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Blindness is for those who WILL NOT see

By Marion Drazil of Smart Business Online

From a recent conversation with my mother who at age 86 has been diagnosed with age related Macular Degeneration, and the fears she has about losing her eyesight, I realised that there is more to worry about in life than dying. This chat with my mother brought out thoughts about how I would feel if I was told that I may lose my eyesight or the use of my hands or legs or even a finger. The numerous ‘what ifs’ made me take time out to think about what I would do if I was in her situation, if I lost my eyesight and would not be able to write articles or indulge in my passion for painting? This in a sense, like a serious illness, would be far more devastating than death itself as I would still be required to continue living regardless of how I felt about my situation.

Like my mother who enjoys reading and devours books like others drink coffee, I fear losing my eyesight. I paint and love and appreciate colours and work with them both in website design and in my hobbies and should this mean I could not continue in these pastimes, what is there that would fill this void for me? The need to be creative is a strong driving force within me and if I were to lose the ability to see, what would I replace this almost obsessive compulsion to create with? I want to be actively involved in life despite any illnesses or accidents that may come my way in my lifetime.

I have always enjoyed music although I never entertained the idea of playing an instrument. So two weeks ago I took the bold step of learning to play the piano. For those of you who play a musical instrument this may not seem as a big deal, however, when you have no idea where middle ‘C’ is and not a musical note in your body this is equal to climbing Mount Everest. What has this to do with my Mother’s affliction...her problems took me back to a place many years ago, a blind girl and a piano.

In a past life I worked as a supervisor at the Royal Society for the Blind, and remembered this amazing girl who played the most brilliant classical piano pieces with absolutely no vision at all from birth. With my Mother and her eyesight problems in mind, I recalled the way this girl enjoyed herself and entertained us with her brilliance and I realised that this is the direction I would really like to go in if it was my fate to inherit this medical problem and if I am still able to see well into my old age than this would be a bonus given to me by ‘someone’ of ‘something’ bigger than all of us.

So, should I be unfortunate enough to inherit the eyesight problems experienced by my Mother I know I will have something to fill those long hours of no vision and still enjoy myself in my creativity. I may not play brilliantly, nor ever perform on stage but merely the opportunity to indulge in being creative through music has given me the drive to learn a new skill and enjoy myself regardless of what life throws at me.

I challenge all of you to start something new today, not merely in case there may be a mishap in your lives but because there is so much more to learn and neither age nor any infliction should stand in your way.

Find your challenge and enjoy it.

Marion in her role as a business consultant has been a mentor to over 250 successful small businesses and has in the past 10 years extended her knowledge to Webdesign and the internet. Smart Business Solutions

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Smart Business Online
Business information and website design
www.smartbusinessonline.net.au

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As someone who is actually losing his sight I was delighted by the naïvety displayed in this intel. Because of the pain that my father suffered with hos blindness, I vowed that I would not tolerate that situation for myself.
Reality is a bitch!
No matter what plans or promises I made to myself in the past, the reality is totally different and has drawn none of my avowed options to the fore, instead I find myself exploring avenues that I had discarded when the loss was only a distant possibility.
Don't try to plan for a catastrophe. By their very nature, catastrophes negate planning.

It may be a niave viewpoint, but by nature I am a planner and organiser. I remember planning my first business when I was around 8 years old and always knew I would write something that I would consider of value since my early school days. I am now of an age where I can reflect on many of my life experiences both dramas and high points and find that my plans are still intact although somewhat altered in method by technology, the processes may have changed but the bigger plan is still intact. However, dispite the planning or not planning, just think of the pleasure I am now getting out of a few black and white keys and a positive attitude.

Marion...great intel. Sight is precious, but our bodies were created perfect,precious; it is scary to think we might lose any capacity we presently enjoy. I am sorry for the unfortunate situation about your mom;with new treatments coming up all the time, hopefully she can prevent total loss. Good Luck

Hi MasterTikitak
Thank You for your kind words, unfortunately, my Mother has been told that her blindness is inevitable and we have all come to live with the fact that she is getting older, we don't like it but we have no choice in the matter, so all we can do is support her and show her how much we love and care and are there for her and hopefully that will compensate in some small way for her loss of sight.

Thank you for sharing this inspiring yet distressing story, Marion.
I think back 50 years ago, when blind people were really in a darker world then they are today. Today, I believe that there are electronics that can help them read, write with word commands and listen to music and stories.
This doesn't make it any less of a tragedy, but it does help.
Best to you and your Mom,
Frederick

Thank You Frederick, we are currently investigating into all of the aids at the Low Vision Centre.

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