Macular Degeneration: Focus Fuels Freedom

by Nancy Shugart

Macular Degeneration, as well as many other eye conditions, can result in vision loss. Losing eyesight is one of the most feared disabilities. Many associate visual impairment with loss of freedom or independence. However, is there really anything to support these fears?

After I lost my sight at age eight, I went through many phases beginning in my teenage years from anger to hopelessness to just not caring about anything.

I can say that each phase was rooted in fear. I was afraid of the unknown. What would now happen to my life? What would I be able to do? Would I lose my friends? Would I have to lose my dreams for my life?

The theme throughout each of these phases was what I was focusing on. I was focusing on what I had lost rather than on the goals and dreams for my life.

Henry Ford once said, "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

The anger, hopelessness, and attitude of not caring lasted about three years. But once I began to take my focus off of my loss of sight and put my focus on where I wanted to go and on what I wanted to do with my life, my whole world began to change.

My eyesight did not change. No, that remained the same. All that changed was my focus.

I began to focus on the dream I had for my life, that of becoming a teacher. I had carried this dream with me ever since I was five years old.

I did achieve that dream. I have achieved many more dreams and goals since retiring from my 21-year teaching career.

You can only see the obstacles when you take your eyes off of your goals.

What are your dreams and goals? What have you been focusing on? If you or a loved one has been focusing on loss of sight then it's time to change the focus. It's time to smile again. It's time to celebrate.

Focus on where you are going, not on what you are leaving. Find something that you love to do and focus on that.

Focus on the tremendous gifts and talents and abilities that you possess. Then get started. You have an exciting life to live. Now get moving!