"A hobby and so much more"
This week, William shares how learning to continue with his favorite hobby, even with vision loss, has been therapeutic—and uplifting. Here's the link to his website https://www.blindtruths.org/
Hadley
A hobby and so much more
William Chapman: I started making the clocks for myself just to keep my mind going and some people started requesting those clocks.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
William Chapman: Hi, my name is William Chapman. I reside in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I'm 73 years of age. I used to work for the court system for 32 years. Three years after I retired is when I lost my sight.
I'm totally blind as a result of optic nerve neuropathy, and it was a gradual type thing. And so, my wife encouraged me to pursue mobility and the blind center here in Michigan.
One of the little hobbies that I had prior to losing my sight was woodworking. They introduced me to woodworking while I was at the center.
And one of the things that I decided to pursue just to keep my mind going...I was going to follow up with woodworking once I left the center, which I did, as a hobby. So, I started making the clocks for myself, and some people start requesting those clocks that I made, and, "What can I pay you?" I go, "What?" So, I started making the clocks, and I created a webpage.
They said, "Well, how do you do that?" Well, I got all my fingers. I'm very careful. I have a sawmill around here that I get my lumber from at a discount. It's therapeutic because during COVID, I was making three to four clocks a week. That was my way of...People were saying how bored they were, but, man, it was nonstop for me. I may work out into my man cave to two, three o'clock in the morning, and it was therapeutic, just sanding and filling and all of that.
Not to be braggadocios or anything like that. I'm not unique because I know there are a number of people like us who are doing exceptional things even though they are without sight. And so that's my motivation is to lift people up, let them know that it's not the end of the world.
Marc: You never know who might need to hear your story. If you’d like to share with us, just leave us a message on our Insights & Sound Bites voicemail. By calling, 847-512-4867. Or, you can use your smartphone or computer and email us a recording to [email protected].
All Episodes
-
Episode 24
Listen in as Bill shares how a chance encounter changed his perspective on vision loss.
-
Episode 23
Listen in as Ruth shares how her frustration and impatience turned around with just one phone call.
-
Episode 22
Listen in as Sam shares how he struggled trying to hide his vision loss-and how he finally turned the corner.
-
Episode 21
Listen in as Eugenia describes how her own determination and the support of friends helped her keep moving forward.
-
Episode 20
Listen in as Zenobia shares how she found the support and strength she needed.
-
Episode 19
Listen in and be inspired as Saras explains how changing her perspective to, "Why NOT me?" helped her tap into her strengths.
-
Episode 18
Sheri shares with us how the love for her horses helped her find purpose and peace.
-
Episode 17
Kendra shares with us how a visit to a low vision center gave her more than she ever expected.
-
Episode 16
Listen to Carol's story as she shares how owning her changing vision gave her the drive to discover useful resources and realize that it's important—and okay—to ask for help when she needs it.
-
Episode 15
Listen in as Chuck shares how he found hope in a chance encounter.
-
Episode 14
Listen in as Kara shares how she found new ways to express herself in her love of visual art, and redefining a meaningful life.
-
Episode 13
Listen in as Leah shares how it finally clicked for her—the realization that she's not alone.