Touching Souls — Disability, Eyes, Heart & Gratitude

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/touching-souls-a-chance-meeting-with-the-blind-36279c1a6ee0

Reading Touching Souls: A Chance Meeting With The Blind by Dr. Preeti Singh

Suzie was so dexterous with her hands and worked in the parlor to study and find her way in the world. She had aspirations like any of us. She had two ambitions. She wanted to be a computer programmer and also to teach the blind to be independent. Dr. Preeti Singh

And an idea hit my brain. I found it amazing how this young lady is blind and manages to spread positivity. My brain and heart joined in and took me to a place, where I must ask, “The fact that she is blind and is unable to witness the cruelty of humanity, live and in real-time, does that impact her mood, emotion, and thoughts?

What about her actions, choices, decisions, hopes, feelings, thinking, etc.

The unforgettable encounter left a lasting impact because of the profound connection made through a chance meeting with Suzie who was blind.

Not being able to see, how does that change us from the inside?

In Jamaica, we say, ‘What ears don’t hear, the heart won’t leap.”

How does that affect the Deaf?

I will never know the true answer but follow me into this story and I will show you, my answer.

“I have been calling you all day!” Janet called out as she proceeded towards Kaya sitting in front of one of many seats facing Target in the Louisville Mall.

“I am busy doing overtime,” Kaya said putting her phone away.

“Over time doing what? Watching who comes out of Target?”

“You know I volunteered to help the disabled shop and go and do what they want of the weekends,” Kaya says.

“Why, you want to win the Nobel prize for kindness?”

Kaya gave her a weird look pulling her closer, then explained, “three years ago when I was down in the dumps, you said. . . . . .” Kaya paused, pulling her even closer.

She sat beside her, and Kaya reminded her, “You said, ‘you are young, educated, not poor, healthy and strong. With all your assets you are complaining. What do you expect the blind, cripple, deaf or anyone with disability to do? Girl you are creating your own problems!’”

“Damn, I shouldn’t have said that,” dropped from Janet’s thoughts as she squeezed Kaya’s left hand.

“You saved my life,” Kaya squeezed hers.

“How did I do that?”

Kaya smiled, sharing, “your words became a tool and a weapon. I decided to use it as a tool.”

“How?”

“James is blind. He has the kindest heart. He chooses a profession that will help everyone. He is a social worker, Counselor and coach disabled children at his community Center. He mentors children too at his church. It’s as if his disability isn’t a hinderance. He is never sad, and spreads positivity everywhere he goes. He adds happiness and gratitude to my life.” Kaya smiled at that thought.

Suzie was not shy of admitting that she was blind. She was fashionable and smart and moved around alone with ease. She took guided steps and learned them by heart. She went to good branded shops and bought clothes with the help of her mother and other friends. Dr. Preeti Singh

“And you think it’s because he can’t see our world for what it really is?”

“Gosh, I have days when I wished I was blind,” Kaya said pushing the pain back. “It’s hard to see the wickedness of our world and pretend it doesn’t exist.”

“Yeah,” Janet adds, her thought going back too. “Not being able to see the cruelty does something to our emotions and actions.”

“But they can still sense it.”

“True, but not seeing it, like no hearing, does lessen the impact with doesn’t add anything negative to their emotions.”

“So not really seeing the cruelty or hearing it, in James’s case, does improve his attitude towards life and humanity.”

But what about the others?” Janet asked.

“Most of the ones I help are so happy and grateful for life it’s like there is no wickedness in our world. They surround themselves with so much positivity and gratitude, that you just want to be a part of their world.”

“So, you go around these disabled people because how grateful they are for life even with their inability to function without the kindness of humanity?” slipped from somewhere deep within Janet.

Her words went deep within Kaya, who smiled, hugging her, then said, “they are happy even with limitations life and humans imposed up on them. I have none and couldn’t find happiness. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah,” Janet said in deep thought. “I can’t imagine not being able to see a smile, a sunrise and sunset. How my favorite meal is being cooked. The danger as it approached. Oh God!” she wailed. Kaya hugged her as tears flowed.

“And James still manages to be happy. Then why can’t we?” Kaya questioned.

“I think I know why James is happy?” Janet said wiping away tears. Then she blew her nose with tissues from her bag.

Kaya raised her brows.

“His eyes are in his heart. If he is as kind as you say, because he is blind, then he can see from his heart.”

“Me too,” Janet agrees asking, “One of them is inside Target?”

“Yeah, Joseph and Ella. He is buying her an engagement ring and asked me to stay outside,” Kaya said a twinkle in her eyes.

“He is blind?”

“No, she is. She is just a sweetheart, he said he fell in love with her heart.”

“Does he know that she can see from her heart?”

“That’s the best part of her, he says!”

She also worked. Suzie realized that she would be left on her own if something happened to her mother. She wanted to develop her own talent and earn money for herself so that she did not need to beg on the streets. Dr. Preeti Singh

I know many people with disabilities, and I help every chance I get. But I wonder about their lives and lives. How do they manage to remain hopeful, happy, grateful, and strong, living a life without resentment of their situation while adding positivity to their lives and ours? I have met some of the most grateful disabled humans. You might say they emit gratitude from their attitude because they are relying on the kindness of humanity.

Disabled or not, all of humanity relies on kindness.

So, what’s going on with able-bodied humans, who create their own limitations?

Please, be kind to all disabled people you see.

Thank you Dr. Singh for this piece and for always being kind.

Thank you fro reading this piece. I hoe you enjoy it.