Deaf-initly Boleh!

You start to realise how fortunate you are when you're surrounded by people who are otherwise. Recall one of the questions which was once put to me, if I had to give up one of my senses, which one would it be.

"My sense of hearing."

This couldn't have come to me stronger anywhere else, but at the Deaf-initely Boleh Carnival, a deaf awareness carnival held at the National Library over the weekend. Started off to help my cousin cos she was short of volunteers to help out, got Xiaobai in, and off we went to the carnival early Saturday and Sunday morning when everyone else was in bed.

We had to constantly remind ourselves not to succumb to the temptation of Macdonald's breakfasts, lazing in bed, or just chilling somewhere. Boy, it was tough!

These people are amazing, yet underestimated and belittled.

They can do so much more than you, me or anyone else can, purely cos of the drive in them and they know how not to take things they have for granted. They count every single blessing with much joy and enthusiasm, it makes you think they could be fortunate for their loss.

Them, being so comfortable and accepting of themselves, simply puts us to shame, makes us feel handicapped. Here we are, perfectly fine, complaining about phones ringing constantly, boring music, lousy singing, when they, for one, cannot hear.

They do lead ordinary lives which are far more extraordinary. They seek satisfaction, fulfillment, emotionally, instead of focusing on the materials. These are things that you can bring along with you down the years. Not your designation. Not your worldly possessions.

"Treat your child as a child with a handicap. Not as a handicapped child. Love him/her first as a child, then accept and help them with their handicap."

Not pining the words to that of what I heard, but the gist lies there.

There are lawyers, regional managers, assistant managers, teachers in there. Coming down to it, even you and I may not have that capability to reach that level. Their achievements are commitments they put themselves to, driving themselves to achieve because they know they can. Not because they seek to compete.

We stepped in not knowing what to expect and what was expected of us.

We stepped out, with a bigger heart and a bounce in our steps.

I'm glad I went and stayed on.

They are deaf, they can't hear, but they can listen. Not through voices of you and I, but through your body language and unsaid thoughts - what you and I always neglect through said communication.

Impossible is nothing and silence may just cut through more boundaries than words of nothingness...