Episode 163: Life Will Blindside You, Sometimes Literally
Some of us make plans for the future, some simply let each day define and shape the next. I don't think any of us anticipate every potential scenario of change, transformation, or trauma. Even the most morbid or realistic of us cannot predict or prepare for the reality of tomorrow.
That's what Maria Johnson realized as she received the diagnosis of a rare disease that was quickly denying her the ability to see. She had been concerned about her eyesight, went for dozens of tests as she realized it was getting worse. It wasn't until 7 months after she went for her first doctor visit, and only one month prior to completely losing her vision and becoming legally blind, that she finally received her diagnosis. And there was nothing to be done. No cure. No treatment.
A Story of Becoming Blind at 50
Some of us make plans for the future, some simply let each day define and shape the next. I don't think any of us anticipate every potential scenario of change, transformation, or trauma. Even the most morbid or realistic of us cannot predict or prepare for the reality of tomorrow.
That's what Maria Johnson realized as she received the diagnosis of a rare disease that was quickly denying her the ability to see. She had been concerned about her eyesight, went for dozens of tests as she realized it was getting worse. It wasn't until 7 months after she went for her first doctor visit, and only one month prior to completely losing her vision and becoming legally blind, that she finally received her diagnosis. And there was nothing to be done. No cure. No treatment.
For a long time she held out hope that she would be the exception. That her vision would return if she just believed, worked hard enough, was lucky.
Her doctor finally had the most painful conversation with her. He told her it was time to grieve her loss of vision. It wasn't coming back. It was time to consider the reality of the situation, grieve, and move on.
Maria shared the story of trying to shop for a prom dress with her daughter, the painful and beautiful way she found her own ability, despite the limitations of her disability, to participate in a meaningful way, with the help of her son and a large format iPad.
When you listen to Maria speak about her experience, you'll hear the unresolved questions of why, and you'll also hear her resolve to make her life, and the lives of those around her, a different kind of normal, an extraordinary normal, if that's a thing.
I know, it doesn't make sense, and none of it does. Something so tragic in a person's life can go so many different ways. Maria could have fallen into despair, she could have lived as a "poor me" and no one would fault her for it.
Or she could have taken the path of least resistance and simply made her way through life with the skills she had, the people she had in her life, and been, well, mediocre.
She didn't do any of that. She started a blog to share her experiences, to guide others with loss of vision, and to bring some comfort to the support network of those people, to share what their friends and family needed when they lost their vision.
She grew, transformed, and found her way toward growing new dreams, new goals. You might just be surprised what someone like Maria can do.
To learn more about her, visit her website, and follow her on LinkedIn and Facebook.
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ABOUT SARAH:
Purchase the audiobook here.
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically
with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Episode 146: Transformation Requires a Retelling of Your Story
When we talked about "liminal space", I started to truly apply what I had learned from that article years before, clarity coming as a gift from Heather about liminal space and its relationship with transition and transformation.
Holding Space for Others Leaves More Room for You
I didn't realize until partway through our recording that it was Heather Plett's article about holding space that had caught - and kept - my attention for five years.
When I read the article, I remember sharing it widely and making great efforts to apply Heather's guiding principles to my conversations with our sons, my husband, and my coaching clients.
Heather sent me her book as a gift prior to our conversation, and as I read it I found myself nodding in agreement, immediately connecting dots around my work in communication coaching, and having enough "ah ha" moments about where I've fallen short in my efforts that it made my head spin.
I had to slow down and absorb, rather than rush through so I'd be prepared for our call.
As we talked through some of the parts of the book that really stood out as I read, it finally dawned on me that this was the author of that article I loved so much, and that had such an impact on me more than five years ago.
Heather shared some great moments on her journey so far, about the origins of her viral article, her thoughts about what "holding space" means now, after that phrase has become overused, and how she sees different layers in how we can listen more compassionately and deeply depending on what's being shared.
When we talked about "liminal space", I started to truly apply what I had learned from that article years before, clarity coming as a gift from Heather about liminal space and its relationship with transition and transformation.
The entire conversation was a gift to me, and hopefully a gift to listeners. You will want to get your hands on this book, The Art of Holding Space, a Practice of Love, Liberation, and Leadership.
Be sure to visit Heather's website to learn more about her work, and follow or connect with her on LinkedIn to see what she shares on that platform.
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Sarah Elkins loves to guide individuals and teams to improve communication, using storytelling as the foundation of her work. She is a Gallup certified Strengths coach and uses that tool to coach her clients to improve their communication in all relationships, and to find more satisfaction at work and at home.
Her book, Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will is available on bookshop.org (supporting independent booksellers), and on Amazon.
The audiobook will be available on November 4, 2020, and includes two songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change! Visit her website for updates.
Episode 73: Transitions as Opportunities for Self-Discovery
Resilience Can Look Like Minor Home Repairs and Great Parties on a Budget
It turns out that Tiffany Ann is actually quite handy, can make impressive home improvements on a limited budget, and can put on a fun birthday party for a bunch of kids for just $25.
Mount Helena, Helena, Montana
She may not have known these things about herself if she hadn’t experienced a painful divorce. With three children and no job, Tiffany Ann learned not only that she could depend on herself for minor home repairs, she learned that she was resilient, and found ways to share what she learned with others in similar situations.
Dreams Recycled came to her, well, in a dream.
Listen to this episode to find out more about Tiffany Ann, her business, and how her dream came to life.