I'm not easily offended. I talk about my blindness all the time. And I try to give folks a chance to also talk about it. So, if people have a question or an opinion about my blindness, I pretty much will listen and respond to most of anything. But there are some things that people say that really get on my nerves. For example, I hate it when someone tells me to, "Watch out."
How ridiculous is that?
Why in the world would you tell a blind person to "watch out"? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
It's like telling a person in a wheelchair to "watch their step". Do you see how ridiculous that is?
And I'm not sure if people have said that to me always or if this is something new. But lately, I stop and become defensive every single time someone says that to me.
The first time I noticed it may have had something to do with who said it. A woman that I used to work with, who decided that she was going to hate on the new blind co-worker, said those words to me in the hallway one afternoon. Now, interestingly enough, this was the first thing that this woman had said to me in about six months. So, when she said it, I immediately took notice. Not only was she saying something to me, but she was also telling me to do something that I physically could not do.
When she said it, I stopped dead in my tracks. My eye brows went flying up and I looked straight in her direction with a strange, non-intimidating look on my face. I didn't say anything, and neither did she. I just let her pass me in the hall, and I continued on my path, thinking "You watch out!".
Two final thoughts... I'm so glad I don't work with that woman anymore. Thank you God for freeing me from being in her presence. Perhaps I'll dedicate a post or two to her. LOL
And secondly, I feel that it is my duty to help others see how ridiculous it is to use insensitive language when communicating with others. And telling someone to "watch out" is absolutely insensitive. So, every time someone says that to me, I will be telling them how silly and ridiculous that is.
Have a good week. And remember to think before letting words fly from your mouth. That's not a good look.
Angie Braden
1 comment:
What a good reminder for all of us! I know there are times I speak before I think, and later look back at those times and cringe at my words, at my accidental insensitivity. We do need to think before letting words fly from our mouths, because as you said, it is not a good look. (I love how you put that!)
God's Peace,
Melinda
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