I grew up believing that the opinions of others were the most important thing. The opinions of my parents, the opinions of my teachers and god help me if my opinions weren't the same and if they were I shouldn't listen to myself, just listen to them because they were right.
For most people this is normal to an extent but my parents opinions on things like blindness etc. were very damaging to me.
My dad never wanted me to carry my white cane when we went out into public. He always said that I needed to use my eyesight or that I'd lose it and that he would tell me when and or if there was an object in my way. Well we went fishing in Alaska and I wanted to bring my cane with me because I was living on my own by then and was used to carrying it around. My father told me not to though, so I listened to him. Then I fell through a two foot gap in the boards of the dock on the ocean. I got the worst roadrash of my life and I got a wake up call.
I need to do what I believe and know to be right for myself and I believe that my relationship and prayers to the Goddess help me know what is right for me. That fall taught me to listen to my inner voice and to stop relying on others' opinions so much.
Now I'm having to relearn this as I enter the Deaf community and am afraid of what other people will think/say and I wonder if I am doing it right ( don't ask me what "it" is because I don't know).
This whole uncertainty is so different because I don't give two shakes about what people in the blind community think of me; I'll do what I like.
So what I'm trying to say in an over-long, round about way is that this is a life long struggle and that everyone has to come to grips with it in their own way.
no subject
For most people this is normal to an extent but my parents opinions on things like blindness etc. were very damaging to me.
My dad never wanted me to carry my white cane when we went out into public. He always said that I needed to use my eyesight or that I'd lose it and that he would tell me when and or if there was an object in my way. Well we went fishing in Alaska and I wanted to bring my cane with me because I was living on my own by then and was used to carrying it around. My father told me not to though, so I listened to him. Then I fell through a two foot gap in the boards of the dock on the ocean. I got the worst roadrash of my life and I got a wake up call.
I need to do what I believe and know to be right for myself and I believe that my relationship and prayers to the Goddess help me know what is right for me. That fall taught me to listen to my inner voice and to stop relying on others' opinions so much.
Now I'm having to relearn this as I enter the Deaf community and am afraid of what other people will think/say and I wonder if I am doing it right ( don't ask me what "it" is because I don't know).
This whole uncertainty is so different because I don't give two shakes about what people in the blind community think of me; I'll do what I like.
So what I'm trying to say in an over-long, round about way is that this is a life long struggle and that everyone has to come to grips with it in their own way.
Wordy much?
sorry.