The Joys Unveiled by my Deafness.

The Joys Unveiled by my Deafness.

Many of you will be unaware of my 70% deafness in both ears. I have been wearing hearing aids for over 45 years now. A childhood of ear infections and malformed inner ears damaged my eardrums. Without the aids, I can only perceive tones, not voices, and I am registered deaf.

At certain points in my life, experiencing deafness and its related challenges has, on occasion, led to intense feelings of shame and embarrassment. Wearing hearing aids is still sometimes an opportunity for ridicule, specifically if it’s whistling—more prevalent in the older aids. Add that to previous issues with using mainline phones -and the invisibility of deafness and my often blank face added to the potential for such. Then there are the frustrations of being unable to use phone earbuds. So, too, headphones to listen to music, as they cause the hearing aids to produce a whistling sound. For many decades, no ‘private music.’

Now, I embrace (most of the time, I must anyway) the joy that comes with my deafness. My first thought is that, as a child and now as an adult, I genuinely value my capacity to silence the noise and retreat into that peaceful quiet.

However, the greatest joy surged within me three years ago when I received a Bluetooth hearing aid that could connect to my iPhone. Now, my daily walk and downtime moments are filled with music directly into my ears - something I will always be so grateful for. The enchantment of this simple joy lies in listening to podcasts and audiobooks while also enjoying the ability to use my phone to connect with others—where their voices resonate in my ears. So much joy.

Moreover, my deafness has taught me the value of listening beyond words. It has heightened my awareness of the world and made my other senses more sensitive. I am capable of self-taught lip reading, and, even more importantly, I can grasp the underlying message behind the words. Due to this learned skill, there have been so many joyful moments of holding space and empathetic conversation.

My deafness has also given me a greater appreciation for the small, often overlooked moments that enhance life's beauty. Wearing hearing aids means you cannot identify where the sound is coming from, so I have to tap into other senses to complete the picture. My mindfulness nature walks, where I enjoy observing birdlife and then writing about these experiences, have all stemmed from this. I so appreciate hearing birds. I truly appreciate the soothing sounds of nature.

Without any assistance or technology, I would lose access to such delightful experiences in a moment. I do not take it for granted. During my five-mile stroll today through the fields and along the paths, as the sun started to rise and I savoured some lovely music, I took a moment to pause and reflect on how my deafness has brought about so much joy and hope that my little share today encourages a little more kindness out there to the not-so-obvious disabilities.

Perhaps, in sharing my journey, I wish to illuminate the ways in which we can all find joy in our unique circumstances. It's a reminder that sometimes, what seems like a limitation can open up new avenues for growth, understanding, and appreciation. The world is full of hidden beauty waiting to be discovered through different perspectives, and embracing these perspectives can enrich our lives in unexpected ways.

I encourage everyone to seek out and celebrate the little joys kinder and that may come from what might initially seem like challenges. Whether it's the quiet moments of reflection, the deep connections made through empathy, or the newfound capabilities technology can provide, there is always something to be grateful for.

Let us all strive to be more mindful, more compassionate, and more understanding of the invisible struggles others might face.

I would love to hear your thoughts on invisible struggles taht unveil joy.

Always,