Some days are better than others as far as being able to see what lies in front of me or next to me. It can be hit or miss. Often, I have to fill-in-the-blanks as to what it may be. On a good day, I am able to successfully exit a vehicle and navigate the trek from the car to the curb to the sidewalk with no incident; then take two steps, turn left and run smack into some kind of post.

Like I said, it is hit or miss. So much depends on how much or how little light the day brings. Familiar places and spaces are good; new ones….not so much. I try my best.

In the midst of all these hit or miss moments, I am gently reminded of where it is I witness the gift of God’s grace. Where might this be for you today?

Just when I think I have adjusted to just about everything related to vision loss, the sun and clouds decide to play games of hide ‘n seek. The change from bright light to low light and vise versa plays havoc with what I am able to discern around me and in front of me. Even walking outside with my cane, I find myself mis-stepping. I am not sure if there is a time when I will adjust to changes like these….every day seems to bring with it a new challenge

In spite of this, I found I can enjoy small pleasures like feeding the ducks and eating an ice cream sundae….and even larger pleasures like enjoying the company of family and the work of my ministry. It’s all good.

Swimming is a fun activity to keep us fit and offers a respite from the heat and humidity of blazing summer temperatures. I am not a mermaid, but I love to swim.

We have a pool and as time allows, I try to swim as often as I can. Since my vision loss, there are some small things that have helped me feel more comfortable and safe when I swim. I have not been swimming in open water yet; so my helps are limited to pool swimming. If anyone has any other suggestions, please share.

• I count the swim strokes I need to cover the length of the pool, so I do not bump into the pool walls or the ladder.
• Goggles were not helpful to me, but they may be to you.
• I use bright-colored tape to mark the pool steps. Contrast is helpful to me.
• Sometimes I use a radio or audio device to let me know when I get to the pool’s edge.The sound/music is a reminder to slow down as I approach.
• Above all, ENJOY!!!

I had an opportunity to go to a lake on a summer Saturday morning. What a gift – it was beautiful, peaceful and spiritual. Not just at a lake…but in a canoe on a lake for the first time. There is something of value with pushing the blade of a paddle through still water. That action itself, even without being able to actually see the water ripple, brought serenity to my soul.

I was slightly worried about not being able to see where I was going. The person who was steering served as my guide and teacher. I was surprised yet again, I was able to accomplish something new even with vision loss. My vision loss reminds me time and again, that I can experience something new in a good way; that even those ‘old’ things I enjoyed doing, I can still do, but in a different way.

This summer Saturday morning in a canoe on a lake was awesome!

A simple reminder: if you meet someone on your journey who may be wearing dark glasses and using a white cane, or a magnifier or other visual assistance tool…say hello to them; be respectful.

There is so much new technology and so many innovative programs to help those who are blind or who have low vision, it is incredible! Through these new avenues, their worlds become bigger and brighter!

As one example, check out this link https://news.microsoft.com/innovation-stories/project-torino-code-jumper/?ocid=lock1

Such sensory stimulation in summer! Just close your eyes for a moment…what do you hear and smell?

The splashing of swimmers, the laughter of children in a pool…..the buzz of a bubble bee….the hum of a lawnmower followed by the smell of fresh cut grass…..summer rain…the crash of the waves against the shoreline….the bell of the ice cream truck…fresh strawberries….birds chirping….smell of the ocean….rustling of grass when a soft breeze blows…..food on the grill….the popping of fireworks…..

These are just a handful of many summer gifts that reach out to our senses. Enjoy!

When I was a kid, I loved summer! I enjoyed being outdoors. I enjoyed he activities and creative play the season offered. One of the things I enjoyed doing was blowing bubbles.

It was fun. I would try to discern which direction the wind was blowing. I would try to blow small bubbles, large bubbles, or multiple bubbles and then time them to see how long they would last before they burst. I would gather the neighborhood kids and we would compete against one another to see who could create the biggest bubble or whose bubble floated the farthest.

As an adult, I keep a jar of bubbles on hand. Why? It is a stress reliever. Blowing bubbles is an exercise in mindfulness. Allowing our distracting thoughts and feelings to ‘float’ away, helps to calm our mind.

I tried blowing bubbles yesterday. While I can no longer see if I was able to create a bubble, or the size of the bubbles or watch them float away toward the sky, I suppose it was the act of doing that, that brought back good memories and made it fun for even a few moments. I could still imagine and let that distracting worry float into thin air.

Today, store shelves are stocked with many new bubble makers and fascinating bubble wands. Just for the fun of it….try it for yourself. Enjoy!

Y

Perhaps you have a favorite season; along with favorite memories attached to it – spring, fall, winter or summer. Maybe going to summer camp, or vacationing at the shore; skiing in the Poconos; taking a road trip in the fall to see the changing colorful landscape; celebrating a graduation or wedding in the spring.

The way I experience these earthly seasons with my vision loss, is significantly different. Fall was my favorite season – the kaleidoscope of colors that fanned across the landscape, creating a patchwork quilt of sorts; a brilliant reminder of God’s artistic hand! Now, I can’t say for certain that this season remains my favorite. Each season brings with it its own set of challenges, some related to the amount of light that is shining (even with dark glasses). I am still figuring it out.

Good news! If summer is your most loved season, your wait is over! Today is the summer solstice – 15 hours and 5 minutes of sunlight to live in, play in, work in…to simply linger in the abundant light…Whatever you may decide to do, enjoy the longest day of the year!

I was crossing a street in Bethlehem last week with my white cane and my left hand held up, when a car horn to my left startled me. The driver was shouting at me and continued to shout at me until I reached the safety of the sidewalk on the other side. My training was very thorough; my caseworker told me this may happen; he told me what to do and I followed that lesson.

While the incident left me a little shaken, I don’t want one incident to discourage me. I am still learning how to navigate in a busy world. I have had to slow down my pace in order to safely navigate: whether it is crossing a street, grocery shopping, reading and writing, or doing laundry.

 I have worked hard to remain independent and to keep working. Sometimes, others may need to slow down, too.

I miss being able to look up at the sky and see the storm clouds gather. It was both exciting and frightening simultaneously, to watch the dark clouds cover a just-a-few-minutes-before blue, sunny sky. Now….I am able to sense the change in the sky instead of actually seeing it – sometimes it is very still before a storm, not even a whisper of a breeze; other times there is a spirited wind, signaling a storm is about to descend upon us. Of course, there are those times when I hear the rolling of thunder before my senses pick up on those other pre-storm indicators. Experiencing a storm will never be the same for me as it was for the majority of my life; it is not a loss, I realize. I can still be amazed by a storm, but in the gift of experiencing it in new ways. For that, I am thankful.