[nfb-talk] Wanting to See

Sat Jan 7 01:26:58 UTC 2017

I, fortunately, am perfect except for the fact that I am blind.

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.
>
> Sent with AquaMail for Android
> http://www.aqua-mail.com
>
>
> 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!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nfb-talk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/kaye.j.zimpher%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nfb-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/john%40johnheim.com
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfb-talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/r.d.t.prater%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfb-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/john%40johnheim.com