A little perspective

We’ve been volunteering for the past two years (thankfully there is some flexible time in my life as a consultant) for the Radio Reading Service hosted at the local university.

This is a program that brings printed materials to persons who are blind or physically handicapped. We read – along with dozens of other volunteers – the morning papers, the local flyers, advertisements, book selections and weekly national journals.

There we sit – in a real radio station with all sorts of gadgets including headphones, microphones, the big control panel with flashing lights, cough buttons – and the other paraphernalia found in the broadcast booth.

There is also Glenn who manages the station. Glenn is blind – but that doesn’t stop him from running the show, riding a two seat bike with his wife and attending harmonica conventions (gigs?) around the country. Glenn always has a smile and tells a good joke. Honestly, what an inspiration.

Yesterday, I represented the Radio Reading Service at a local health fair here in Southwest Florida and had the opportunity to rub elbows with volunteers (and some paid professionals) from a dozen agencies who work with the visual and hearing challenged. The range and breadth of services – and personal commitment of the workers - is truely amazing.

I sat there for a few hours watching (mostly elderly) blind, deaf and handicapped people chatting with each other as though they didn’t have a care in the world.

It helps to put things into perspective for those of us who have so much.