My little red tether is my anchor in running with my friends. A beautiful guide dog has been my tether/anchor in mobility and independence for 17 years: 1. Pantera 2. Cricket, and now my beautiful 3. Georgina (Georgie). A life of family and friends is my joy and anchor in life.

The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. CC Scott

Friday, November 13, 2009

We never know ...

the impact we have on someone. As I've been spending the month of November reconnecting and sending notes/phone calls to people who I appreciate two people received a call from me today. Their messages and examples continue to bless my life: Chris, the social worker at the Blind Center, told our group: Independence is being in charge of one's own choices. At the time, it was like a lightbulb moment and so empowering (still is) but when I had quit driving and was feeling pretty dependent I thought, yes I can be in charge of my own choices and choose how I see something and decide on my options. Marianne, my first rehabilitation counselor at the blind center, was a mentor to me for a while before I ever met her face to face. She has the most beautiful, soothing voice and I recall during an adjustment phase she left me the message on our phone of: Now, Becky, when one door closes another one opens but we sometimes look so longingly at the closed door we don't see the open door. Today it was a blessing to talk to both of these lovely ladies and thank them for the impact they have had on my life. Has someone said something to you at a key time that has left a mark? Please share with us!

5 comments:

Ro said...

Dave, my O & M instructor, on a lesson, told me I was handling things so well. I said I couldn't take credit, I was given the tools for how to live life in my fellowship and in therapy and my higher power. Dave said, "You can lay a toolbox at a carpenter's feet, but if he doesn't pick it up, he won't build a house."

He reminded me that I can take credit, because I picked up the tools.

My old pool league operator, after a phenomenal loss in the game of 9-ball told me, "One can't fully appreciate a victory until he experiences defeat."

So true. I was defeated when I went blind. And now my life is so full and so amazing, I rarely feel that old defeat.

Thank you for making me think of these things...

Becky Andrews said...

R: Wow -- that is inspiring. Thank you SO much for sharing.

Infrequent Flyers said...

R, you made me cry! I love what Dave said about the toolbox. Thanks for the great post, Becky!

s day @ sdayrunning.blogspot.com said...

Our dear Birth Mother wrote in her journal that was sent to us after placement of Layla and she writes about the night she spent laboring to deliver Layla naturally after 22 hours and she said she recalls,

"That just when it gets so hard that you think you can't do it anymore... that's when you're almost there and the end is near. That's when you decide if the outcome is worth the effort.... and it was."

I often think back about her amazing strength and willingness to fight for something so pure!

Becky Andrews said...

Oh, S, that is BEAUTIFUL. Thank you so much for sharing.