While out on a walk, I noticed a blind person who seemed lost, so I approached him and offered to help.
I did everything wrong.
I didn’t know where to hold him, or even if I should touch him at all. I spoke too loudly, handled him too aggressively, and pointed out insignificant things instead of focusing on important bits of information, like curbs and steps. At one point, I became unsure about where I was leading him, so I stopped to ask for directions.
That’s when he disappeared.
I was completely out of my element. Maybe he was in a hurry, or he was accustomed to doing things on his own. The more likely reason is that he was simply frustrated with my attempts to help.
Moments before, I had guided him into a puddle.
I alerted the police, but there was not much that they could do. I searched for a while — seeing danger for him everywhere. I felt like such a fool.
I awoke feeling horrible.
It was only a dream, I know, but it’s a dream that can easily become a reality. What do I know about the blind, what they have to deal with, or when and if they need help from strangers?
Nothing.
What would I do in a situation like that in real life? I’ve always thought of myself as a quick thinker who can adapt to any situation. I suppose most people believe that of themselves. But is it true?
Are we who we think we are – when it counts?
Or are we just blind to our shortcomings, until we are forced to see them for ourselves?
——————–
After writing this post, I Googled “how to help a blind person” and a number of links to good articles were returned. Here’s one that I found helpful on Disabled World: When You Meet a Blind Person
——————–
Author Bio:
Ray Colon has written 136 posts on Ray's Blog.
He works with numbers for a living, but don't judge - boring accountants need love too. His blog has no niche (unless writing about things that are important to him is a niche). Some folks cringe when he gets “all political” on them, but he does it anyway when he's in that kind of mood. Sometimes, he writes something nice about someone, but you shouldn't get used to that. His first book, the one he hasn't written yet, is not available on Amazon. Subscribe to Ray's Blog via RSS or Email.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Good question. I always wonder if I am who I think I am. My guess is probably not but every once in a while I surprise even myself with how well I handle a situation. I can definitely appreciate your awkwardness with the blind man. That would be me!
Hi Tristan,
“Surprising ourselves once in a while” is probably where most of us would fall on this scale. It’s interesting to think of people who face far much more harrowing circumstances than the one I describe who find a way to surpass their own expectations. Captain Sully, who landed that commercial plane in the Hudson river, comes to mind. He surely surprised himself.
Ray
I think Captain Sully surprised himself as you said and that situation makes me think of my own personal examples. This may not be true for everyone but my guess is that most people rise to the occasion when the stakes are high. We all have a little hero in us that comes out when circumstances are just right.