<p>My son and I recently visited a blind school near my house in Bengaluru. This is the same school where I volunteered as a reader three decades ago. Maruti Moger, who was my student back then, is now a teacher there. Meeting him not only helps me revisit the good old carefree days of my youth but it encourages me to count my blessings. </p><p>During this visit, I noticed a bunch of teenage boys playing cricket with a ball that made a jingling sound. Most of the boys were partially blind, but the jingling noise helped them hit boundaries and sixes much to the chagrin of the bowler. Their joy and camaraderie filled the air while my son kept Maruti engaged in a tête-à-tête.</p>.<p>A cousin who teaches in the same school kept me updated about the various activities while her students, who were passing by, exchanged pleasantries. One boy walked past us without uttering a word. Sensing my curiosity, she said, “He is like Helen Keller. He can neither speak, hear, nor see, but he is very good at doing tailoring work like stitching a button or sewing a torn shirt.” </p>.<p>Visiting a blind school did open our eyes to the limitless blessings God has showered on us. My son and I barely spent an hour, but some of the important life lessons we learnt will stay with us forever. For instance, their curiosity to explore and celebrate small joys of life is quite contagious, be it playing cricket or trying a new gadget that can assist them in their daily chores. </p><p>They seldom shy away from seeking help as they believe in facing life’s challenges instead of avoiding them. Their uncanny knack of using their strengths instead of bemoaning their shortcomings is a valuable lesson in trading expectations for acceptance. Last but certainly not the least is what Helen Keller has beautifully summed up: ‘You will succeed if you persevere, and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles.’</p>.<p>Over the years, I have noticed that most of the visually impaired people deftly embrace positivity and patience in realising their dream. While Maruti excels in penning short stories and poems in Kannada, a 6th standard girl amazed us with her talent in mental math and singing. Navigating life is undoubtedly very tough, especially in a world that lacks inclusive practices, but in many ways, they are conveying Helen Keller’s pearls of wisdom to us: ‘All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming’.</p>
<p>My son and I recently visited a blind school near my house in Bengaluru. This is the same school where I volunteered as a reader three decades ago. Maruti Moger, who was my student back then, is now a teacher there. Meeting him not only helps me revisit the good old carefree days of my youth but it encourages me to count my blessings. </p><p>During this visit, I noticed a bunch of teenage boys playing cricket with a ball that made a jingling sound. Most of the boys were partially blind, but the jingling noise helped them hit boundaries and sixes much to the chagrin of the bowler. Their joy and camaraderie filled the air while my son kept Maruti engaged in a tête-à-tête.</p>.<p>A cousin who teaches in the same school kept me updated about the various activities while her students, who were passing by, exchanged pleasantries. One boy walked past us without uttering a word. Sensing my curiosity, she said, “He is like Helen Keller. He can neither speak, hear, nor see, but he is very good at doing tailoring work like stitching a button or sewing a torn shirt.” </p>.<p>Visiting a blind school did open our eyes to the limitless blessings God has showered on us. My son and I barely spent an hour, but some of the important life lessons we learnt will stay with us forever. For instance, their curiosity to explore and celebrate small joys of life is quite contagious, be it playing cricket or trying a new gadget that can assist them in their daily chores. </p><p>They seldom shy away from seeking help as they believe in facing life’s challenges instead of avoiding them. Their uncanny knack of using their strengths instead of bemoaning their shortcomings is a valuable lesson in trading expectations for acceptance. Last but certainly not the least is what Helen Keller has beautifully summed up: ‘You will succeed if you persevere, and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles.’</p>.<p>Over the years, I have noticed that most of the visually impaired people deftly embrace positivity and patience in realising their dream. While Maruti excels in penning short stories and poems in Kannada, a 6th standard girl amazed us with her talent in mental math and singing. Navigating life is undoubtedly very tough, especially in a world that lacks inclusive practices, but in many ways, they are conveying Helen Keller’s pearls of wisdom to us: ‘All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming’.</p>
