Thursday, January 9, 2025: 5:02 PM: As a blind individual, navigating social interactions can be rather interesting at times, to say the least. There are certainly challenges, but there's also a world of rich, meaningful connections waiting to be discovered for anyone who actually has the balls to get close to someone like me, rather than keeping us at arms-length. Funnily enough though, “There are a lot of ballless people out there!”

Having once had eyesight myself long ago, I’m fully aware that when sighted individuals enter a room, they naturally gravitate towards visual cues to gauge the atmosphere, recognize faces, or determine where to sit. But for a blind person, these cues are absent. So, what do we do? We rely on other senses and strategies. The texture of someone's voice, the cadence of their speech, or a simple brief handshake can tell us more than any visual impression a sighted person gets ever could. Being able to perceive things in this way is actually pretty cool, “Not to mention quite handy!”

Naturally, like with all people, conversations are at the heart of our social world. But, while sighted people might catch a friend’s eye across a crowded room, we simply capitalize on our acquired ability to tune in to the sounds around us. The differences in the way some people walk, laugh, or other physicality’s conveyed by sound all factor in when identifying and connecting with those around us. Each voice is a beacon in our auditory landscape, guiding us through the maze of social interaction. It’s really not rocket science, “Or anywhere near the realm of the supernatural!”

During social interactions with individuals or by simply observing groups via the art of active listening, we tend to pick up on nuances that might go unnoticed by others. This makes our conversations more engaging and meaningful, allowing for deeper connections. “Having this skillset is also damn helpful for avoiding full-on riots at times!”

Some of us blind individuals have also developed a strong sense of spatial awareness. We might not see the room, but we feel it. In fact, when given the opportunity without sighted people meddling in our affairs, we kind of become one with it in a way. It becomes an extension of us. Like everyone else, we memorize the layout, creating a mental map that helps us navigate and engage without hesitation. For us though, it’s more of a spatial intuition, which extends to social situations, too. We sense when someone is near, when a conversation is about to shift, or when it’s time to leave. “Picking up on vibes really is a thing!”

Adapting to our environment is usually the easy part for highly efficient and independent folks like me. However, in our woke society, mutual understanding seems to be sorely lacking, “Even amongst the so-called progressives in the crowd!”

The woke amongst us can go on and on about the Me-Too movement and stuff like how Black Lives Matter, using all the right buzzwords and phrases. But when a woke person comes face to face with a blind person in any setting, they tend to reveal what bigots they really are. “And it really doesn’t have to be that way!”

If people would just pull their heads out of their asses, they would realize that they could make interactions smoother for all parties concerned by using a little common sense. Being descriptive, for example. When assisting with directions (usually upon request), instead of saying, “over there,” you could specify, “on your left.” Simple descriptions and other common sense universal behaviors can bridge the gap between our worlds, making communication more fluid and natural.

Like you, our social lives are enriched by technology too. Screen readers, voice commands, and other assistive devices keep us connected. Social media, podcasts, and messaging apps are just as much a part of our lives as they are for the sighted. These tools empower us to maintain relationships, share experiences, and participate fully in the social fabric of our communities.

So, while the social interactions of blind people may differ from those of sighted individuals in some small and subtle ways, they are no less vibrant or meaningful. “We are no less vibrant and meaningful!”

Therefore, by embracing our slightly unique methods of connection, we not only navigate the world with confidence but also offer a fresh perspective on the beauty of human interaction. But, until mainstream American society willingly grasps this concept, a few gifted individuals like me will cleverly assimilate you into our worlds, more than likely without you even realizing it has happened, “Should we choose you!”

Posting that's a little off the trolley at times... Brian is a single Newtonian Gardens Apartments resident, Self-Publishing Author, cPanel WordPress Web Host and Windows 11 powered computer tech. He’s a musician, sailor, hiker, cycler and some women would say, “Magical, too!”