The day after Thanksgiving and through the weekend, all over the U.S. 147 million shoppers are expected to visit stores and shop online...
This is according to a preliminary Black Friday shopping survey put out by the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Black Friday, the name given to the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, is traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Since 2005 it has been the busiest shopping day of the year.
The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia around 1966, where it originally described the heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic which occurred the day after Thanksgiving. In 1975, the term spread outside of Philadelphia with a different explanation: the period during which retailers are turning a profit or become "in the black."
That is pretty cool information; 147 million people were shopping that day, Wow!
With the Holiday season being such a busy time of year, I think it is the most important time to not lose focus on taking care of you. Yes shopping main purpose is to buy gifts for family and friends, but it can also become a check off the list time; one less person to buy for. The time and effort put into this amazes me. People are willing to go to any length to get items on sale and to get the perfect gift. And the STRESS!
What do I mean by taking care of self? Yes you guessed it; this is the time of year to be selfish. I am only kidding, they say it is the time of giving, but I see it more as a time of stressfulness, to get everything done. Everything? Really? Something I have been doing for a while really works and not only in the Holiday Season.
Upon awakening, take some time to think about your day ahead. Where are you going? What people are you going to be around? Are you clear on your purpose for that day? Will you be adding to the stream of life? Since this is a time of giving it most certainly does not need to be material. Something I ask myself before I enter meetings, presentations, and working with the public is, what can I bring to this situation that will make it better for all involved?
For years I woke up late, jumped out of bed and rushed around the house to get ready for work. Eat breakfast, the most important meal of the day, no way which takes too much time. My kids were young at this time, but please do not ask me too many questions in the morning I am already behind and if you did I was unable to give a well thought out answer and it really just irritated me. See my motives were all about me, I have a lot going on, I am running late, can’t this wait, and the list goes on. These days made for a difficult start to my day and I rarely thought how I can be of service. The sad part is that I did not even see that I was this way. Thankfully today I am awake and able to live my life, not have life live me anymore.
For me this is the time of year to be of maximum service and to keep an eye out for those in need. And remember the more you give the more you get. Now that was not a formula I understood until I put it into practice and experienced the rewards over and over.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Take charge of your life or not, your choice
Take charge of your life or not, your choice
Take charge of your life or not, your choice
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to do the closing keynote address to a group of visually impaired students and their parents at an event hosted by the Connecticut Board of Education and Services for the Blind. What excited me most about this was how many were in attendance and how eager they all were to learn more on how to live life to the fullest. Throughout my talk I reminded them that how they live their life is up to them; not their parents, teachers, or the agency for the blind.
The majority of the students were of high school age. That’s a difficult time for anyone, and having a vision impairment doesn’t make it any easier.
The topic of my talk was to take charge of your life. The first step in making that happen is to take responsibility and I mean 100% responsibility. It is not always easy to do, but a must if you want to live a life free of blame, resentment, and rationalizing your decisions. I reminded the students to look in the mirror and that is the only person to blame if they are not happy with their life. We are the only people who can change ourselves and how we perceive who we are.
For years I blamed my parents, my teachers, and my (insert any name here). I would walk around and say, “Well I had to do this” or “I have to live like this, because I am legally blind” - that is a bunch of crap. This mindset only builds the victim mentality and people then fall into the entitlement mindset.
Nice try, my life is not easier because I have been legally blind since age thirteen. I did not receive an easy pass because I have extra struggles. No, I get the same opportunity to make life what I choose on a daily basis and today I choose to believe in myself and operate out of an “I can” attitude.
If you have a plan, a vision of success and work towards that, then you are on your way to living the life of your dreams.
This works for anyone and the biggest problem I see is that most people are not operating out of their vision; they are letting life live them. I remember those days!!!!!! Blind or not we all have vision.
Take charge of your life or not, your choice
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to do the closing keynote address to a group of visually impaired students and their parents at an event hosted by the Connecticut Board of Education and Services for the Blind. What excited me most about this was how many were in attendance and how eager they all were to learn more on how to live life to the fullest. Throughout my talk I reminded them that how they live their life is up to them; not their parents, teachers, or the agency for the blind.
The majority of the students were of high school age. That’s a difficult time for anyone, and having a vision impairment doesn’t make it any easier.
The topic of my talk was to take charge of your life. The first step in making that happen is to take responsibility and I mean 100% responsibility. It is not always easy to do, but a must if you want to live a life free of blame, resentment, and rationalizing your decisions. I reminded the students to look in the mirror and that is the only person to blame if they are not happy with their life. We are the only people who can change ourselves and how we perceive who we are.
For years I blamed my parents, my teachers, and my (insert any name here). I would walk around and say, “Well I had to do this” or “I have to live like this, because I am legally blind” - that is a bunch of crap. This mindset only builds the victim mentality and people then fall into the entitlement mindset.
Nice try, my life is not easier because I have been legally blind since age thirteen. I did not receive an easy pass because I have extra struggles. No, I get the same opportunity to make life what I choose on a daily basis and today I choose to believe in myself and operate out of an “I can” attitude.
If you have a plan, a vision of success and work towards that, then you are on your way to living the life of your dreams.
This works for anyone and the biggest problem I see is that most people are not operating out of their vision; they are letting life live them. I remember those days!!!!!! Blind or not we all have vision.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The White Cane
A white cane is the universal symbol of blindness or vision impairment. When you find out that someone is legally blind, you most likely will assume that they use a cane; however, you may not know why they’re using a cane and how it helps the individual.
Most blind people are misunderstood because the people around them are misinformed about what this cane actually does for the user.
There are several different types of canes, they mostly differ by how length, kind of tip they have and if they are collapsible or not.
The height of the person determines how long the cane must be and the cane tip is what gives the feedback to the user. There are many different types of tips: marshmallow, pencil, metal or plastic. Each create a different experience for the user and it is personal preference as to which one works best. Marshmallow tips are round and plastic; these tips glide easier on services but give less feedback to the user. Pencil tips can be plastic or metal and give much more feedback due to the smaller tip size the user knows where practically every little nook and cranny is.
Decided to use a collapsible cane also personal preference, although individuals with complete blindness usually prefer non-foldable canes since it gives a lot more feedback compared to the collapsible, because the vibration is not muffled among the joints of the cane
The visually impaired individual would most likely prefer the collapsible cane because they might not need to use it all the time and it can be folded into a small confined package that is easier to store and carry around. The loss of feedback will not affect the user as much because they still have some residual vision to rely on.
Feedback is the vibration the cane gives off when it scrapes along the surface allowing the user to identify what type of surface are they on as well letting the user know if there is anything in front of them. The cane acts as a buffer for the user.
Now you have a better understanding of how the cane helps the blind and visually impaired. Remember to ask the individual if they need help, do not just grab their arm, you may startle them – remember they can’t see you coming. Imagine yourself in their position, you wouldn’t want someone to just take hold of you and go. Also, the blind and visually impaired can be very independent. If they need help, they will ask.
At Vision Dynamics we carry several different sizes and types of white canes, as well as replacement tips to fit any preference. We also provide tips and information on cane use and suggestions for what type may work best for you.
Most blind people are misunderstood because the people around them are misinformed about what this cane actually does for the user.
There are several different types of canes, they mostly differ by how length, kind of tip they have and if they are collapsible or not.
The height of the person determines how long the cane must be and the cane tip is what gives the feedback to the user. There are many different types of tips: marshmallow, pencil, metal or plastic. Each create a different experience for the user and it is personal preference as to which one works best. Marshmallow tips are round and plastic; these tips glide easier on services but give less feedback to the user. Pencil tips can be plastic or metal and give much more feedback due to the smaller tip size the user knows where practically every little nook and cranny is.
Decided to use a collapsible cane also personal preference, although individuals with complete blindness usually prefer non-foldable canes since it gives a lot more feedback compared to the collapsible, because the vibration is not muffled among the joints of the cane
The visually impaired individual would most likely prefer the collapsible cane because they might not need to use it all the time and it can be folded into a small confined package that is easier to store and carry around. The loss of feedback will not affect the user as much because they still have some residual vision to rely on.
Feedback is the vibration the cane gives off when it scrapes along the surface allowing the user to identify what type of surface are they on as well letting the user know if there is anything in front of them. The cane acts as a buffer for the user.
Now you have a better understanding of how the cane helps the blind and visually impaired. Remember to ask the individual if they need help, do not just grab their arm, you may startle them – remember they can’t see you coming. Imagine yourself in their position, you wouldn’t want someone to just take hold of you and go. Also, the blind and visually impaired can be very independent. If they need help, they will ask.
At Vision Dynamics we carry several different sizes and types of white canes, as well as replacement tips to fit any preference. We also provide tips and information on cane use and suggestions for what type may work best for you.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Vision Dynamics Youtube Channal
If you ever thought about bringing your loved one or one of your parents to our store but are hesitating because you have no idea what to expect, check out our introduction videos on YouTube. You will be shown around the store and shown how the products we carry help individuals with vision impairments and blindness to live more independent lives.
When you purchase from Vision Dynamics we make sure that you know exactly what you’re buying and how to operate it. We do our best to go over everything, and cover every single aspect that we can. We do all this before you leave the store so you know exactly what you’re investing in.
We also know that when you get a product home you may still have questions, and that’s okay! We encourage our customers to contact us for support. Our trained staff is available for free phone support to our customers during business hours. If you feel you need more training on a product, Vision Dynamics also offers individualized training on adaptive technology and computer software.
In addition to our phone support we have created the Vision Dynamics YouTube channel. This is the place where you can find informative content on our most popular products such as our video magnifiers or OCR products. These videos will take you step by step how to set-up, troubleshoot and operate your new product.
From how to videos to testimonials, we even have information about the store, our videos show you every single aspect of each item. Each one of the videos are worded and explained in simple easy to understand terms, the same way as if you were in the store with us.
Our testimonials are real costumers’ that explain how we wore able to provide them with the tools they need to live a normal and independent life. It’s always better to hear from another customer how these products changed their life and how they can benefit you as well.
If you’re thinking about taking a trip to the store, but want more information first. Visit our website and our YouTube channel for more information, videos and much more information! Our website is www.VisionDynamics.com and our YouTube Channel
When you purchase from Vision Dynamics we make sure that you know exactly what you’re buying and how to operate it. We do our best to go over everything, and cover every single aspect that we can. We do all this before you leave the store so you know exactly what you’re investing in.
We also know that when you get a product home you may still have questions, and that’s okay! We encourage our customers to contact us for support. Our trained staff is available for free phone support to our customers during business hours. If you feel you need more training on a product, Vision Dynamics also offers individualized training on adaptive technology and computer software.
In addition to our phone support we have created the Vision Dynamics YouTube channel. This is the place where you can find informative content on our most popular products such as our video magnifiers or OCR products. These videos will take you step by step how to set-up, troubleshoot and operate your new product.
From how to videos to testimonials, we even have information about the store, our videos show you every single aspect of each item. Each one of the videos are worded and explained in simple easy to understand terms, the same way as if you were in the store with us.
Our testimonials are real costumers’ that explain how we wore able to provide them with the tools they need to live a normal and independent life. It’s always better to hear from another customer how these products changed their life and how they can benefit you as well.
If you’re thinking about taking a trip to the store, but want more information first. Visit our website and our YouTube channel for more information, videos and much more information! Our website is www.VisionDynamics.com and our YouTube Channel
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Sunglasses for the Visually Impaired
If you have an eye condition, especially if you have macular degeneration, the importance of wearing sunglasses is crucial and should never be forgotten. Good-quality eyewear can provide you with protection for your eyes and help to improve contrast. Sunglasses protect your eyes from low-hanging branches that you just might not see and to protect your eyes from harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays from the sun. Everyone is aware that UV rays are a major contributing factor to such things as melanoma or other skin cancers. We are told that wearing proper clothing and using sunscreen protects you from these harmful UV rays, but it is almost never mentioned that your eyes are affected as well. Those same UV rays are incredibly harmful for your eyes and contribute to an increased chance of macular degeneration and also can speed development of macular. UV rays are the most harmful to your eyes and it is important to protect them to keep your eyes healthy. Sunglasses can help your eyes maintain vision, heighten contrast, and protect your eyes and eyesight.
Sunglasses come in a wide variety of lens colors, from yellow and ambers to grays and greens. All are designed to help improve contrast to see those hard to see curbs and fade corners, or anything that you might experience trouble with and protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. Vision Dynamics offers many different styles, shades and options of sunglasses. Contact us today to learn more and take the step to properly protect your eyes!
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