How Blind Impact People - Essay Example

Brainstorming I visited her in London when she had a knee surgery. It was the first time we met in person besides phone calls. It was so memorable. I couldn’t believe in my two eyes how it felt looking at someone you’ve always wanted to meet. I always imagined her as someone hard to communicate through phone she couldn’t speak English that much besides a few words like I love you, I miss you, how are you, etc. she was blind on one side and a blurred on her left eye. But when I hugged her I felt the sincerity and passion of a real grandmother to her grandson. She was wonderful. When we brought her out to eat people would always stare at her as if she was very different from everyone. Just because she wore make up, jewelries, and had her hair long hair fixed doesn’t mean that she looked weird coz she was blind. That’s how creative and interesting she was. She didn’t know what she was wearing but she knew what and how to look presentable. It was cute. Her kindness, gratitude, humble heart is what I admire the most. She always looked for me and to hear my voice beside her was giving her joy already. Thesis Mission: My Grandmother’s physical trait of being blind does not stop her from impacting people around her in a positive way. I. My Grandmother A. London II. Physical Traits A. Blindness B. Sight C. Appearance III. Family Reaction A. The ability to look beyond her blindness. B. Kindness and warmth IV. Public Reaction A. Rudeness B. Invisibility V. Being blind in Saudi Arabia First Draft Blindness can be an attribute depending on a person’s attitude. My Grandmother is from Saudi Arabia. She is totally blind in one eye and partially blind in the other. Despite her vision, my grandmother is kind, funny, and humble. She has much to give to those around her despite her disability. The key to her happiness is a positive attitude. Blindness is only a physical disability, not a mental disability. If a blind individual has a positive attitude, they can change the world around them in a positive manner. When an individual is blind it does not stop them from impacting people around them in a positive way. As I was growing up, I only spoke to my Grandmother on the phone. It was hard to speak with her, because of her broken English. She would say generic phrases like “I love you”, “I miss you”, “How are you”, or other simple words. I never doubted her love for me, but I felt it more on an intellectual level than an emotional one. She was a thought, but not reality. Then my Grandmother had to have knee surgery. Like most Saudis, my Grandmother chose to have medical treatment abroad. She chose to travel to London. My family decided to meet her there. Going to London is one of the most memorable times of my life. Before going to London, I was not prepared to meet with a blind grandmother. However, the experience was the greatest I have had. When I first met her, I noticed her eyes at once. You can tell she was blind. It was scary, but when I hugged her all of my fear left me. At the moment, she was a grandmother squeezing her grandson. I couldn’t believe my two eyes. It felt good looking at someone I had always wanted to meet. It was like we had known each other our whole lives. Even though she could not see me, she knew me through my voice. Like many other blind individuals, my grandmother had a cheerful, even positive attitude. Her voice was different that it had been on the phone. She used her hands to speak as well. Not all blind individuals speak the spoken word. Even though she could not see our expressions, she had other senses. It was like she could see without her eyes. Her ears could hear my breathing, my heavy sighs of boredom of having to stay in hospital waiting rooms. She even suggested once I take a break outside of her room to get rid of my restlessness. Her sight was through the other four senses. She could feel my face and tell me I looked like my father. My grandmother could tell by smell different people that entered her room. Her taste buds could taste the treats we brought her. Even though she could not see with her eyes, she had a sight of the blind. My Grandmother’s blindness did not stop her from looking presentable to the world. After her knee surgery, when we would take her out to eat she would dress herself. She put on makeup through feeling. I noticed her makeup case had different compartments. This is a trick used by the blind to tell different compartments, money, or clothes. As a result my grandmother knew which was makeup was what. Her jewelry was placed on with care. Her long hair was also fixed with a halo of hairspray. The more time I spent around my Grandmother, the less I thought of her blindness. Her hugs and kisses were frequent. She would also help do whatever she could to make us comfortable. I began to focus on her kindness. She always had an encouraging word. Some people that have lost their eyesight have poor attitudes. They are sad and depressed. Sometimes they are even angry. They do not want to socialize. My Grandmother was just the opposite. Her disability was not a disability, but rather a challenge. I was surprised by the public’s reaction to my Grandmother. After my Grandmother got out of the hospital, we would take her out to eat. The first reaction was rudeness. People would stare at her like she was freak. It was like they thought that a blind woman should not dress up with make up, jewels, nice clothes, or have there hair done. The second response to my Grandmother’s blindness was just as hurtful. People would pretend she was invisible. Servers would take our orders, and then address one of my parents about what they thought my Grandmother wanted. One of my parents would usually say “Why don’t you ask her?” Despite these displays of rudeness, my Grandmother never got upset. She would ignore the stares. Upon being addressed, or not addressed as was in the case of the servers, she was gracious and kind. If someone had treated me that way, I would have snapped rudely. My Grandmother would reply politely in her broken English. Her attitude made the people around her understand her individuality. When I started this essay, I understood the statement “Personal essays take a different track, but they, too, begin as assemblies of facts” (Wyrick, 185). I took the facts of my experience with my Grandmother and created this essay. My Grandmother taught me that being blind is only a disability, if one allows it to be. This attitude radiates towards the people she encounters, whether family or stranger. I feel this one physical trait influences people around my Grandmother for the positive, because of her attitude. My grandmother is not alone. Blind individuals give off positive attitudes everyday. Work Cited Staples, Brent. “Brent Staples on Writing.” Wyrick, Jean Ed. Steps to Writing Well. 10th ed. New York: Heinle, 2007. Read More