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All tagged Faith in God
This means that, as I hold on to my companion’s elbow, they lead me around obstacles and along a safe, clear path.
At least, that is the intention!
In this way, I can navigate by feeling how the other person moves as well as by relying on their verbal directions and cues.
He proposed that, in addition to pursuing a career in professional counseling, I should also consider a job as a professional planner. In this role, I could plan people’s trips, meals, day-to-day activities, and overall lives.
As you can probably tell, he was poking fun at my tendency to construct plans in my own life, which can sometimes be excessive.
This year is seriously flying by so fast, and it has been a whirlwind for me.
Between speaking engagements, graduate school, family life, and other responsibilities, it seems as though I hardly have time to eat, breathe, or sleep!
Can any of you relate? Are you in a season that is so busy that you simply cannot find the time to slow down?
Have you ever had moments in your life where you just feel invincible? I’m talking about those times when you feel like you can conquer any task, overcome any hurdle, and smash through any roadblock. For most of my younger years, I felt invincible. As I grew older and I started to feel the impact of the hardships of life, those moments became fewer and farther between. Especially after I lost my sight, I experienced more times where I felt defeated and weak. All of a sudden, even the smallest, most minute tasks seemed impossible. How would I ever be able to pick out my own clothes, prepare food independently, or finish college without my sight?
Sometimes, it seems as though we are stuck in a season of life where one trial follows another, and they all begin to build up until the weight of it all is crushing.
Blindness often brings upon those seasons because it impacts so many distinct aspects of my daily life.
The trainers would set up traffic cones, large solid barriers, and other objects on the sidewalk to block our path.
The dogs are trained to stop in front of the obstacle, and then as a team, the dog and handler are to decide the best way to work around the object.
The first few times Jackson and I worked on this task; it was pretty much a disaster. I would give him the wrong command and completely confuse him. Or he would take matters into his own paws, guiding me on his own “creative” path around the obstacle.
It took a lot of practice, trust, and teamwork for us to finally become comfortable working together around these unexpected barriers.
There were so many challenges that accompanied the unexpected tragedy which occurred over 6 years ago.
Some of these hardships included losing my independence, having to adjust to a new way of living and engaging with the world, and enduring the frustrating search to find my purpose as someone with a disability.
Losing sight of my way, my plans for the future, and the purpose I thought I had for my life would be one of the hardest things I had to face.
At the time of my sight loss in 2015, I was on track to graduate college the following year, pursue a graduate degree, and begin a career in the field of Psychology.
In the blink of an eye, all of that disappeared and I no longer had a plan for what my life would be ten years down the road, let alone 10 months, weeks, or even days in the future.
I know what you’re probably thinking because I’ve heard it many times before… “You have to apply? Shouldn’t anyone who is blind automatically be qualified for a guide dog?”
Actually, this is far from the truth because there is a lot more that goes into using a dog as a mobility tool than simply grabbing hold of the harness handle and being led everywhere you want to go.
As the dog’s handler, it is your responsibility to give your dog directions such as where to go and when to cross the street. The dog’s only responsibility is to follow your directions and guide you there safely.
As a result, the application process ensures that you have an adequate level of orientation and mobility skills to work with your dog as a team and that you can properly care for and provide for your new furry companion.
Flowers bloom, the weather gets warmer, and we can finally start to venture out of our cozy winter cocoon of blankets and fleece!
The weather is not the only thing that has been changing for me recently.
My life has been undergoing a season of change that has brought sad goodbyes, exciting new endeavors, and a whirlwind of emotions.
I wanted to let you in on what God has been teaching me through it all.
Without visual cues, it can be so hard to identify someone by their voice, especially when I am in a crowded room or when the voice belongs to someone who I do not speak with often.
There are some people, like family members and close friends, who I can immediately recognize as soon as they utter one word, but this is definitely not the case with everyone.
This means that, as I hold on to my companion’s elbow, they lead me around obstacles and along a safe, clear path.
At least, that is the intention!
In this way, I can navigate by feeling how the other person moves as well as by relying on their verbal directions and cues.
It seemed as though everyone craved a fresh start and the opportunity to leave 2020 behind along with all of its troubles and hardships.
I’m right there with you!
2020 was challenging for everyone, to say the least, and I’m truly hoping that 2021 will be better.
