What Will Tomorrow Hold For You?
By villageanne
@villageanne (8553)
United States
February 12, 2007 10:05pm CST
My mind has been wandering to the pioneers the last few days. They were such strong people. Most came to America so they could worship the way they wanted. They had very little money, yet gave all they had to start a new and better life for their families. They had no idea the hardships they would face.
I complain when the temperatures get below 30 degrees. I complain when the wind blows the snow into a blizzard. I complain when the power goes off. I complain….. About the little stuff that goes wrong in my life but the pioneers did not have power to go off. They did not have insulated homes to keep them warm when the wind blew and the snow fell. They were so strong. I consider myself a strong willed person. I try to not complain about the little things but to change them for the better .
A few years ago I was told that I had glaucoma. I was devastated. I have had really bad eyes since I was young. I have always hated glasses. They are so hot in summer and I did not like the way I looked in them. I remember that in grade school, they called me four eyes. Oh how I hated that name.
I had to go to the low vision Dr yesterday. I have lost a lot of my peripheral vision. I have learned how to compensate for that loss by memorizing where my spices and cooking utensils are. I moved the furniture so I could walk in the dark without running into them. I am amazed at all the helps that are available today. After my visit with the Dr. I went to the nurse who was to tell me the ways to get the most out of the vision that I have left. She was amazed at how much I had already done on my own.
My husband has been great. He is my best friend in this world and he is such a wonderful person. He gives me the desire to become a better person. He gives me strength that I did not know that I had in me. He stayed by my side when the Doctor told me what was going to happen. He held my hand and gave me strength.
What the Doctors and the nurses do not know is how scared I am. I thought that all this preparation would make it easier but I am scared to death of being blind. I am not old. I had hoped that I had a lot of years ahead of me. I have a lot of things that I want to do and I cannot do them if I am blind. I will not give in. I will fight it till the bitter end. This is where the thoughts of the pioneers come into my mind. They did not have Dr's to help nor did most of them have glasses. How scary life must have been for these great people. How brave and humble they must have been. What hardships they faced that we will never have to face. We are so very fortunate. We have so very much in our lives today. We should not complain about the little things. We should live life to the best of our abilities because we do not know what tomorrow will bring for us or if we will have a tomorrow.
3 people like this
18 responses
@greengal (4286)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Very well said villageanne...I'm so sorry about your condition. But you are being very brave yourself. You have prepared yourself well mentally, to accept this change. Don't lose heart. It is so true, I too wonder what our pioneers did...maybe 'ignorance' was their bliss. We often take these facilities for granted and hardly appreciate them. If only we could think how people lived earlier, we might thank God for small mercies.
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
13 Feb 07
We really do have alot to be thankful for but often we cant see it till it is too late. Thanks for your kind words.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
13 Feb 07
True words. Sorry for the adjustments forced upon you. Am glad you are showing the creative woman that I thought I felt through you being my friend. Think of Helen Keller and the things she did with the double affect she had. You will do fine and it will be a chance to grow. There may be someone that you will touch that may not be doing as well as you and it will give them hope or save them. We never know who we touch as we sometimes struggle through our lives. My heart goes out to you. Wishing you peace amidst all this.
2 people like this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Thanks for your encouragement :)
We just never know what tomorrow will hold for any of us.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
14 Feb 07
Villageanne, I am so sorry to hear that things are going so wrong for you. I know it must be scary, I sure would be.
While you have time, may I make a recommendations.
Contact http://www.guidingeyes.org/
They are wonderful people in NY who breed and raise guide dogs, there is no cost to you and I think they will even pick up the cost of your transportation to their facility in Yorktown, where you would be able to get a dog and stay there for about a month while they train you and the dog to work together.
If you have read any postings about my dogs, you will get an idea about how smart they are and sweet and lovable.
If you get a pooch from them, please let me know, I would even come down to visit you and see your graduation (even though they always bring me to tears)
For those of you who are in the general vicinity (most of the east coast) and are interested in helping out, GEB is always looking for puppy raisers and people to foster the broods and studs, not only are these dogs smart and fun, they are a tax deduction. There are of course responsibilities that go with these dogs, but they are worth it.
Villageanne, if you have any questions or if I can help in any way, feel free to send me an email.
Deb
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
15 Feb 07
Thanks Deb, I will check it out. I am too tired tonight but soon.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
14 Feb 07
You are very brave. You have learned so much from facing the challenges thank you for sharing it with us. I went through eye surgery myself and yes I was very scared but without going through that I would not be able to work and save money to open a small business like now.
1 person likes this
@zhisheng2005 (301)
• China
14 Feb 07
Yes, supports,we will be supposed to create tomorrow diligently, believed our tomorrow will be able to be better
1 person likes this
@sanell (2112)
• United States
13 Feb 07
You poor thing, I think going blind, well losing any sense that you are familiar with is hard enough no matter what but not being able to see would be a tough one for me.
I hope that all goes well for you. I too wonder at times what tomorrow will hold for me, each day, we are trying to move and selling our house this time around has been very difficult. It is hard to figure what or why but it seems that taking things one day at a time is really helpful.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
13 Feb 07
I hope good news. I will pray for you and I hope that everything turns out well. I have needed glasses myself since I was 7 so I understand about glasses. I were contacts now. I get checked for the same thing everytime I go to my eye doctor.
1 person likes this
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
13 Feb 07
May God and Goddess bless you and give you the needed strength to go through the trials you are enduring. At one time I had to go through the Helen Keller training so I could relate to the blind people that I worked with in a better way. It was one of the most frightening things that I have ever done. Not only did we have to eat a meal with double blind-folds on, we were taken to a parking lot and told to follow our instructor by voice command. My instructor got deliberately distant from me (as did all the other with their students). I called for her but she would not respond, I shouted louder and again no response. I started spinning around in circles trying to remember the last place I had heard her voice and realized I was totally lost. I shouted for her again and she didn't answer. I could hear cars coming into the lot and cars leaving the lot (they were aware of what was going on so they were all driving slowly and we were being well monitored). I did exactly what I had seen many blind/impaired clients that I served do at that point. I began to cry and I sat! Yes, dear, I sat down in the middle of the parking lot. I knew that at any time I could take off my blind-fold; but I also knew that if I did that I would not get the full experience. I will never fully understand the depth of what you are feeling; but I do somewhat understand the fear. You know that I am only a few keystrokes away and I know that you can read this with your nose pressed up against the magnifier on your screen. Your Sister in Love ~Donna
1 person likes this
@Elaeblue (144)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I really think you should contact a school for the blind. They can help in sooo many ways. They can teach you proven methods to live your life to its fullest even if this horrible thing does happen. I do understand your fear however as it my greatest fear to go blind. I have no real problems with my eyes however its just a "what if" thing. Good luck to you.
1 person likes this
@maildumpster (3815)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I too often think of the pioneers and in a way envy them for their strength.
I am sorry that you are going thru this but how blessed you are! You have a great hubby. Your doctor and nurses seem to be really good. AND - you live in an age that there is voice recognition software so you can keep using the puter.
I say try to do as much as you can on your list of things you want to do while you can. Beyond that - there are plenty of people out there who are blind or have other disabilities and are doing wonderfully.
I know what you mean about fear though.... my son is severely delayed (he will be 3 years old June 5th and is only now learning to walk and talk); I worry about what life will bring him. I have fibromyalgia and days like today when I hurt so bad and want nothing more than to sleep; I wonder what I am going to be able to do in 5 years, 10 years and beyond. Will I be able to care for myself or will I be disabled? I have no way of knowing so I can only place my faith in God and keep trying to make my way through as best I can each day.
You will be in my prayers. Take care fellow myLotian!
1 person likes this
@melissacus (441)
• United States
13 Feb 07
you are so wise!:), but seriously, i agreed with every single word you wrote. i hate hearing complaining about stupid things like getting pickles on a hamburger when specifically asking for none, or not having lockers at school. i admit, i find myself complaining about little things like this as well, and i really wish i didn't. atleast we have enough money to eat hamburgers and atleast we have a school and books to carry around. people can't help but take things for granted, especially when the thing they're taking for granted is and always has been in their life. i am so fortunate to have what i have and i'm blessed with great people in my life. i wish i could remember that on the days it didn't seem so.
1 person likes this
@mastergkage (182)
• Philippines
13 Feb 07
Tommorow,I think of it a lot what will tommorow bring me? will i improve my life? how how how, sometimes i get tired of thinking about tommorow let it come all i know when i get there, i want to be a cloud that just go with the wind on any direction it may blow
1 person likes this
@HumsafarMandeep (691)
•
14 Feb 07
hiaaa, i hope to this story i can only say that tommorow brings something wat we have made it to show us,,,,, and ofcourse destiny is in no ones control, but still its we who make our tomorrow,,,,,,,, cheers frnd
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
13 Feb 07
First let me say, I am sorry that you are loosing your vision. I think that is one of my worst fears of loosing when it comes to my senses. I value my vision too much and I too have very bad vision.
I have tunnel vision when I get certain migraines and it annoys me to no end. I can not imagine what it would be like for you knowing that it will not get any better. For that, my heart goes out to you!!!
As for the pioneers. I like to think that not only did they have to be tough and strong...but they also had to have a tremendous amount of love!
To stay warm, brothers and sisters huddle together for body heat. Children and partners slept together to keep each other warm through the night...while dad would get up to brave the cold to put more fire on the stack!
How much closer they must have been back then to sit and listen to each others woes and fears. But also give support and love in return.
Sure, I do not doubt that they had it much rougher than we do these days...but I also think about how much better they had it than we do now also.
My daughter and I talked about this when we had the ice storm that knocked out over 100,000 people in Oklahoma. We both thought how it would be cool that the family would be nice to each other hugging and cuddling to stay warm. Even though it would suck to be that cold...it would force everyone off the computer, game, and etc. to come together and talk and keep each other warm and amused.
So, I guess it all depends on how you look at it....to any situation.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
13 Feb 07
What a tremendous will power and attitude you have "I will not give in." and a spectacular example of encouragement for others - if you give up the battle is over and you have lost. Another discussion on mylot is about positive thinking and I do believe it has an huge effect on your life.
I often think how easy we have it today compared to our ancestors. Particularly when people start complaining about the stupidest of things. I like to stop and smell the roses as they say and to do my best to get others to see what greatness we do have available to us.
