About Us

This blog is about how the world is viewed by the visual and the visually impaired. The intent of this blog is to bring the two worlds together. It is administered by two fabulous sisters, Toni, who is sighted and Robin, who became visually impaired in 2002 at the age of 18 due to misdiagnosis.



Sunday, October 31, 2010

STEPPING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX...

“A sense of accomplishment and tranquility it offers me, but most importantly, it shows that with motivation, anything can be a possibility.” As learned, karate is the act of defending oneself without the use of weapons, but through sharp movements with the hands, arms, and legs. A while back, I wrote about having the desire to participate in karate, and now it’s been about seven months since I started taking lessons. To some people it is a shock to them that I am getting involved in such a vigorous activity, but to others, including my karate sensei or teacher, there is no surprise. Karate is not only a physical sport; it involves mental concentration to which sound can compensate for the lack of visual reference.
Since I have started karate at Colorado’s Budokan, my sensei has helped me with my balance, coordination, strength, orientation, and pace. In addition to my family and friends, I have seen immense improvements in these areas, which have given me more confidence in my physical abilities. In fact, I am strongly considering on participating in a karate competition that is going to be held early next year.
Honestly, being a true introvert though, I am a little nervous about competing in front of an audience. It is a fear that I must overcome. As my family, friends, and sensei put it, the competition will challenge me by enabling me to step outside of my comfort zone.
Although I am nervous, I had to stop and ask myself what I would be losing if I competed, and the answer is nothing. However, the same thing cannot be said if I chose not to participate in the competition. If I did not compete, I would be losing out on having the opportunity to not only compete with those who are sighted, but the pleasure of knowing that I pushed myself to a new level, strengthened my self-confidence, did not have to wonder about what it would be like to compete, and most importantly, knowing that I tried my best. So, I have a pledge to you. Since I am stepping outside of my comfort zone, I challenge you to find one way to step outside of your own. Ask yourself what you have to lose verses what you could gain in the process.