Blah, BLah, BLOG
Marathon trophy and a cane lying folded up next to it. Keeping active is a challenge for anyone, and we all know it is so important for us to keep moving in order to stay healthy. It is more so of a challenge when vision and hearing is declining. I remind myself of moving everyday with some form of exercise, adapting to new changes with my eyesight and making it work for me to continue my active lifestyle. I do keep a journal of my exercise and training. It keeps me motivated. The biggest challenge is adapting. Running, I have down to a science - tethering. I use two methods: wrist to wrist or waist to waist using just a simple skate lace and my spibelt (an elasticized waist band with a pocket for storing keys, food, etc.). Hiking, I stay low to the ground when going down on steep banks and mountainsides with support of using hiking poles. Kayaking in a tandem or following behind an other kayaker and same with cycling. Indoor rock climbing is great for VI/blind people to try, its all tactile, vision is not a requirement. I truly believe we are able to do any sport, it just takes a few key ingredients: creativity, support and practice. Confidence builds up and then we challenge ourselves to try harder, go faster or go further. I was watching a program on TV, Dr. Oz had a guest, Dr. Sanjay Gupta (he is a known Neurologist and Journalist). He made some interesting comments about how we could exercise our brains by using 'other' senses. When people do their routine things, like getting dressed in the morning, we all do it the same way. Dr. Gupta sometimes gets dressed with his eyes closed and relies on his memory and touch. This particular exercise is beneficial for memory as we age. Sometimes I do this when Chris is guiding me in a marathon, I close my eyes and rely on touch and hearing. Feeling his movement when we turn and listening to his prompts as we run. It is amazing how it works, it really does help you become more aware of your surroundings without having to use the obvious, your eyes. I believe that it will help some of us that are continuously going through visual changes. In fact (I don't believe I'm actually going to tell you this, but here goes...) I had a bad day, terrible headache and decided to have a relaxing bath. No lights, I went to the bathroom, closed the door, leaving the lights off, I ran my bath. Checking the water level, finding the epsom salt, shampoo, shaver, soap and put it where I think would be a safe spot. I get in the tub, feel the water level again and turned off the water and started to shave my legs. I did it by touch and memory, shaving very carefully and slowly and not once did I nicked my skin. After the bath, I got dressed and walked out of the bathroom. I went into my bedroom and looked in the mirror, with the lights on. Nothing was on backwards, inside out or mismatched. I used my fingers to feel the fabric, again relying on touch of what item of clothing it was and finding the label where it should be while getting dressed. I thought to myself, wow, maybe going blind won't be so bad after all. So really, using our other senses will help us to move, adapt and to be able. I am always thinking of inventive ways of adapting, because I refuse to stand still. I like how exercise makes me feel, alive and capable. I do not feel sorry for myself, about having hearing loss or going blind, it is all I know. So I make the best of what I have, and I have a lot to offer. I define who I am, not Usher's Syndrome. So, after you read this blog, get up, stretch and think of what you had given up because of your vision loss. Think about how you can get back into the things you love to do. If there is a will, there is a way. You can always contact me via email (under CONTACT page of this website) to discuss about how you can get back into sports. Start your journey today!
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