WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:03.300 A desire to help others doesn't change just 2 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:04.780 because your vision does, 3 00:00:04.780 --> 00:00:08.000 but you might have questions about how to make it work. 4 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:10.200 In this episode, Char Cook 5 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:11.980 and Linda Jenkins join us 6 00:00:11.980 --> 00:00:15.180 to discuss volunteering with vision loss. 7 00:00:15.180 --> 00:00:18.900 I'm Ricky Enger and this is Hadley Presents. 8 00:00:18.900 --> 00:00:21.780 Welcome to the show, Char, Linda. 9 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:23.620 Thank you. Thank you so much. 10 00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:25.980 I enjoy being asked to be part of this. 11 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:30.600 Yes, I'm happy that you both volunteered to join us. 12 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:35.280 So I am so excited to learn more about each of you 13 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:37.380 and your journey with volunteering. 14 00:00:37.380 --> 00:00:39.120 I think it's going to be a great time. 15 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:41.760 So to get us started, 16 00:00:41.760 --> 00:00:45.760 why don't you each just tell us a little bit about yourself, 17 00:00:45.760 --> 00:00:48.140 as much of your vision loss journey 18 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:50.220 as you're comfortable sharing. 19 00:00:50.220 --> 00:00:53.160 And yeah, we'll start there. So Linda, we'll start with you. 20 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:58.100 Okay. I think I began volunteering when my mother 21 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:00.600 set me up, let's put it that way. 22 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:03.020 I was, I think, 14 years old 23 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:07.240 and she said, "Oh, there's some people in a men's shelter 24 00:01:07.240 --> 00:01:08.580 and they would like to meet you 25 00:01:08.580 --> 00:01:11.340 and they'd like your help." And I said, "Wow, 26 00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:13.840 that would be great." Then when I was 16, 27 00:01:15.020 --> 00:01:17.220 I became a candy striper at the hospital. 28 00:01:18.080 --> 00:01:21.520 I did that for a while. Most of my life 29 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:24.240 I was sighted, fully sighted. 30 00:01:24.240 --> 00:01:27.260 And I did volunteer 31 00:01:27.260 --> 00:01:30.100 and my family volunteered at various places, 32 00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:32.800 but normal community things. 33 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:37.400 I was not diagnosed with RP until I was 50 years old. 34 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:40.440 Once I was diagnosed and I had already given up driving 35 00:01:40.440 --> 00:01:44.640 and things like that, that's when I really had issues 36 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:47.360 that were based on my not being able to see anymore. 37 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:53.200 So volunteering seems like it has always been a part of 38 00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:58.340 who you are, even though your mom may have set you up, 39 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:03.640 but you didn't have vision loss as a part of this until 40 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:05.940 much, much later. 41 00:02:05.940 --> 00:02:10.080 Shar, I think your approach was a little different. 42 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.840 So tell us about you and your background 43 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:14.880 and when you started volunteering. 44 00:02:14.880 --> 00:02:18.800 Thank you. Well, I also have RP, 45 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:20.180 retinitis pigmentosa, 46 00:02:20.180 --> 00:02:24.361 and I started to lose my sight when I was seven. 47 00:02:24.361 --> 00:02:29.361 But I lived pretty unhappily for some years 48 00:02:29.861 --> 00:02:34.861 until I found that I could be happy and be blind. 49 00:02:34.941 --> 00:02:39.261 And my first introduction to volunteerism was 50 00:02:39.261 --> 00:02:42.801 I heard a radio announcement in Portland, Oregon, 51 00:02:42.801 --> 00:02:47.801 and they were asking people to volunteer to man a 52 00:02:48.201 --> 00:02:50.141 metro crisis line. 53 00:02:50.141 --> 00:02:52.521 And I wanted to do that so bad. 54 00:02:52.521 --> 00:02:57.081 And I went to the interview and they liked to be okay, 55 00:02:57.081 --> 00:03:01.041 but they said someone blind couldn't possibly do this. 56 00:03:01.041 --> 00:03:05.581 And I said, "Give me a chance." So I was able to do that. 57 00:03:05.581 --> 00:03:09.821 But what changed me was during the training 58 00:03:09.821 --> 00:03:13.561 to be a metro crisis line volunteer, 59 00:03:13.561 --> 00:03:17.481 they did a training on talking to people who are depressed. 60 00:03:18.381 --> 00:03:22.701 And the thing that changed me was they said a main 61 00:03:22.701 --> 00:03:26.801 anecdote to depression is to reach out 62 00:03:26.801 --> 00:03:29.501 to someone else and do something for someone. 63 00:03:30.481 --> 00:03:35.321 That changed me and that began my journey with volunteerism. 64 00:03:35.321 --> 00:03:37.761 Wow, that is so incredible. 65 00:03:37.761 --> 00:03:42.341 I mean, being inspired by something like that that spoke 66 00:03:42.341 --> 00:03:44.761 to you on a personal level 67 00:03:44.761 --> 00:03:48.401 and I think really changed how you approached a lot 68 00:03:48.401 --> 00:03:49.761 of things, no doubt. 69 00:03:49.761 --> 00:03:54.421 So you were always either fully blind 70 00:03:54.421 --> 00:03:56.281 or maybe you had some vision at some point, 71 00:03:56.281 --> 00:03:58.341 but regardless, you kind of didn't have 72 00:03:58.341 --> 00:04:03.341 to think about volunteering differently from 73 00:04:03.521 --> 00:04:08.161 the beginning and then as you proceeded with vision loss. 74 00:04:08.161 --> 00:04:10.241 Whereas Linda, you did. 75 00:04:10.241 --> 00:04:14.421 So you were losing your sight much later in life 76 00:04:14.421 --> 00:04:17.221 after you'd already done some volunteering. 77 00:04:17.221 --> 00:04:20.081 So did that affect kind of 78 00:04:20.081 --> 00:04:22.901 how you thought about can I volunteer? 79 00:04:22.901 --> 00:04:25.521 Will I be able to do this? How's any of that going to work? 80 00:04:26.501 --> 00:04:28.441 What's interesting is the one thing that Shara 81 00:04:28.441 --> 00:04:31.361 and I have in common is that 82 00:04:31.361 --> 00:04:35.141 I volunteered at a crisis telephone service 83 00:04:35.141 --> 00:04:37.341 and I did that for six and a half years. 84 00:04:37.341 --> 00:04:38.781 And the nice thing about it is 85 00:04:38.781 --> 00:04:43.401 that even though I was losing my vision, I was not able to 86 00:04:44.321 --> 00:04:48.542 see people or the reactions because it was on the telephone. 87 00:04:48.542 --> 00:04:51.062 I knew that I could just talk to people on the phone. 88 00:04:51.062 --> 00:04:54.902 So that was kind of an introduction for me that 89 00:04:54.902 --> 00:04:57.322 I didn't have to see in order to be able to provide 90 00:04:57.322 --> 00:04:59.342 that volunteer service. 91 00:04:59.342 --> 00:05:04.262 And then as you were thinking about different ways to 92 00:05:04.262 --> 00:05:08.242 volunteer, Linda, so maybe as you're approaching retirement, 93 00:05:08.242 --> 00:05:10.162 that kind of thing, or you're just kind of looking at 94 00:05:10.162 --> 00:05:13.322 what am I going to do after I stop working? 95 00:05:13.322 --> 00:05:16.342 What were you thinking about how 96 00:05:16.342 --> 00:05:20.442 or whether you even could continue to volunteer? 97 00:05:21.342 --> 00:05:24.822 What's interesting about that is that about the time 98 00:05:24.822 --> 00:05:28.542 that I was going to retire, I had always thought in the back 99 00:05:28.542 --> 00:05:31.422 of my mind that I'd like to volunteer at the hospital 100 00:05:31.422 --> 00:05:34.022 as an adult and retired person 101 00:05:34.022 --> 00:05:36.242 in the pastoral care department. 102 00:05:36.242 --> 00:05:38.482 I'm not sure whether you're familiar with this, 103 00:05:38.482 --> 00:05:41.702 but some hospitals and congregations of churches 104 00:05:41.702 --> 00:05:45.382 or synagogues or temples have what's called a 105 00:05:45.382 --> 00:05:48.722 pastoral care Steven Ministry program. 106 00:05:48.722 --> 00:05:50.822 And I wanted to do that. 107 00:05:50.822 --> 00:05:53.542 But the closer I got to retirement age 108 00:05:53.542 --> 00:05:57.822 and the less I could see, I just thought I'm going to have 109 00:05:57.822 --> 00:06:00.502 to erase it from my bucket list. 110 00:06:00.502 --> 00:06:02.422 Luckily I had some good friends 111 00:06:02.422 --> 00:06:04.882 who were saying, "What are you doing? 112 00:06:04.882 --> 00:06:05.932 Why can't you do that? 113 00:06:05.932 --> 00:06:09.482 " I said, "I can't see." And I happened to know that a lot 114 00:06:09.482 --> 00:06:11.182 of being able to communicate 115 00:06:11.182 --> 00:06:15.382 with people one-to-one is based on body language 116 00:06:15.382 --> 00:06:17.122 and expressions and things like that. 117 00:06:17.122 --> 00:06:19.442 I said, "No, I can't do that anymore." And 118 00:06:19.442 --> 00:06:22.402 so they basically, I'm going to say, bactered me. 119 00:06:23.322 --> 00:06:25.782 Let's just do this anyway. Just try it. 120 00:06:25.782 --> 00:06:29.542 So I did go through the training and I passed. 121 00:06:29.542 --> 00:06:31.442 And for over eight 122 00:06:31.442 --> 00:06:35.162 and a half years, I volunteered at least one day a week 123 00:06:35.162 --> 00:06:37.722 at the hospital visiting patients. 124 00:06:37.722 --> 00:06:41.802 And I did discover that 125 00:06:41.802 --> 00:06:45.462 volunteering gave me some structure and purpose 126 00:06:45.462 --> 00:06:47.982 because I thought as I was losing my vision, I'd have 127 00:06:47.982 --> 00:06:49.582 to drop out of an awful lot of stuff. 128 00:06:50.422 --> 00:06:54.042 Yeah. And what a relief, I'm sure, to find out 129 00:06:54.042 --> 00:06:56.242 that's actually not the case. 130 00:06:56.242 --> 00:06:59.222 You can continue to give back in a way 131 00:06:59.222 --> 00:07:02.262 that really feels authentic to you. 132 00:07:03.142 --> 00:07:07.042 And it didn't turn out to be as big a deal 133 00:07:07.042 --> 00:07:09.742 as you thought that 134 00:07:09.742 --> 00:07:13.382 you couldn't see for sure. 135 00:07:13.382 --> 00:07:17.963 When you are thinking about volunteering, 136 00:07:19.323 --> 00:07:20.963 what is that process like? 137 00:07:20.963 --> 00:07:25.883 We all know that sometimes people 138 00:07:25.883 --> 00:07:28.323 are a little bit reticent to 139 00:07:29.203 --> 00:07:32.363 let us do things that we think we can do, 140 00:07:33.203 --> 00:07:35.963 or maybe it's a situation 141 00:07:35.963 --> 00:07:40.563 where it's not clear initially, how are you going 142 00:07:40.563 --> 00:07:43.543 to do this as a blind or low vision person? 143 00:07:43.543 --> 00:07:45.043 Can you share some things about that, Char? 144 00:07:46.143 --> 00:07:49.843 Absolutely. And I have found, 145 00:07:49.843 --> 00:07:53.203 and this has been a thread through my life 146 00:07:53.203 --> 00:07:58.203 that I have always been looking for opportunities 147 00:07:58.283 --> 00:08:02.123 to do things, whether it's recreation 148 00:08:02.123 --> 00:08:04.243 or whether it's something that we would do 149 00:08:04.243 --> 00:08:05.923 as a couple or as a family. 150 00:08:05.923 --> 00:08:09.123 I've always just been actively looking. 151 00:08:09.123 --> 00:08:11.983 And so that has been a carryover to 152 00:08:11.983 --> 00:08:14.183 what can I do for someone else? 153 00:08:14.183 --> 00:08:19.183 I have found that I recognize an opportunity for myself 154 00:08:19.783 --> 00:08:22.423 sooner than someone else would reach out to me 155 00:08:22.423 --> 00:08:24.720 and say, "Would you like to try this? 156 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:27.823 " For me, it's been a matter of keeping my doors 157 00:08:27.823 --> 00:08:29.623 and windows open 158 00:08:29.623 --> 00:08:32.663 and hearing about, "Oh, I think I'd like to try that, " 159 00:08:32.663 --> 00:08:34.263 or, "I think I'll call them 160 00:08:34.263 --> 00:08:37.523 and see." And then people might say, "But how can you do 161 00:08:37.523 --> 00:08:40.143 that with vision loss?" And my answer is, 162 00:08:41.083 --> 00:08:43.463 "Let me just tell you about technology 163 00:08:43.463 --> 00:08:46.303 or let me tell you about my background with people 164 00:08:46.303 --> 00:08:48.003 or food or whatever it is. 165 00:08:48.003 --> 00:08:52.423 But I've generally brought to the table my own solutions. 166 00:08:52.423 --> 00:08:53.723 And Linda, what about you? 167 00:08:53.723 --> 00:08:56.083 What are some practical things that you kind 168 00:08:56.083 --> 00:08:58.583 of figured out along the way? 169 00:08:58.583 --> 00:09:01.563 Whether it was, okay, I've got all these patients 170 00:09:01.563 --> 00:09:03.043 to visit in the hospital. 171 00:09:03.043 --> 00:09:06.603 How am I going to know what their situation is 172 00:09:06.603 --> 00:09:10.443 or transportation getting there or just any of that stuff? 173 00:09:10.443 --> 00:09:12.343 What have you figured out along the way 174 00:09:12.343 --> 00:09:13.723 that has worked for you? 175 00:09:14.703 --> 00:09:17.723 Well, luckily, I have a friend 176 00:09:17.723 --> 00:09:20.483 who volunteered at the hospital also 177 00:09:20.483 --> 00:09:23.063 and she said," Well, I'll come pick you up. 178 00:09:23.063 --> 00:09:24.743 I'll bring you home. Doesn't much matter. 179 00:09:24.743 --> 00:09:27.503 "And I said," Are you sure? "She said," Yeah, that's fine. 180 00:09:27.503 --> 00:09:30.343 "I did get the list of patients 181 00:09:30.343 --> 00:09:32.303 that were in the hospital each day 182 00:09:32.303 --> 00:09:34.864 and I made decisions as to who I wanted to see 183 00:09:34.864 --> 00:09:36.264 and who I didn't want to see. 184 00:09:36.264 --> 00:09:38.784 And of course I used the word see in quotes. 185 00:09:40.584 --> 00:09:43.224 But anyway, but I have victory 186 00:09:43.224 --> 00:09:46.404 or so I would record the names, the room numbers 187 00:09:46.404 --> 00:09:49.264 and the names of people that I'm planning to see. 188 00:09:49.264 --> 00:09:52.144 The other way I got to see people is as I got 189 00:09:52.144 --> 00:09:56.064 to know the staff at the hospital, of course I'm walking up 190 00:09:56.064 --> 00:09:58.164 and down the hallways and checking room 191 00:09:58.164 --> 00:09:59.464 numbers and things like that. 192 00:10:00.324 --> 00:10:02.264 I would have somebody say, "Hey, Linda, 193 00:10:02.264 --> 00:10:05.524 can you see somebody in room number such and such? 194 00:10:05.524 --> 00:10:08.200 I think she would really enjoy getting to know you. 195 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:11.964 " And I said, "Sure, that was fine." And it turned out that 196 00:10:11.964 --> 00:10:14.884 maybe that person actually had a friend 197 00:10:15.804 --> 00:10:20.644 or a family member or herself was losing her vision. 198 00:10:20.644 --> 00:10:25.204 And I was able to provide some resources and encouragement 199 00:10:25.204 --> 00:10:30.204 and empathy and acknowledging that I've been there too. 200 00:10:30.504 --> 00:10:34.484 I understand that. So that was pretty good. 201 00:10:35.344 --> 00:10:38.404 So it sounds like that was a lot 202 00:10:38.404 --> 00:10:40.544 of connecting with people. 203 00:10:40.544 --> 00:10:43.724 And as you connected with one person that enabled you 204 00:10:43.724 --> 00:10:45.624 to connect with yet more people, 205 00:10:45.624 --> 00:10:48.604 and it's just something that kind of builds on itself, 206 00:10:48.604 --> 00:10:50.484 which is what a beautiful thing. 207 00:10:51.364 --> 00:10:55.924 So I think that both of you are actually still volunteering. 208 00:10:55.924 --> 00:10:59.824 This is a really important part of your life. 209 00:10:59.824 --> 00:11:03.824 And presumably that means that it is 210 00:11:03.824 --> 00:11:05.084 doing something for you. 211 00:11:05.084 --> 00:11:07.804 It's giving something. 212 00:11:07.804 --> 00:11:10.564 It's adding some value to your life. 213 00:11:10.564 --> 00:11:12.884 Shara, can you talk about that a little? 214 00:11:12.884 --> 00:11:15.944 I would so love to. So I've done a few things 215 00:11:15.944 --> 00:11:20.384 through the years, but probably my all time favorite is when 216 00:11:20.384 --> 00:11:25.044 COVID started in 2020, my sister said to me, 217 00:11:25.044 --> 00:11:26.364 "We have to do something. 218 00:11:26.364 --> 00:11:27.800 We have to help people. 219 00:11:27.800 --> 00:11:32.800 " So the two of us decided that we could make homemade soup. 220 00:11:32.904 --> 00:11:36.604 And I am blind. She is not. I make the soup. 221 00:11:36.604 --> 00:11:40.064 She has figured out the list, arranged the drivers 222 00:11:40.064 --> 00:11:42.084 for delivery, things like that. 223 00:11:42.084 --> 00:11:44.804 And we've been doing that either together 224 00:11:44.804 --> 00:11:47.440 or I've been doing it solo since 2020. 225 00:11:48.304 --> 00:11:53.284 And there is something about handing someone a quart 226 00:11:53.284 --> 00:11:57.945 of soup that fills you up on the inside. 227 00:11:57.945 --> 00:12:02.205 And to this day, I'm looking closely at retirement soon 228 00:12:02.205 --> 00:12:04.545 and I find sometimes I have a little too 229 00:12:04.545 --> 00:12:06.245 much time on my hands. 230 00:12:06.245 --> 00:12:09.465 I go in the kitchen, make a plot of soup, two 231 00:12:09.465 --> 00:12:13.025 or three gallons, and give it away to people I know 232 00:12:13.025 --> 00:12:14.365 that could need that. 233 00:12:14.365 --> 00:12:18.145 That has enriched my life emotionally, 234 00:12:18.145 --> 00:12:20.685 socially, physically. 235 00:12:20.685 --> 00:12:24.385 And I hope to do that as long as I can. 236 00:12:24.385 --> 00:12:28.385 It's just something that's not a big thing but big to me. 237 00:12:29.405 --> 00:12:30.945 Wow. Kitchen therapy 238 00:12:30.945 --> 00:12:34.685 and volunteering, what an incredible combination. 239 00:12:34.685 --> 00:12:36.525 I love that. And Linda, 240 00:12:36.525 --> 00:12:39.425 what does volunteering bring 241 00:12:39.425 --> 00:12:41.925 to your life? What do you get out of it? 242 00:12:41.925 --> 00:12:44.185 Yeah, just listening to Shar. 243 00:12:44.185 --> 00:12:49.045 I understand that it gives me structure and purpose in life. 244 00:12:49.045 --> 00:12:51.905 I must admit, when I started to understand 245 00:12:51.905 --> 00:12:53.865 that I'm definitely going blind, 246 00:12:53.865 --> 00:12:56.945 I could no longer cover it, let's put it that way. 247 00:12:56.945 --> 00:13:00.045 I went through some depression for a while 248 00:13:00.045 --> 00:13:04.285 and then had people reach out or I reached out 249 00:13:04.285 --> 00:13:05.565 and things just happened. 250 00:13:06.405 --> 00:13:08.685 At one point we had something, 251 00:13:08.685 --> 00:13:11.645 I believe it was at our church or in the community. 252 00:13:11.645 --> 00:13:15.405 And I said, "Is there something I can do to help?" 253 00:13:15.405 --> 00:13:17.445 They said, "Well, 254 00:13:17.445 --> 00:13:20.600 can you dry dishes?" I said, "Yeah, I sure can. 255 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:24.445 " Well, I got to meet some other people, washing, drying, 256 00:13:24.445 --> 00:13:26.645 sanitizing things and all that. 257 00:13:26.645 --> 00:13:28.245 And then people got to know me 258 00:13:28.245 --> 00:13:30.805 and knowing that I was available. 259 00:13:30.805 --> 00:13:35.805 So even Shar was mentioning her sister was calling people. 260 00:13:36.305 --> 00:13:38.005 I got to the point where people would say, "Hey, 261 00:13:38.005 --> 00:13:39.945 can you call these 10 people 262 00:13:39.945 --> 00:13:41.745 and invite them to come to this? 263 00:13:41.745 --> 00:13:43.445 They have email, but we're not sure 264 00:13:43.445 --> 00:13:46.160 that they really use it as much as they can. 265 00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:48.055 " And I said, "Oh, sure, I can do that. 266 00:13:48.055 --> 00:13:50.585 " So from time to time, 267 00:13:50.585 --> 00:13:53.085 met different people in different ways. 268 00:13:53.085 --> 00:13:54.645 And that was so important to me. 269 00:13:54.645 --> 00:13:59.205 So I was saying it gave me structure and purpose in my life 270 00:13:59.205 --> 00:14:04.205 and was affirming then to me that I was not useless anymore. 271 00:14:04.205 --> 00:14:05.425 I could provide some things. 272 00:14:05.425 --> 00:14:07.705 And I still continue to do that. 273 00:14:07.705 --> 00:14:11.905 Some people at one point I had called my eye doctor 274 00:14:11.905 --> 00:14:13.725 and she said, "Hey, 275 00:14:13.725 --> 00:14:17.705 I have an opening on a patient family advisory council. 276 00:14:17.705 --> 00:14:21.285 It'd be perfect for that. We do it with Zoom. 277 00:14:21.285 --> 00:14:23.586 Would you be interested?" And I said, "Sure." Well, 278 00:14:23.586 --> 00:14:25.685 that was 15 years ago and I still do that. 279 00:14:26.586 --> 00:14:31.466 Another thing is that I knew somebody who was involved 280 00:14:31.466 --> 00:14:36.406 with one of our preschools in the area, private preschool. 281 00:14:36.406 --> 00:14:38.366 And they said, "Hey, we need somebody on the board. 282 00:14:38.366 --> 00:14:43.066 Can you join that? " And I eventually filled an entire term 283 00:14:43.066 --> 00:14:46.226 for six years and I became the chair of that committee. 284 00:14:46.226 --> 00:14:50.906 And it's amazing with technology that I could do agendas. 285 00:14:50.906 --> 00:14:54.226 I didn't do the minutes, but somebody else did. 286 00:14:54.226 --> 00:14:58.066 But it worked out really well and we became friends 287 00:14:58.066 --> 00:15:00.006 and that is just so important. 288 00:15:00.006 --> 00:15:02.166 So at this point in my life, a couple 289 00:15:02.166 --> 00:15:05.346 of things have rotated off at this point. 290 00:15:05.346 --> 00:15:09.626 But for the most part, I'm really happy and satisfied. 291 00:15:09.626 --> 00:15:10.866 So they're the kind of friends 292 00:15:10.866 --> 00:15:13.786 that I would not have met had I been volunteering in the 293 00:15:13.786 --> 00:15:17.446 past, but that have maintained friendships all along. 294 00:15:18.586 --> 00:15:21.626 And Linda, don't you think that being 295 00:15:21.626 --> 00:15:24.646 with people just normalizes who 296 00:15:24.646 --> 00:15:26.986 You Are and how you do things? 297 00:15:26.986 --> 00:15:31.026 Absolutely. And then the people around you just say, 298 00:15:31.026 --> 00:15:32.406 "Oh, this is Linda. 299 00:15:32.406 --> 00:15:34.080 She does this and that and this and that. 300 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:37.386 " And blindness then becomes on the back burner. 301 00:15:37.386 --> 00:15:40.566 Right. I am not defined by blindness. 302 00:15:40.566 --> 00:15:43.286 I'm identified as a friend. 303 00:15:43.286 --> 00:15:47.626 It's such a nice change from 304 00:15:47.626 --> 00:15:49.366 feeling like you can't give back 305 00:15:49.366 --> 00:15:53.346 to then just being an integral person to 306 00:15:53.346 --> 00:15:56.566 what is happening and people are calling you up 307 00:15:56.566 --> 00:15:58.986 and inviting you to lunch because you're a friend now. 308 00:16:00.006 --> 00:16:03.446 So for both of you, 309 00:16:03.446 --> 00:16:07.566 you've probably been in a situation where 310 00:16:08.566 --> 00:16:13.246 someone has told you or implied, "You can't do this. 311 00:16:13.246 --> 00:16:15.946 You can't volunteer." Or 312 00:16:15.946 --> 00:16:18.446 at some point you've thought it yourself. 313 00:16:18.446 --> 00:16:21.366 And I know there are people listening who 314 00:16:21.366 --> 00:16:23.266 are thinking that right now. 315 00:16:24.346 --> 00:16:26.246 I don't think I can do this. 316 00:16:26.246 --> 00:16:30.526 What would you say to someone who's having those feelings 317 00:16:30.526 --> 00:16:32.506 that I can't volunteer? 318 00:16:32.506 --> 00:16:33.866 I want to give back, but I can't. 319 00:16:34.866 --> 00:16:35.866 Shar, we'll start with you. 320 00:16:37.146 --> 00:16:40.506 I want to say to every person listening 321 00:16:40.506 --> 00:16:43.766 who has vision loss, you have value 322 00:16:44.646 --> 00:16:47.467 and there are things in your life 323 00:16:47.467 --> 00:16:50.207 that you do and you do well. 324 00:16:50.207 --> 00:16:54.507 And to start with that is recognizes that 325 00:16:54.507 --> 00:16:58.987 that's part of this world is the value you bring. 326 00:16:58.987 --> 00:17:01.327 You remember people on their birthdays, 327 00:17:01.327 --> 00:17:02.667 you never forget to call them. 328 00:17:03.567 --> 00:17:07.867 Could it be you at the church you go to, 329 00:17:07.867 --> 00:17:11.067 you could be on the greeting committee 330 00:17:11.067 --> 00:17:13.227 or you could teach Sunday school 331 00:17:13.227 --> 00:17:16.487 or you could go to a neighborhood block party 332 00:17:16.487 --> 00:17:19.747 and bring your best dish of baked beans. 333 00:17:19.747 --> 00:17:23.667 But you, because you're recognizing the value you bring 334 00:17:23.667 --> 00:17:27.367 and the talents, build on those 335 00:17:27.367 --> 00:17:31.727 because you have them and recognize them 336 00:17:31.727 --> 00:17:34.267 and then build on those to reach out 337 00:17:34.267 --> 00:17:35.447 and spread your sunshine. 338 00:17:35.447 --> 00:17:36.627 I 339 00:17:36.627 --> 00:17:38.440 Absolutely agree with you 100%. 340 00:17:39.787 --> 00:17:42.027 And it's so interesting that you talk about 341 00:17:42.907 --> 00:17:45.727 even like a community or the church, whatever. 342 00:17:45.727 --> 00:17:49.347 One thing that has, I don't want to say has nothing to do 343 00:17:49.347 --> 00:17:52.147 with volunteering, but it has been part 344 00:17:52.147 --> 00:17:54.647 of my connecting with people. 345 00:17:54.647 --> 00:17:58.607 At some point I was taking the Hadley course on Braille 346 00:17:58.607 --> 00:18:03.307 and I decided I was going to Braille onto a little three 347 00:18:03.307 --> 00:18:07.607 by five card, a couple of the kids' names. 348 00:18:07.607 --> 00:18:11.547 It was practice for me and they just loved it. 349 00:18:11.547 --> 00:18:14.287 I mean, one kid had folded in half 350 00:18:14.287 --> 00:18:18.407 and said, "This is my badge." And I found out 351 00:18:18.407 --> 00:18:21.867 that he is now 14 years old and he still has that. 352 00:18:21.867 --> 00:18:24.897 And I said, "Josh, you want me to redo it? 353 00:18:24.897 --> 00:18:28.160 " He said, "Probably. Yeah. 354 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:32.267 " But with that, the children were comfortable 355 00:18:32.267 --> 00:18:34.707 with me much more than their parents were. 356 00:18:35.727 --> 00:18:38.227 And what's funny is it's like, "Mrs. 357 00:18:38.227 --> 00:18:41.967 Linda, can I give you my right elbow 358 00:18:41.967 --> 00:18:43.667 and I'll take you here?" And I'll say, "Oh yeah, 359 00:18:43.667 --> 00:18:47.007 that would be great." So the kids became comfortable, 360 00:18:47.007 --> 00:18:50.767 families became comfortable, I became comfortable. 361 00:18:50.767 --> 00:18:54.267 And that's just kind of a natural community 362 00:18:54.267 --> 00:18:56.067 that has developed for me. 363 00:18:58.007 --> 00:18:59.927 But anyway, I'm glad you brought that up, Char, 364 00:18:59.927 --> 00:19:03.168 because I agree with you 100%. Yes. 365 00:19:03.168 --> 00:19:07.288 Thank you. And I teach Sunday school. 366 00:19:07.288 --> 00:19:10.288 My kids that I teach are two years old 367 00:19:10.288 --> 00:19:14.168 and been teaching the two-year-old children for 40 368 00:19:14.168 --> 00:19:15.768 or 50 years maybe. 369 00:19:15.768 --> 00:19:18.128 It's exactly what you say. 370 00:19:18.128 --> 00:19:20.548 The parents become very comfortable 371 00:19:20.548 --> 00:19:23.688 because the children are as comfortable as can be. 372 00:19:23.688 --> 00:19:26.608 And then for the rest of our lives, 373 00:19:26.608 --> 00:19:27.888 as I see the children grow 374 00:19:27.888 --> 00:19:30.828 or their prints, "Hey, Shar, it's Linda. 375 00:19:30.828 --> 00:19:33.388 How are you? Remember when you were my teacher?" 376 00:19:33.388 --> 00:19:37.568 That has filled my cup up to overflowing as well. 377 00:19:38.468 --> 00:19:40.168 Label my books in braille 378 00:19:40.168 --> 00:19:43.408 and send out letters saying, "Remember when you see me, 379 00:19:43.408 --> 00:19:46.328 don't forget to speak." All the things you do 380 00:19:46.328 --> 00:19:48.848 which normalizes blindness 381 00:19:48.848 --> 00:19:51.568 and then you're part of a community 382 00:19:51.568 --> 00:19:55.448 and of course doing something that you love to do. 383 00:19:55.448 --> 00:19:58.348 I have the biggest smile on my face as I'm listening 384 00:19:58.348 --> 00:20:02.008 to both of you because that's how it happens is 385 00:20:03.228 --> 00:20:07.448 you become known to one set of people 386 00:20:07.448 --> 00:20:09.308 and I think that's important. 387 00:20:10.248 --> 00:20:15.188 So this has been even beyond my expectations 388 00:20:15.188 --> 00:20:17.568 and they were really high to begin with. 389 00:20:17.568 --> 00:20:21.688 So wow, thank you both so much for sharing 390 00:20:22.608 --> 00:20:26.688 your wisdom and your stories and it's just been incredible. 391 00:20:26.688 --> 00:20:28.988 As we wrap up, 392 00:20:28.988 --> 00:20:33.988 and I think each of you has alluded to this a bit already, 393 00:20:34.128 --> 00:20:38.288 but if someone is thinking, okay, I really want to volunteer 394 00:20:38.288 --> 00:20:42.068 and I just don't know 395 00:20:42.068 --> 00:20:43.528 where to get started. 396 00:20:43.528 --> 00:20:48.228 How can people think about this in order to 397 00:20:48.228 --> 00:20:51.628 discover what those talents might be 398 00:20:51.628 --> 00:20:55.648 or something that they could at least reach out and try? 399 00:20:56.488 --> 00:20:57.488 Shar, we'll start with you. 400 00:20:58.508 --> 00:21:01.928 I think the best way is to think about 401 00:21:01.928 --> 00:21:04.388 what would you like to do? 402 00:21:04.388 --> 00:21:08.508 When I responded to a radio ad where they were asking 403 00:21:08.508 --> 00:21:13.248 for people to volunteer on a metro crisis line, I knew 404 00:21:14.148 --> 00:21:16.948 I would like to do that very much. 405 00:21:16.948 --> 00:21:20.748 I started there. So I would say if you don't like talking 406 00:21:20.748 --> 00:21:23.448 to people, then that's not what you want to do. 407 00:21:23.448 --> 00:21:27.188 You like just maybe being in the children's ministry 408 00:21:27.188 --> 00:21:29.249 or maybe you like going to 409 00:21:30.489 --> 00:21:34.049 the neighbor's house when they could use a little some 410 00:21:34.049 --> 00:21:35.409 cookies, something like that. 411 00:21:35.409 --> 00:21:38.749 Go with what you know and like 412 00:21:38.749 --> 00:21:41.589 and then reach out from there. 413 00:21:41.589 --> 00:21:44.429 Linda, what about you? Think about 414 00:21:44.429 --> 00:21:47.289 what you enjoy doing, just like Shara's saying, 415 00:21:47.289 --> 00:21:50.549 what you enjoy doing and look at your strengths 416 00:21:50.549 --> 00:21:54.889 and get with your friends, people who you're close to 417 00:21:54.889 --> 00:21:56.449 or even not close to, 418 00:21:56.449 --> 00:21:59.689 but just say, "I'm at a point in my life where I'd like 419 00:21:59.689 --> 00:22:01.949 to have some more involvement in the community. 420 00:22:01.949 --> 00:22:05.149 Do you have any suggestions?" Now the thing about asking 421 00:22:05.149 --> 00:22:09.309 your friends is they know you maybe even too well. 422 00:22:09.309 --> 00:22:12.089 They know what you can do, what you can't do, 423 00:22:12.089 --> 00:22:14.809 and they can say, "Wait a minute, 424 00:22:14.809 --> 00:22:16.880 why don't you follow up with this? 425 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:19.789 " And they also know your quirks 426 00:22:19.789 --> 00:22:22.729 and that can be a benefit. 427 00:22:23.589 --> 00:22:25.029 I have been told I have kind 428 00:22:25.029 --> 00:22:27.640 of a quirky personality sometimes 429 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:31.749 and that suits me really well with people. 430 00:22:31.749 --> 00:22:33.849 But people have given me ideas. 431 00:22:33.849 --> 00:22:37.000 It's like, "I never though about that. 432 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:41.069 " And it connects you even with your friends even closer. 433 00:22:41.069 --> 00:22:44.589 Yeah. Just letting people give you some ideas 434 00:22:44.589 --> 00:22:48.209 and then being willing to think outside the box yourself. 435 00:22:48.209 --> 00:22:52.609 And I like how neither of you started with think about 436 00:22:52.609 --> 00:22:54.989 what you can do 437 00:22:54.989 --> 00:22:57.929 because that already might feel a little bit limiting. 438 00:22:57.929 --> 00:22:59.749 You may not know what you can do. 439 00:22:59.749 --> 00:23:01.709 It's more, "What do I like to do? 440 00:23:01.709 --> 00:23:05.949 What do I wish I was spending my time doing?" And I think 441 00:23:05.949 --> 00:23:08.969 that's such a great way to frame it 442 00:23:08.969 --> 00:23:11.769 and you're likely to find something that works for you. 443 00:23:11.769 --> 00:23:15.949 Thank you both so much for spending a little time with us. 444 00:23:15.949 --> 00:23:20.289 I know people are going to appreciate hearing your stories 445 00:23:20.289 --> 00:23:22.329 and your thoughts about how 446 00:23:22.329 --> 00:23:25.329 to go about volunteering. This has been amazing. 447 00:23:25.329 --> 00:23:27.389 Ricky, thank you for letting us share. 448 00:23:27.389 --> 00:23:32.389 Thank you very much. Got something to say? 449 00:23:32.409 --> 00:23:35.829 Share your thoughts about this episode of Hadley Presents 450 00:23:35.829 --> 00:23:38.429 or make suggestions for future episodes. 451 00:23:38.429 --> 00:23:40.169 We'd love to hear from you. 452 00:23:40.169 --> 00:23:45.109 Send us an email at podcast@hadleyhelps.org. 453 00:23:45.109 --> 00:23:45.942 That's 454 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.360 P-O-D-C-A-S-T at HadleyHelps.org. 455 00:23:51.610 --> 00:23:53.110 Or leave us a message 456 00:23:53.110 --> 00:23:57.360 at 847-784-2870. 457 00:23:58.530 --> 00:23:59.370 Thanks for listening.