[nfb-talk] Wanting to See

[Devin Prater]

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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