I'm blind. I cannot see. I have had nightmares about this very scenario. One of my greatest fears about blindness is not actually being blind. It is the result of what would be taken away from me in my blindness. I believe that there is opportunity for growth and to learn from any trial that comes our way. At first thought though, there are a few major things in my life that would all be greatly impacted.
Photo by Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash
I am a cosmetic tattoo artist by trade. Blindness would definitely end that career. I am very detail oriented in my work. I HAVE to be able to see. There would be no "tattooing by feel" when working on someone's face. You cannot feel if there is enough saturation without sight, and there is not a way to be able to draw and balance the drawing on someone's face without scrutiny. I could give up my current career though. It isn't my dream job that would destroy me if could no longer do it. I would pursue something else.
The first thing that popped into my head for a new career: book narration. I listen to books all the time and tell my kids stories often as well. I would have to learn Braille in order to "read" the book for recording. They may even have other options available, but that is the first thing that comes to mind.
Something else that I love to do but would have to reimagine ways to do it is baking. I have baked with my kids often enough that I think that they could assist me through it. I wouldn't be able to see if things are done, but I think I could learn to get close enough with using a toothpick to check things like brownies and cakes. Cookies are pretty standard for their cooking times also. Breads and cake doneness can also be partially determined by touching the bread or cake in the oven. The hard part there is reaching in to touch it without getting burned. Smell is also an indicator of things being done or being close. I would definitely need some help.
Working out would change for me if I was blind. I think that weightlifting would still be viable with someone to help me. I would be able to tell by weight which plate I needed to put on the bar. I think I could do that blindfolded now. Making sure there is a safe amount of space around me and re-racking the bar would be the part I would want help with. Stationary bikes and rowing machines can all be done without having to see the counter and they will start and stop automatically.
I would greatly miss the outdoors. I treasure sunrise and sunsets. We hike often in forests and to waterfalls. There is so much beauty on this Earth with all the different landscapes, trees, flowers. I would miss all the colors of it all. Every scene offers something new. I could experience the touch and smell but would miss all the scenes of nature.
Personal maintenance would be affected by blindness. I could still get to my hair appointments, braid my hair, and fix it or have my daughters help me. Putting on makeup would be a challenge, but I think that I could eventually manage a simple makeup job of mascara, tinted moisturizer and some lip gloss.
Before being able to move on with my life and think about alternative ways to live my life, I believe I would first have to go through a period of mourning. I think that I would be going through the stages of grief for the sighted life that I had before. I am sure there would be tears, lashing out, anger, depression, and eventually acceptance. I don't think that it would be a quick or easy process. I have seen movies about people who became blind, and it impacted me when I was younger. One particular movie is "Wild Hearts Can't be Broken." She became blind in an accident, and it was the story of how she overcame it. I also have always been fascinated by the life of Helen Keller, and how she overcame all the odds. I love stories like that, but hope not to become that story myself, and here is the main reason why: I am afraid of forgetting what my children look like. I am afraid of not seeing them grow and not seeing them become adults. I know that they would still be in my life, and that I would find ways to cope with that fear and would eventually get over it. I would have to out of necessity. I am a "glass if half full" kind of girl. Eventually, I would go through the stages of grief and then I would find a way to find gratitude in my new trial. Many people are blind and lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. It isn't the end of the world, just the beginning of a new one. (So says I while sitting in my chair not blind.)
Photo by Ruel Calitis on Unsplash
Truly though, life would continue on as it always does. I learned this lesson in part when my father died. My world stopped in the midst of tragedy, but the world kept spinning. If this were to happen also, I would find a new way of life, new activities to pursue. I would try to develop my other senses and be grateful that I still had them. Maybe one day there would be a way to fix me, but until then, I would find joy in the darkness.
This was the prompt for writing this weekend: Weekend #86 Imagination I have been really busy this week and having put much pen to paper so this was nice break into writing. Thanks for the creative prompt @galenkp
