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At one point I realized that I'd
better give it some serious thought, especially on how to ask for and accept help
from strangers. Over and over I had to
explain “I have vision problems.”
Often when I‘m in a crowded or strange
place, I get disoriented. I just need to stop and stand until I feel safe. But
I know when I do this, people think I am scary or demented.
One deciding difference that I made is
wearing a button which says, “Vision Impaired.”
It immediately does away with repeatedly
having to explain what is wrong with me. This one small thing has made getting help
from strangers so much easier.
Now it does not bother me to ask
someone where I am or where I need to go. I even ask people to read my list to
see if I have everything in my basket at the store. And I have no
embarrassment asking someone, “Can
you help me?” because they read the button and immediately understand.
I’ve shopped at the same store for
decades and know genearally where most things are. For instance, I know pumpkin is in the sixth
aisle on the bottom shelf on the right hand side. This is fine until they move
it. Then I have to ask someone.
I recently had to cross a street by myself in Seattle.
I asked a stranger if I could hang on to their elbow
to cross the street. I also need help
from strangers with elevators, as I have had several problems with elevators since I can't see the
panel. Now I wait at the door for
someone to get on. Or I grab someone who
is getting off and have them push the buttons for me.
I ask strangers to read price tags for
me, write down numbers for me, and tell me how many steps I have left to go
when descending stairs.
Asking for help from strangers now is
just second nature and not so embarrassing Wearing the button is instant communication
and has made all the difference. The
buttons are available several places on the internet. I bought a dozen and keep an extra in my purse.
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1 comment:
What a wonderful post. When my husband was alive and losing bits and piece of himself to Type 1 Diabetes, we had to ask for help. We were fortunate to have close friends who often stepped up, and to belong to a faith community that really did so -- and continued to help for years. We learned who our friends were, and who were uncomfortable watching his demise and my juggling -- a full-time job and most of the chores and the kids' needs. My employer and colleagues also gave me time and space if I needed to take it to attend to his needs or those of my aging mother. Once, in an airport, I had to ask a strange man to help my DH in the men's washroom, because he was legless, in a wheelchair -- and I couldn't go in (for obvious reasons!) It takes a certain humility that our culture doesn't cultivate, but in the end, when you ask for help and are given it, the person/people who do so are as blessed in the doing as you are in the receiving.
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