me and was also exposed to hundreds of blind people. My
husband later remarked that he was intimidated by "all those people swinging
those canes,". I thought about his comment and realized he, too, felt a bit
intimidated by the conference; he benefitted from watching me interact
with other blind people. He learned   to resist the need to over-help. 

I learned how to prepare for and anticipate my needs by learning from
others. Mobility instructors taught me valuable skills and techniques to
find doors, check-in counters, and the revolving doors, moving sidewalks and
escalators used in airports. I swapped stories with other blind folks as
often as possible. It made me feel better knowing I wasn't alone facing the
challenges of traveling while blind. 

Setting a goal like learning a route, whether it is to a store or to a
conference, boosts confidence and can provide a sense of wellbeing and
accomplishment.  Why not challenge your own comfort zone and record your
experiences in a journal, then share it at a chapter or affiliate meeting?
Who knows, you might inspire others to take a travel challenge, too.

Ann Chiappetta, M.S.

Author & Consultant

 <http://www.annchiappetta.com> www.annchiappetta.com

<https://www.amazon.com/gp/r.html?C=Z9SQXHR9LXA4&M=urn:correios:msg:20171130
234501b100607b0d1546379d4571b5f1e0p0na&R=1AGOVS1WQU0RS&T=C&U=https%3A%2F%2Fw
ww.amazon.com%2Fauthor%2Fannchiappetta%3Fref_%3Dpe_1724030_132998060&A=QANHT
SRK0SI7IXHTMMFYYPQFHH8A&H=XA5QNH9QOJ0XQKUD7AAYGEEUJ8MA&ref_=pe_1724030_13299
8060> https://www.amazon.com/author/annchiappetta

Face Book: Annie Chiappetta/Twitter: Anniedungarees/Instagram: annie_bird_64

LinkedIn: Ann Chiappetta Iona College/Blog:  <http://www.thought-wheel.com/>
www.thought-wheel.com/

"The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates." ` Oscar
Wilde

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