I am grateful for sight and hearing and don’t ever want to take it for granted. These are senses that most of us are given from birth; not all of us though, and I am mindful of these people too. Even those of us who are given the gift of sight and hearing do find that as we age these gifts begin to “fade”.
This month Derek and I went to have our hearing checked. I am glad to say I am still within the normal range but Derek has damage to his left ear, from his youth, which we have known of for years. His hearing aid was tweaked and when he got home he was amazed by the bird song in our garden, “it was if the garden was on steroids.”
Well we also went to the optician two weeks ago and he was glad that his sight had not changed in 3 years but mine had. I am short sighted as well as having astigmatism. My astigmatism has changed quite a bit in the last three years which explains why I didn’t enjoy reading or doing handwork for long spells and often felt grumpy after reading or writing or crafting; it was eye strain.
Today I received my new glasses and now every time I look up into the trees I can actually see the birds hopping from branch to branch. I am almost surprised to see yet another bird up in the tree. You could almost say that I too think the garden is on steroids.
It might seem like a small thing but it is an absolute blessing to be able to hear and see properly and I am truly grateful.
- Imagine not being able to hear. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in and out. Relax. Now listen to the sounds around you: people talking, laughing, cars driving past, dogs barking, and birds; imagine all the familiar sounds that surround you every day. Now imagine they are all taken away and you can’t hear or communicate with your world. How quiet would it be? It might seem nice for a while but continuous silence?
- Now imagine that you can’t see and what that would be like? Never seeing colour; never seeing your loved ones faces: the smiles, the joy, and the minute details of expressions.
Two examples of being very short sighted is: not being able to do your own make-up not never being able to drive. People learn to get by with their disabilities but they will experience challenges and difficulties. There is a part of their existence that is not the same as ours. Let’s be grateful for the gifts, talents and senses we have.
Take care,
Morag Noffke 
Your post is brilliant, and I understand the point you are making because I was invited to volunteer for The Society for the Blind. I helped in raising money and could see how important it was.
Joanna
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Thank you, Joanna, for reading and your encouraging comment, I appreciate it. I can imagine that it must have been very rewarding to help raising support and to see the importance of it. I hope I will find a charity to volunteer at in support of others. I think it is a wonderful way of giving back to society. Take care. Morag.
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I couldn’t agree more…. I try to appreciate each moment and each sense that I have, even if it needs assistance….I now wear a hearing aid in my left ear, also from some damage in youth …. And am grateful for it. And I’m grateful for my contacts and glasses too! There is so much beauty to see and nature’s symphonies to hear! Thank you for your great post!
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Thank you for your comments, it’s wonderful to share thoughts and values with kindred spirits, wishing you many moments of beauty and symphonies 🎼🎵🎶🎵🥀
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Agreed. Wishing you the same. ♥️
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Thank you 🤗
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This is a thought provoking piece. I used to go to a deaf and dumb school as a part of community service. I can very well feel what you want to convey. We should always be thankful to God for the valuable gifts we have received from Him.
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Thank you, yes what you have said is so true, thank you for your support. Take care, Morag.
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I know what you mean about being nearsighted. I also have astigmatism and presbyopia. I also marveled at the beauty around me that I could not see before I got my glasses. It made me more thankful than ever for glasses! Thank you for sharing this with us.
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You are welcome. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment 🤗🤗
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Great reminder, thank you for that Morag. I love how your post point out to appreciate life and not to take anything or anyone for granted. I hate driving at night as I’m also shortsighted and I cannot help but compare this to lacking imagination or foresight in life. Thank you for a thought provoking post. Have a great week ahead 🌸💕
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Thank you so much for the lovely comment. You add a very thought provoking point, thank you. I hope you are having a great week. 🤗👍💖
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Yes, we are truly blessed to have these gifts! 🙏🙏🙏
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Thank you for visiting and commenting. 🤗💐
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What a beautiful post!!! You are so right; these are things we easily take for granted, until suddenly they aren’t so sharp. I often think about the blessing of sight and sound, and how drastically different life would be without them. It’s good to enjoy what we have!! I hope you both continue to enjoy your “garden on steroids “. 💗
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😁😂Thank you 🌱🏵️ 🌿🐦🌺🌻🦜🕊️🐞🦜🍀🌷🌴
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I know all about not taking my senses for granted. I was born with vision only in my left eye, so I must take care to keep it healthy. Good glasses are a must.
In 2012, I lost my sense of smell. After a decade, I am now forgetting what certain things smell like. For example, I can no longer remember, and therefore cannot conjoure, the smell of a damp forest. I even ask people to describe the smells as we walk in the mountains, in hopes it will spur my memory to replicate the smell in my brain. No luck, and I’m very sad for the loss.
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Wow! Living with sight in just one eye must be a challenge for depth perspective and maybe balancing, I would imagine? Yet you are a very outdoor person enjoying skiing, hiking and cycling. You have done well. I couldn’t imagine what it is like to loose your smell 😥😥 I am sorry to hear that. It must affect your taste as well then, or not?
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