Amp It Up!

The Possibility of Hearing After Being Deaf All Your Life

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:53:13 -0700

I just watched a documentary about a long-married couple, who, having both been deaf since birth, decided to get cochlear implants at the age of 65.

Talk about amplifying possibility into reality.

The husband adapted more readily than the wife, primarily because he was less attached to the outcome. He thought, what have a I got to lose? I can always go back to being deaf.

His wife had higher expectations. She wanted to understand everything she heard right away. She thought if she turned up her implant all the way, somehow the sounds she was hearing would make sense to her.

Instead, they just gave her a headache.

A year after having the implants, both of them had figured out the role they wanted sound to play in their lives. They had unraveled some of its mysteries, and they had discarded some of its features.

But mostly, they had learned how to support each other through the process. They paced each other so that neither would get left behind.

Ultimately, these are the lessons we learn when we try something new. And our attachment or detachment from the end result will make the process easier or harder for us.

What I learned from watching this documentary is that if you want to make significant change in your life--if you want the possibility of hearing after being deaf your whole life--then you must take a risk; you must accept and weather it's consequences; and you must let go of your expectations and let the universe do its work.

And it doesn't hurt to have someone who loves you nearby.

Love and possibility! --Kim

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Half Marathon Results

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:32:28 -0800

Well, my friends, I did it! Yesterday I ran 13.1 miles in 2:11:49, just a smidge over 10 minutes per mile. I LOVED it! One thing that really contributed to my joy at this event was the companionship of my boyfriend, Michael. We made an agreement before we ran that we would only run the event as fast as the slowest runner. So, he stayed back with me in the front of the race (I was holding my pace down on purpose), and then I stayed back with him in the back of the race (his knee was on fire). It was so wonderful to be part of a team! We watched the sun rise over the Fort Lauderdale beach, and it was gorgeous. It was freezing cold (well, for South Florida, and for people in running shorts) in the dark morning hour before the race, but we warmed right up after a mile or so. Runners began to shed pieces of clothing as they warmed up, anybody out there could have put together a fabulous t-shirt collection by picking up the discards. At the 10th mile, a rain storm that had threatened the whole race finally let loose, pouring freezing cold rain on us and blowing a cold wind up our shorts. But I was still smiling! At the finish line, it was a relief to line up to get our legs rubbed by professional masseurs.

So now--on to the marathon! Considering an October event in Lowell, Massachusetts...could combine a changing-of-the-leaves tour with the run.

My feet do hurt, but not as badly as I thought they might. Maybe they're getting used to it. I certainly hope that's the case, because I have miles to go before I'm through!

Wishing you success in your next big risk-taking adventure, and think about who your support team should be!--K.

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Your Possibility Team

nobody@vox.com(Amp It Up!) — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:22:55 -0800

Have you thought about the team you have constructed to help you make your dreams come true? Watch this video to find out about some teams you might not have thought of, but which are all critical to your success.

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