When my children were young, and if they ever complained about something that was not really significant, I would remind them “It Doesn’t Hurt.” They would understand, stop griping and count their blessings.
Their understanding came from an experience I had told them about and they often heard it repeated when I narrated it to others.
In the seventies I visited Berkeley, California, often, to conduct management and human behavior oriented seminars for the Executive Seminar Center, a Federal Government agency. I stayed at the Hotel Durant, a few blocks from the seminar site.
One morning, as I was about to walk from the hotel to the seminar office, I noticed a young man, with a red tipped white cane, standing at the corner. He seemed a little hesitant about crossing the street. I asked him if I could be of help, telling him that I was headed toward Bancroft Way, the main road to campus. He was grateful for the assistance and just as I was about to take him by the hand he told me it would be best if he held me by my elbow as we walked to our destination.
During our fifteen to twenty-minute walk, we had some pleasant conversation. There were the usual questions; he asked about what I did and I asked about his major at the University, etc. In due course, the conversation moved towards his blindness. He enlightened me to the fact that physical handicaps create financial hardships. In his case, among other things, extra funds were needed for readers, for someone to accompany him on any activities after dark, and for a helper in his room, one or two hours a day, to assist him with certain activities others might consider routine. He alluded to the fact that it was very difficult to get competent help and especially so for the blind.
As we were discussing these and other hardships of the blind, he could sense my concern and aching heart. As we approached my destination and were about to part, he turned to me with a big grin and said, “You know Doc, there is one good thing about being blind. There is no pain. It does not hurt.” Even in his physical blindness his soul managed to find a silver lining.
Remember, it does not hurt!
Photo Credits
Silver Linings – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Guest Author Bio
Dr. Maneck S. Wadia
Dr. Maneck S. Wadia of Del Mar, California who has been in USA since the 1950s is an internationally prominent professor, author, speaker and consultant to over 300 organizations & companies here and abroad. He is also a very successful entrepreneur with diversified interests and an author whose books on management are used by over 150 universities worldwide.
He has served as Director of numerous corporations, having been listed in “Who’s Who of Contemporary Authors, American Men of Science, Marquis’ Who’s Who Dictionary of International Biography & Who’s Who in the West. Dr. Wadia is also a Member of the San Diego Symphony Board.
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