I love an inspiring story as much as the next gal. Always have. Since my vision loss, there is more poignancy and gravity in everything that touches my life. Learning of a person rising above their obstacles now speaks to me in a way it never could have before my sight became compromised. I can relate to their journey, no matter the circumstances, because profound and devastating loss connects all of us who have experienced it.
This week a man with no hearing won Dancing with the Stars. I was amazed by Nyle DiMarco during the entire season and the fact that a person born deaf could win a DANCE competition proves that anyone can do anything.
Right?
Nyle certainly surprised all of us. We were captivated from the first step, the first musical note that he did not hear. He was fearless. He became a champion in an activity that is music wrapped around beautiful and technical movement. Nyle did the impossible and the woman in me who cried during many of his performances thinks that he is the embodiment of challenges meant to be nothing but conquered.
So how do I reconcile what my heart saw with the reality of what my eyes don’t? Though I have accomplished much there are things in life I simply can no longer do. For instance, I can no longer see most colors. And there is nothing that will make that possible right now. I also can’t drive. Now here’s where things get tricky. Could I physically get behind the wheel of a car, put my foot on the brake, insert the key in the ignition, turn the key, put the car in drive, move my foot off the brake and onto the accelerator and bear down? You bet I could. But I wouldn’t get very far after putting the car in gear before I hit something or someone. And no hard work or determination or hutzpah is going to change that fact.
I’ve got to tell you, the mere thought and typing of the steps involved in operating a motor vehicle make my mouth water. I yearn to drive again so badly there are no words to describe the want.
Although I still believe that a person can triumph over adversity, not everything can be fixed or made possible no matter what we do. This isn’t cynicism, I promise, but a giant-sized dose of truth borne of limitations my anatomy, not of my spirit or character. And in the acknowledgement and acceptance of this difference, we prevail over the largest struggle of them all
