Taken for Granted

When someone is asked, "What do you do for fun?" The most common replies are watching movies, reading, listening to music, singing, dancing, eating, playing football, basketball, baseball, etc. Completely ordinary. Well, it is completely ordinary to us, but what about people who are not as fortunate?

There is a rather popular question that people of all ages like to ask each other: If you had to lose any one of your senses, which would it be? I have never met anyone who could answer quickly. Even when an answer is given, there is always something that can change their mind.

Sight. Then you can’t watch movies or TV, read, or play sports…

Sound. Then you can’t listen to music, sing, or even talk!

Smell. Then you wouldn’t be able to taste food as well or smell flowers and candles…

Taste. Then you definitely wouldn’t be able to enjoy food!

Touch. Then you wouldn’t notice when you hit something. That could be harmful…

            At this point, most people have given up, and say that they cannot decide. Besides, it does not matter; they have all five senses so they do not have to worry about it.
            Ignorance. That is what this is. Pure ignorance. There are countless numbers of people in this world that have lost a sense. They did not have a choice, and they must learn to compensate for what they have lost.
           
            The most famous person to lose her senses is Helen Keller. When she was merely 19 months old, she was struck with scarlet fever and lost not one, but two of her senses: sight and sound. Amazingly, with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she mastered her disabilities, and triumphed in the strict, complex world of education. This article gives an account of her struggles as well as successes.
            “She really wanted to go Harvard, which would not consider her.” – She was not even considered. If she did not have her disabilities, she would have at least had a chance! “A few years earlier, Keller had discovered that she could write effectively and she pursued that calling, undaunted by an early incident in which her powerful memory entangled her in involuntary plagiarism.” – Helen was obviously incredibly gifted, but because she was simply unaware, she committed a crime.
            Unfortunately, there are not many people as talented as Helen Keller. There are not many who would be able to survive in a world of “blank solitude.” Most people would, in fact, be completely helpless. We are unquestionably blessed to have what we have, and this is something that should never be forgotten.

--Marie