False Alarm!

Ever had a false alarm? My partner and I had one this morning. We were entering the shopping center, when an alarm boomed through the building. Since those around us weren't making a fuss, we didn’t feel concerned and continued on our way through the center.

“It’s probably a security alarm,” we surmised.

A few moments later, a lady intercepted us and advised us to exit the building as a fire alarm was sounding. I was surprised, as it didn't sound like previous fire alarms I had heard. My partner agreed.

We joined a small crowd outside the doors. Everyone seemed a bit confused, not sure what was going on. Was there a fire? Should we be worried? The funny thing was, there were still quite a few people wandering casually through the stores. They sure didn’t seem too concerned! Fortunately, the alarm eventually ceased. It turned out that burnt toast from a cafe was the culprit!

I believe that today’s incident highlights the fact that all fire alarms should sound the same, so that blind/vision impaired people are aware of what the alarm means. In addition, I believe an announcement should be made over the speaker system, alerting everyone to the presence of a fire. What if a blind person is wandering around one day, unnoticed by others others, oblivious to any fire threat?

Would love to hear your thoughts/experiences regarding this topic!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Bird’s Eye   

No two dogs are the same

My partner and I went to a music show today, accompanied by our three dogs. We had a great time, though navigating through the crowd proved challenging. Fortunately a kind man assisted us with orientation.

 I have a four-year-old seeing-eye dog. My partner has a ten-year-old bitch and an 11-week-old pup that is currently in training.

Dogs are very much like our kids. Every dog is unique. Studies reveal that much of what is known about human personality types is also applicable to the study of dog behavior. Behavioral characteristics most commonly found in dogs include: playfulness, acuriosity/fearlessness, desire to chase, sociability and aggressiveness.

While off harness, my dog loves to play. She has a favorite teddy, which she carries around in her mouth. Usually toys are not safe around my dog, as she tends to destroy most of them. Not this teddy, however! It’s still intact and relatively unscathed!

 Contrary to popular belief, the “play drive” is not an inherent part of every dog’s genetic makeup. Activities such as jumping, stalking, wrestling and pouncing are behaviors learnt by wolves to enhance survival skills. Domesticated dogs on the other hand, are usually separated from their litter and mother before the age when such skills are acquired. The new pack is then responsible for any teaching that occurs with the puppies.

Dogs differ in their management of their defense drive, depending on their personality. Highly anxious and timid dogs may react to the presence of a threat by cowering and urinating. Often fearfulness in dogs is a reflection of how they were raised as puppies. Dogs that spend the first few months of their life in kennels with minimal human contact may always remain timid.

My dog is far from timid. Indeed, she is very social. Sometimes she’s a bit too friendly! A male friend of mine sometimes gets a bit paranoid, as when my dog is off duty, she will often sniff him in the crutch region! Apparently this is because dogs sniff each others’ bottoms for the scent of the anal gland, so they can recognize each other.

 Dogs also differ in the extent to which they are driven by food. Pack orientated breeds are typically highly motivated by food. Food is certainly my dog’s greatest passion. Give her a biscuit and she will be your friend for life!

Dogs which are deemed difficult to train, however, usually possess a low food drive. For these types of dogs, it is necessary for the trainer to adopt alternative forms of motivators.

When building a bond with a dog, it is important to invest time in getting to know their individual personality. Like people, each dog has their quirky ways. My dog, for example, loves to dive in to water, yet she hates to walk in the rain or step in puddles! Figure that one out! Understanding your dog may prove a long and at times frustrating journey, but it will be worth it in the end. Though it has been challenging at times, getting a dog to guide me around has been one of the best decisions I have made. My dog is not only my eyes, but my best friend and faithful companion too!

Until next time!

Cheers!

Bird’s Eye   

Overcoming blind barriers

I heard a story today that both shocked and disturbed me. It was said that a religious family shut their blind daughter away in her room for many years. Apparently this was due to their beliefs that blindness was degrading and shameful. It wasn’t until a doctor persuaded the parents to seek assistance from Guide dogs that the girl eventually began to branch out and become fully independent. Today she has a guide dog and has moved out from her family home.

Wow! It’s amazing how a dog can literally change a person’s life! Who knows where this blind lady would be now, if this doctor hadn’t spoken to her parents about the Guide dogs?

Such a scenario represents an extreme case. It highlights, however, the importance of overcoming barriers of fear, shame and ignorance. A teacher at high school once told me that my parents probably harbored a lot of anger and resentment towards me, because of the fact that I was blind. At the time, I internalized her words and felt depressed. I have since realized that her assumptions were unfounded and untrue.

As blind/vision impaired people, we can do many things; we just need to get out there and give it a go! It's important for us to believe in ourselves, and think outside the square! We are all here for a reason. Moping around home is not going to help us fulfill our purpose in life!

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Hope to hear from you!
Cheers!
Bird’s Eye

I was listening to the radio last night, when I heard a story that touched my heart. An Asian man living with AIDS described his sense of rejection and isolation throughout his illness. Even his family and friends were turning away from him! Many sufferers of HIV are subjected to stigmatization. The route of this problem primarily stems from fear, shame and denial.

The story had an uplifting turn, however, as the man revealed his victory over others’ negativity. He learnt to be happy in spite of his illness. In fact, overcoming his despair helped him to grow as a person and change his perspective on life.

Hearing this man’s testimony of courage and strength inspired me deeply. Facing such adverse circumstances, would be anyone’s worst nightmare! But it also got me thinking how many of us are labeled and stigmatized as a result of others’ misconceptions. Blind people, for example, are often categorized as being helpless, burdensome or incapable. It thus makes it more difficult for people who are blind/vision impaired, to integrate in to mainstream community.

As a blind person myself, I try not to be controlled by others’ opinion of me. Throughout my life, I want to try to be the best person I can be. If people reject me, then that’s their problem. I only want to be friends with those who are open-minded, genuine and can see the person beneath the disability.

Am looking forward to hearing from you!
Cheers!
Bird’s Eye

Colour blindness

The other day, I was chatting with friends about colour blindness. A girl made a light hearted remark about a guy who seemed to be colour blind, as his clothes were uncoordinated!

Subsequent to our discussion, I browsed the internet for information regarding colour blindness. I discovered that this vision disability is rare in females. This is due to the fact that the gene for colour vision is on the X chromosome. As females have two X chromosomes, when one is deficient, the other compensates. Only one in 200+ girls is affected by this disability, whereas 5 to 8% of males are colour blind. So girls, maybe we shouldn’t be so hard on our boyfriends about their fashion sense!

We are all colour defective at birth. Males who lack colour vision, inherit their deficiency from their mother, who is not colour blind.

Bulls are colour blind. Their anger is caused by the motion of a waving red flag, rather than the colour itself.

Hmmm, learn something new every day! Maybe this is common knowledge to most people, but I found it interesting.

Talking about colours, I often get asked “how do you know what colour your clothes are?” I am totally blind, so I guess this is a fair enough question from a sighted person, as my clothes are usually colour coordinated. In response to the question, I explain that I ask whoever I’m shopping with, to describe the colour and style of the clothes. I make sure that each piece of clothing I purchase, feels different in some way from my other clothing. If it is not distinctive, I will cut the label in a certain way to identify it. I am lucky to have sisters who are up with the latest fashion, so I often ask their advice about clothes!

What are your thoughts about clothes and fashion? Do you spend ages in the morning, deciding what to wear and making yourself up? Or do you just chuck anything on and are not too fussed about appearance?

Am looking forward to hearing from you!

Cheers!

Bird’s Eye

Lack of understanding

How are you going?

 I've been neglecting my blog a bit lately!

Today I want to raise the topic of understanding, or rather, the lack of it. Throughout my years of being blind, I've discovered that there is a lack of understanding that exists regarding people who are blind/vision impaired. I don't want to complain or criticise anyone here; on the contrary, I've met many kind and well meaning people throughout my daily travels. Many people, however, seem uncertain of how to interact with people who are blind or vision impaired. For example, they may be over zealous in their efforts to help you, believing that you are a poor helpless being who needs to have your shoelace tied. One time I was sitting on the bus when a lady randomly pressed a crunchy bar in to my hand.

“Here,” she said. “Eat this.”

Then evidently noting the sealed wrapper, she reached over and proceeded to open it! I felt a bit awkward, as I didn't want to offend the elderly lady, but at the same time, there was no way I was going to consume the crunchy bar that had come from God knows where!

Conversely, some members of the public are more of a hindrance than a help. On many occasions, I've asked someone for directions.

“Oh, over there love, “they would say vaguely.

“Sorry I’m blind, would you mind telling me which direction it is?” I would ask, my seeing-eye dog growing increasingly impatient at my side.

“Over to the left, “and before I could utter another word, they would bustle off.

After walking for some time, I'd discover that I was heading in the completely wrong direction!

And then you get those who seem reluctant to communicate with you at all. The silent waitress/waiter who places a latte half a meter away from you on the table and then vanishes without a word. Or people who talk through you to your sighted companion.

“So what does she want?”

“Hello, I am here you know!” I want to say. “I don’t bite!”

I believe that there needs to be more open communication between those who are blind/vision impaired, and those who are not. Hopefully this will result in increased understanding and less frustration for everyone.

Well, now that I’ve got that out of my system, do you have any funny/annoying stories to share? Whether you have a disability or not, I would be interested to hear your experiences!

Hope you have a great weekend people!

Cheers!

Bird’s Eye     

Crack Ups!

Want a laugh? Here are some jokes to crack you up!

A little boy sitting in class puts his hand up and the teacher says, “Yes Johnny? Can I help you?”

Little Johnny replies, “Miss, miss, I really need to go to the toilet quickly.”

The teacher says to little Johnny, “Yes Johnny, but before you go, could you please sing me the alphabet?”

Little Johnny starts singing the alphabet. “A b c d e f g, h i j k l m n o, q r s t u v w x y z. Now may I go to the toilet miss?”

The teacher replies, “Before you go, what happened to the p?”

Little Johnny says, “The p is running down my leg Miss, because I’m really busting!”

Has anyone heard that Julia Gillard has been banned from Mc Donald’s stores? Legislation states that there can only be one red headed clown in the store at one time.

A man and a woman go to the Air show every year. Each time, the man says, “Anna, can we ride the aeroplane that goes up in the air, circles the show, and then comes back down?”

The woman always replies, “We don’t need to ride those planes, because it costs too much, and at the end of the day, ten dollars is ten dollars and that money could be better spent elsewhere.”

One year, Tom, the pilot, says, “Larry, I always hear you say that you want to ride   my aeroplane and I always hear Anna whining that it is too expensive. I’ll make a deal with you. If I do all the flips and tricks with you there with me, and you don’t say a word, I will give you the ride for free.

Anna and Larry discussed it and decided they would take the deal. They took off in to the air and Tom performed all his flips and tricks.

Afterwards Tom says, “Larry I was sure you would say something after the first flip, but you didn’t.

Larry replies, “I was going to say something when Anna fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars!”

An elderly man and his wife woke up in bed one morning. The elderly man was keen for a bit with his wife, but was having trouble standing up. Then, all of a sudden, he jumped out of bed, got dressed and was on his way out the front door.

His wife asked, “Where are you going?”

The husband replied, “Off to the doctors to get some of that Viagra stuff.”

Then his wife also jumped out of bed and got dressed.

The husband asked, “Why are you getting up and getting dressed so quickly?”

She said, “I’m off to the doctors too, to get a tetanus shot, because I’ll need it if you come anywhere near me with that rusty old thing.”

A woman said to her husband, “I’ve been thinking about getting breast implants to have larger breasts.”

Her husband replied, “Have you tried wearing a tighter top to push them together?”

His wife asked, “Will that work?”

Her husband replied, “It worked with your bottom, didn’t it?”

A hip young man goes out and buys one of the best cars available: a 2010 Ferrari F40. It is one of the best and most expensive cars in the world, and sets him back $1.2m. He takes it for a spin and, while doing so, stops at a red light. An old man in a MG convertible (both looking about ninety years old), pulls up next to him. The old man looks over the sleek, shiny surface of the car and asks, “What kind of car you got there, sonny?”

The young man replies, “A 2010 Ferrari. It costs $1.2m.”

“That’s a lot of money,” says the old man, shocked. “Why does it cost so much?”

“Because this car can reach the top speed of 320km per hour,” the cool dodo states proudly.

The elderly man asks, “Do you mind if I have a look inside?”

“Sure,” the owner replies.

So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around. Then he leans back in to his MG convertible, the old man says, “That’s a pretty nice car alright!”

Just then, the lights change to green, so the young man decides to show the old man what his car can do. He puts his pedal to the metal, and within 30 seconds the speedometer is reading 320kmph.

Suddenly, he notices a dot in his rear view mirror. It seems to be getting closer. He slows down to see what it could be, and suddenly, whoosh! Something whips by him, going much faster!

“What an earth could be going faster than my Ferrari?” The young man asks himself.

Then, ahead of him, he sees a dot coming towards him. Whoosh! It goes by again, heading the opposite direction! And, it almost looked like the old man in the MG convertible!

“Couldn’t be!” thinks the guy. “How could a MG convertible outrun a Ferrari?”

Again, he sees a dot in his rear view mirror! Whoosh!

Ka-bbbblammmm! It ploughs in to the back of his car, demolishing the rear end. The young man jumps out, and good grief! It is the old man! Of course, the old man is seriously injured. He runs up to the dying man and says, “You’re badly hurt. Is there anything I can do for you?”

The old man groans and replies, “Yes. Unhook my suspenders from your side-view mirror!”       

Hope you enjoyed those jokes! If you would like to post any more, please feel free!

Until next time!

Cheers!

Bird’s Eye

Walking Back to Happiness!

Health professionals are encouraging us to walk back to happiness. Research shows that regular walking promotes overall mental, physical and emotional well-being.
 
Regular walking improves our mind. Research indicates that stepping out regularly reduces the likelihood of developing a mental impairment - including dementia. A recent study demonstrated that female nurses over the age of 70, who walked at least 6 hours per week, demonstrated a higher level of cognitive functioning than women who engaged in minimal physical activity. Research conducted at the University of Western Australia also revealed improvements in mental functioning, as a result of walking for 15 minutes, 3 times a week.
 
 Moving about on foot improves our mental well-being, by easing tension and helping us to relax. Research shows that the increase in blood flow to the heart and brain produced by regular exercise strengthens brain cells and lowers stress. The rhythm of walking is another contributing factor, studies indicate. The right-left brain connection is stimulated when we swing our arms in opposition to our legs, producing a calming effect on our overall state of mind.

 Walking elevates overall mood. The act of walking for 30 minutes enhances our general sense of well-being, regardless of whether we are outdoors - or even watching television as we walk on the treadmill.
 
When we walk, natural”happy drugs” known as endorphins are released in the body. Although research shows that walking at an increased pace will intensify the effects gained from the exercise, moving more slowly is still very beneficial.

Walking can promote emotional well-being by enhancing our self-esteem and confidence. Our body shape and fitness level will benefit from regularly engaging in this type of exercise. Investing at least 30 minutes a day in brisk walking will assist in reducing body fat, studies show. To prevent over-exertion of the body, walkers should ensure that they are still able to talk, but not sing, while walking – although their speech may be slightly breathless.

Walking improves well-being by reducing isolation and fostering social networks. We have a greater opportunity to meet people when we travel by foot, rather than drive to our destination. Walking in the company of others - family, friends or club members - can also help strengthen relationships. Engaging in this type of activity is socially inclusive and encourages community connectedness.
 
Many health professionals promote regular walking as a natural means of combating daily blues. In some cases of mild to moderate depression, incorporating brisk walking in our daily routine can prove as effective as medication. While our technological gadgets encourage us to become “couch potatoes”, it is vital for our physical, mental and emotional health that we maintain an active lifestyle. Walking is the simplest, least expensive and most rewarding means of achieving this goal.

Hey!!

I’m excited! The weather is warming up and summer is around the corner! The Christmas season is approaching, which means more opportunities for parties! Do you like this time of the year?

 I certainly do. I love being able to wear short sleeves and skirts or dresses. I also enjoy having barbecues and staying outdoors till late at night without feeling too cold. And oh, the feel of the sun melting warmly into my skin as I stretch out on the sand, is blissful! These days however, I am quite diligent in applying sun protection, as I do not want to increase the risk of skin cancer or age my skin prematurely. Yes, even though I don’t like the greasy texture of sunscreen, I do realize it’s important to slip, slop, slap!

One thing I notice around this time of the year, however, is that many people are keener to get in to shape. No more hiding our flab under big jumpers and jackets! I feel a bit more subconscious when wearing certain types of clothing, particularly when I’m having a “fat day”!

As we all know, exercise is a great way of dealing with the flab issue. Going for long walks is one of my favourite activities, especially now that I have a seeing-eye dog. I once searched the internet for bush-walking clubs for blind and vision impaired young adults. Unfortunately, I did not find any.

Does anyone know of any bush-walking clubs for blind and vision impaired people?

If anyone is interested in the benefits of walking, read my next blog!

Hope you are all going well!

Cheers!

Bird’s Eye         

Einstein's Riddle of the Fish

Bored and need something to do? Well here’s something to get your mind going!

Einstein wrote this riddle last century and said that 98% of the world’s population would not be able to solve it.

(I’d take that with a grain of salt.)

There are 5 houses that are each a different colour.

There is a person of a different nationality in each house.

The 5 owners drink a certain drink.

They each smoke a certain brand of cigarette and also have a certain pet.

 No owner has the same pet, smokes the same brand of cigarettes nor drinks the same drink.

The question is: “Who has the fish?”

CLUES

1. The British man lives in the red house.
2. The Swedish man has a dog for a pet.
3. The Danish man drinks tea.
4. The green house is to the left of the white house.
5. The owner of the green house drinks coffee.
6. The person that smokes Pall Mall has a bird.
7. The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.
8. The person that lives in the middle house drinks milk.
9. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
10. The person that smokes Blend, lives next to the one that has a cat.
11. The person that has a horse lives next to the one that smokes Dunhill.
12. The one that smokes Bluemaster drinks beer.
13. The German smokes Prince.
14. The Norwegian lives next to a blue house.
15. The person that smokes Blend, has a neighbour that drinks water.

GOOD LUCK!!!

  

Is laughter really the best medicine?

Fascinated by the medicinal effects of laughing, Dr. Kataria decided in 1995, to develop a club where people laugh for no reason, as a form of exercise.

Research shows that regular sessions of laughter boost the body’s overall functioning. The act of laughing triggers the release of endorphins - natural pain killers - and serotonin, which strengthens the immune system. Blood pressure is lowered; circulation is improved and mood becomes elevated.

The act of laughing away our worries improves mental and emotional health, according to a study conducted at the University of Maryland medical centre. Looking at the funny side of life has the power to ease muscular tension and reduce harmful effects of stressful emotion on the body. Both sides of the brain are stimulated when we laugh, enhancing our ability to concentrate and retain information.  

Having a good sense of humour can also help us to lose the dreaded bulge. Our diaphragm, respiratory, abdominal, legs and back muscles are all given a work out when we laugh. Digestion and absorption functioning is also generally improved.  Chuckling on a regular basis can result in up to 5 pounds of body fat being lost over a year, according to scientists at Vanderbilt University.  Laughing burns calories equivalent to several minutes on the rowing machine or exercise bike.  

Through scientific studies, Dr. Kataria discovered that self-induced laughter affects the brain in a similar way to the laughter caused by external stimuli.  While laughing at nothing may at first feel silly and forced, by the end of each session, participants are usually guffawing in a natural state of euphoria.  

Research conducted at University College, London, demonstrated that laughing is contagious. Exposure to laughter and other positive sounds invoked, in the brain, a similar response to that of smiling.  

Over 5,000 Laughter Clubs currently exist worldwide. While operating independently, Laughter Clubs are generally based on the concept of improving health, boosting emotional well-being and developing self-confidence.  

Today health professionals use the term “gelotology” in reference to the field of laughter and its medicinal effects on the body. This approach to therapy is rapidly growing in popularity amongst doctors, psychiatrists and other mental health practitioners.

"For the most part, when you go and get medical treatment, a clinician is not necessarily going to tell you to take two aspirins and watch Laurel and Hardy," says Dr Berks, a key researcher in the science of laughing. "But the reality is that's where we are and it's more real than ever. There's a real science to this. And it's as real as taking a drug."

Hi There!

Hi there!

Wow! Am finally starting this blog! Have been procrastinating for ages now, but decided that this afternoon I would break the ice! I am sitting in Gloria Jeans, drinking coffee and listening to the buzz of conversation around me. My seeing-eye dog is sprawled at my feet, snoring away!

Firstly, I will give a brief introduction of myself. I am a blind, 25 year old woman. I lost my sight at the age of six. I come from a large, loving and supportive family.

As a blind person, I have found it very important to have social contact with other people. It can be difficult sometimes, and often requires us to venture outside our comfort zone. Making that step, however, usually proves to be rewarding.

 A person once told me that simple kindness to a stranger may save a person from committing suicide. This statement made me realize that, though individually gifted, we can all make a difference in the world. I created this blog to enable blind or visually impaired people to share the way they see the world. You never know how your words may change someone’s life!

Ok, on a lighter note, I would like to share with you some funny and embarrassing stories! My life is full of them! On  e day, someone was conversing on their mobile phone. I began responding to their questions, before realizing that I was talking to myself! On another occasion, I poured pepper in to my latte instead of sugar. I nearly choked on my coffee! Recently, I was sitting in the cinema and my dog was snoring under my seat. At a quiet moment in the movie, people were giggling and a girl asked, “Where’s that snoring coming from?”

Oh the joys of being blind!

Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories? If so, please share! It’s important to have a good laugh in life. In fact, laughing is medicinal. If you are interested in the health effects of laughing, read my next post!

Am looking forward to hearing your funny and embarrassing stories!

Cheers!

Bird’s Eye 

Welcome to Eye think!

All blind/vision impaired people and others who are interested, are invited to share their thoughts on anything and everything.

What's happening? What's on your mind? Any bright ideas?

Look forward to hearing from you!

Cheers,

Bird's eye