Since becoming blind at the age of 31 Julie Woods has become known as “that blind woman”.
Julie choose not to stay in the dark, and taught herself how to read Braille, cook, juggle single parent while carving out a career as a published author, life coach and inspirational speaker.
Julie talks about her moment of choice, when she decided that her becoming blind would not become her.
I was interviewed recently by a journalist about my story of going blind, including being a blind mother of two boys and then a single blind parent. After hanging up the phone from that interview I started thinking again on my journey of blindness. I thought I had done all the reflecting required to discover all the gold that I could but this week I found yet another nugget.
I didn’t think it was possible for blind people to “look back” but I was wrong. And even though I am blind I am now able to see with great clarity some distinct moments in my life. They are moments of choice that could have gone either way. The reason I had been reminded of them was that looking back they were significant moments - I distinctly remember thinking “should I” or “shouldn’t I?”
These were real moments with real impact.
• When I went blind I could either be pitied or admired
• Going blind could have been the end of my life or the beginning of a new one.
• I could have stayed stuck on the couch or accepted instruction on using the white cane to get me out shopping!
• When my husband left I could have stayed stuck in the negative or I could have got on, set myself a goal, done something positive and learned braille.
• When my fund raising friend Banksia rang me to ask me to referee a game of nude touch rugby I could have said no rather than why not?
All of these choices I made since I went blind have given me the opportunity to be the blind person I know I can be. Now I travel around the country inspiring others to turn their “no” into “why not.” Creating this habit of engagement with my work, life, family, and friends has seen me go from that hospital waiting room in 1997 to walking five half marathons, going to Paris for Louis Braille’s bi-centennial celebration, speaking to women affected by the bush fires in the Yarra Valley, Australia and yes – refereeing a game of nude touch rugby!
And while going blind may have seemed the end of the world at the time – in fact it’s been the beginning of a brand new one!
Kobi Yamada once said “Opportunity waits between things ended and things begun” and boy was he right!!!!
Julie Woods
www.thatblindwoman.co.nz