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KIND WORDS
Moments the Blind Can See
The author wishes to remain anonymous
Edited by Shmuel Greenbaum
Printed with Permission of Partners in Kindness
Larry could play almost any instrument, he knew all the words to every song and all the chords in any key. Not only was he a great friend but also a superb musician and he would make anyone who would sing or play with him shine so brightly. He had just purchased a set of Bagpipes but before could start figuring it out (at the dismay of his friends and neighbors) he had a sudden heart attach and left us. He was just 54 and there was so much music we were dreaming of playing together.
Larry's day job was teaching visually challenged children how to cope with every- day tasks in our modern world be it by operating a speaking wristwatch or mastering the secrets of the computer, internet, Braille printer, etc. He received his training at the Lavelle School for the Blind in the Bronx which coincidentally was across the street from my High School.
One day I ran into one of Larry's students at a music festival and since then we have gotten together to perform music at various occasions. We've been friends ever since and talk about Larry often. He asked me to translate something he had written into English about a photography exhibition by blind photographers. I was overwhelmed with the results that drew me deeply into his special world. Here are his words:
Tomorrow will be the opening of an exhibition called "MOMENTS OF BLIND SIGHT".
I had the honor of being the trouble maker because I had a problem with the general concept of the exhibition in which a photographer and graphic designer is teamed with a visually challenged person (VCP) who together try to photograph a place that "speaks to" the VCP; be it a natural landscape or something similar. I decided that before someone tries to understand the imaginary world of the VCP, perhaps it would be worthwhile to accept the VCP as an equal in society. I therefore did a project that is called "Self Portrait" or "Between Two Rods". The first rod is the cane that helps me as a VCP to navigate through my life while the second rod is the orchestra conductor's baton. I show how I succeeded in sneaking into an orchestra rehearsal and actually conducted the orchestra. The exhibition will be shown at the Windows Gallery in the Azrielli Center, Tel Aviv and I would be very happy if you would come to see the work.
If you are interested in bringing the exhibit to your city contact the Center for the Blind in Israel +972-3-791-5536 FAX +972-3-542-3711, email linda@blinds.org.il
Editors Note: Although the exhibit has ended, we have included photos from the exhibit and a link to an article about it.
Positive Role Models
From Kindness: Making a Difference in People's Lives: Formulas, stories, and insights
By Zelig Pliskin
Printed with Permission of Shaar Press
Your role models create you. They are your vision of what you wish to do and to become. They provide a clear picture of the measures to be undertaken to get there. Helping someone find an empowering role model will make a major difference in his life.
Some questions you can ask are:
"Who do you admire and respect?" "What specifically do you admire and respect about that person?"
"If you could be like any specific individual, who would you choose?"
"If there were a few people who could teach you to be like them, who would you want to teach you?"
"Who have you met or read about that you would like to emulate?"
"Do you have a secret wish to be like any great person?" If the response is "no," you might ask, "If you would have a secret wish, what would it be?"
Read biographies of great people. They expand your mental vision as to what is possible for you. After reading a biography, think about other people you know who would gain from reading it. You can have a powerful influence by telling someone, "I can see you being like this person in the future."
If someone confides in you and says, "I see myself eventually being like this great person," take heed how you respond. Don't belittle or ridicule him if you feel that this picture is too unrealistic. It's almost a certainty that this person's having a role model will enable him to accomplish much more than he would if he didn't have this role model.
A friend made the following observation:
For a while I would ask each person I met, "Who is your role model?" An interesting pattern developed. Those who were most successful almost all immediately listed their role models. Those who were less successful either didn't have one or would say, "I would like to be like this person. But it's definitely out of my reach."
This showed me the importance of influencing young people to find role models and of getting people to see that even if they won't exactly reach the level of their role models, following their role models will get them further than if they didn't have that picture in mind.
More About Partners In Kindness
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Names of people, places, and other details mentioned in these stories may have been changed to protect privacy.
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