As one year comes to closure and another is about to blossom into new opportunities and experiences it provides me reason to reflect on what I have., Unfortunately there are less fortunate and others who may have to deal with serious medical conditions. I also think about the people who may not have friends or family to be with to help start the new year with companionship and gratitude.
Our global world has many unique people with a broad range of cultural differences and a variety of visible and invisible disabilities. Our unique differences enhance the enjoyment and educational opportunities of every interaction we have if one is observant. Because of the large variety of differences one may observe some people have different opportunities than others. To keep ones focus on goals you should not be discouraged if you are not getting the same assistance or opportunities other people may appear to have. Just try to stay positive, healthy, and do what is under your own control and do not rely on others to accomplish ones goals and happiness.
Do not let what seems like unsurmountable challenges or set backs stop one from pursuing ones goals. Since with perseverance and determination one can accomplish almost anything.
I am grateful for many things during the holidays some of which I have listed below.
- I am grateful for my loving wife, Kathy, who without her I would’ve died for sure in 1999. One reason out of many was due to Kathy’s dedication in keeping watch on the medical staff when I was in the hospital for seven months. She provided her medical advice and did not let the doctors take me off of life support when they suggested I had no hope to live a fulfilling life.
- I am blessed to find a volunteer to help me with things around the house I cannot do with no eyesight from a local nonprofit agency who has turned into a good friend of mine, since we have been seeing each other for over twelve years now.
- I am grateful that I have been employed at my current employer for over 25 years in a roll that leverages my many years of technical skills to help create more accessible and usable digital technology to assist people with disabilities to use the technology more effectively.
- I am thankful that due to my accessibility and disability skills the work I do has positive impact for many employees around the world at my place of employment.
- As a person who is completely blind I am grateful I took the time required to study and become certified in accessibility, multiple disabilities and assistive technologies to better assist my customers.
- Although I get frustrated and upset when there are things that my wife and I cannot accomplish around our home and other places, I am grateful that eventually we find a way to get what we need accomplished with just the two of us by partnering and combining our abilities.
- Usually Kathy and I are way too busy to think about being alone. Although we are fortunate to have each other some people are truly alone all the time.
- I enjoy the holidays because some people reach out a little more which helps with companionship and sense of isolation.
- Some people exchange gifts during the holidays, which is perfectly fine, although I have learned that the most precious gifts are family, friends, and human companionship over material items.
- Since I unfortunately was in the hospital for seven months (3 of which I was in a coma) I spent many hours passing the time by listening to other patients in nearby beds. Some of the patients did not have the option to survive and leave the hospital like I was able to do on December 28, 1999.
- I do have some friends and family although none are close by therefore I seldom see them. Kathy fortunately has a few family members nearby that we do see on occasion. Thankfully we were able to see a few of our family members from Kathy’s side of the family at a wedding in November 2022 and on Thanksgiving day in 2022. Having the covid pandemic occurring around April 2020 in our area added to the obstacles of seeing people in person which unfortunately kept us isolated for sometime even more so than we are usually.
- I also enjoy December since my wife Kathy and I have birthdays in December which we usually celebrate by ourselves enjoying each other’s company as our treasured gifts to each other.
Does anybody want to share any comments about what makes the holidays special for you? Do you have examples of how people have made you feel less lonely during the holidays? How can you assist the disabled, people who are alone or others who need extra help? Any other thoughts about what I have written? I look forward to hearing from you and I wish you an enjoyable holiday season.
If you have any comments or feedback can you please send an email to Bill Tipton since unfortunately the comments are closed to my blog site.
Bill
Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/
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