Blind? No Problem

I was so proud of myself after finishing a diaper cake for a baby shower. I made it completely on my own. I’ll be honest, it was not easy. Building the first layer was pretty straightforward, but as the cake got taller it became much more challenging. At one point, the whole thing crumbled and diapers went everywhere. I had to start over, but I was determined not to let it defeat me. One of my favorite parts was choosing all the little details that made it special. I included a baby doll just like the one I had  one I had growing up, a pig lovey because the mom-to-be loves pigs, and of course a pair of pink cowgirl boots because she’s a Texas girl. Creating the diaper cake took patience and attention to detail, which can be challenging with low vision. Instead of relying only on my eyesight, I relied on my sense of touch, creativity, and determination. When I stepped back and realized I had created it all by myself I felt incredibly proud.

The diaper cake reminded me of something much bigger- blindness may change how I do things, but it does not change what I am capable of doing. The diaper cake is not the only time I have realized this. Horseback riding has reminded me of the same thing too:  that blindness does not take away capability, there just has to be adaptation.

When I am riding a horse, I feel at ease. Would it be easier to ride with 20/20 vision? Yes. But being blind has also allowed me to experience the horse in a different way. I rely on my instructor and volunteers to guide me with directions, turns, and where to go in the arena, but I am still the one riding. In some ways, I think blindness has made me more in tune with the horse- I feel the rhythm of the horse’s walk, the movement underneath me, and the connection between us. Riding reminds me that I can still feel freedom, joy, peace, and confidence even without sight.

And honestly, what girl does not love a good outfit? I mean… I might be blind, but I am still a fashionista. Putting together the perfect outfit can be complicated. You have to think about the clothes, the shoes, the accessories, and how everything works together. But somehow, even without much sight, I do a pretty good job of putting outfits together.

How do I do it? Adaptation. I can still tell the difference between some brighter colors, and I rely on organization a lot. I have memorized where things are in my closet which helps me know what I am reaching for and technology also helps. For example, before the baby shower, I took a picture of my shoes and asked someone which pair looked best with my outfit. It may look a little different than how someone with full sight gets ready, but the goal is the same: feeling confident, cute, and stylish.

When I say, "Blind? No problem," I do not mean blindness is easy. Living with blindness can be challenging, frustrating, and exhausting at times, but blindness does not make me less capable. It simply means I may have to modify, adapt, and find a different way to accomplish the same goal. Whether I am making a diaper cake, riding a horse, or putting together the perfect outfit, I am reminded that my abilities are far greater than my limitations. Anything is possible, you just might have to adapt.

Blind? No problem… Because at the end of the day, it is all about ability.