28 Life Lessons Learned In 10 Years Of Blindness

1. Being Blind doesn’t always mean pitch blackness. There are numerous classifications of blindness. There is definetly a grey area.

2. A sighted person should not take anything they see for granted. Normal day to day activities that you normally wouldn't think twice about are missed so much by a blind person. What I wouldn't give to see a car back fire, the wierd people you find in a Wal Mart or even a funny bumper sticker.

3. When learning to walk around an environment wearing flip flops are not a good option. You would be absolutely amazed at how many times my toes probably should have been broken from running into a table or corner.

4. Wear ear plugs because interactions may come to you as though you are deaf and not blind.

5. The work industry will treat you as though you have leprosy if you are located in a small town.

6. Friends as well as some family may also suddenly treat you as though you have leprosy.

7. People will become aggravated because suddenly you can hear things behind your back.

8. Walking around the block without your cane may not be the best choice.

9. When people try to hand you things assuming you can see them it’s important to laugh when they get discouraged.

10. If someone comes up to you and asks if you are faking your blindness; a good reply is “why yes doesn’t everyone do that to get ahead?”

11. Wearing the nonprescription glasses for fashion while holding your cane will make you look kind of stupid.

12. Did you know car insurance doesn’t cover the blind???

13. Watching a silent film is sorta pointless.

14. You can sometimes get preferential seating at a concert.

15. If you know you could go blind before you get out of the public school system learn brail then while it’s a free resource. Unless you live in a big city it is almost impossible to find somewhere that can teach you.

16. Never ever assume a retailer is going to give you correct change back. It is equally important to make sure you’re handing over the right bills.

17. A signature stamp or signature guide will come in handy. This is unless you don’t mind having a signature that trails either up or down and is not always on the line.

18. People in public places will suddenly see you as a two year old since you can’t see them. When this happens don’t be afraid to hurl yourself down on the floor and throw a big fit to get your way. After all, they asked for it right?

19. Buying the new release of your fav author in paper back will get you nowhere. Although, it does make your book shelf look more functional if nothing else.

20. Blind hunters may have access to special hunting areas depending on their location.

21. Finger foods are a lot less messy.
22. Figuring out exactly what you own in your closet is a must for matching purposes. Not realizing you’re not wearing matching clothes until you’re already in public is never fun.

23. Never fully trust someone guiding you to not run you into bushes, signs, poles, etc…

24. You are suddenly a rock star at the game Marco polo

25. Since you have to do most activities by feel be sure to keep hand sanitizer with you at all times.

26. Having a heightened sense of smell is not always a good thing when in public or changing a diaper.

27. Having a phone that talks so you can text is fabulous but when in public headphones are sometimes crucial. This is mainly when you get the odd text from someone that uses profanity or other explicit language you may not want the person next to you over hearing.

28. Above all else a sense of humor is a must. It will help you get through the good, the bad, the sad and the annoying better than anything else.