A Message of Hope

August 18th, 2023

“It’s truly wonderful to work on yourself. The results are truly remarkable and beautiful.” These were some of Kathy’s words to me when we met. I will start with these words as they can give you a glimpse of Kathy’s amazing attitude and outlook on life.
During our lengthy conversation, Kathy shared her fulfilling life journey, and I felt as though I had travelled the world; witnessing breathtaking sceneries and thrilling adventures, filled with strength and power. Through Kathy’s eyes, I experienced a world of resilience, appreciation, and gratitude.

How it all started
“My story began in high school, where I faced a challenge with my eyesight. Unknowingly, I started copying equations and other data incorrectly, resulting in poor grades, and finally in failing my year. I was quite upset with myself, having always been an excellent student, especially in sciences. I had high hopes for my future as a pediatrician. Furthermore, my family was highly disappointed in me. At that time, I decided to keep my vision problem to myself, not wanting to burden my loved ones with my struggles.”
“I was an intelligent, beautiful girl. I had been taking driving lessons and I loved cooking, especially desserts, which I had started making since I was 11 years old. Additionally, I used to be of great help to my mother at home.
Today, I look back fondly on this period of my life when I was interested in everything and dedicated to everything: my studies, cooking, and driving. This period was very useful for me in the years that followed.

“What I was actually experiencing was severe dryness in my eyes. My case involved the gradual loss of vision, and that gradual decline actually helped me come to terms with what was happening and arrive to where I am today in my life, given that I can only see profiles and blurry shapes, but no details whatsoever.
“It was extremely difficult for me at the beginning, as I had many dreams that seemed to have been shattered. I rebelled against my circumstances and embarked on a journey of self-improvement to reach where I am today. I challenged myself immensely. ⇒ Initially, I stayed at home and took care of household chores, I cleaned everything, redid the curtains, and more. To my surprise, the neighbors couldn’t believe that I had a vision problem, seeing everything that I was capable of.

“One day, my brother-in-law advised me to continue my education at the Lebanese School for the Blind and the Deaf. When I arrived, I noticed that there were individuals with varying degrees of vision loss, just like my future husband and his siblings. Despite their different abilities, they all helped each other, creating a supportive and inclusive environment. Observing these individuals taught me to be strong and determined in facing obstacles. ⇒ I began learning to use a typewriter and the Braille language. My teacher was surprised at how quickly I mastered Braille letters and encouraged me to utilize my abilities to their full potential and contribute to society. His words resonated with me, and I made a commitment to continue my studies. ⇒ I passed the baccalaureate brilliantly, surprising everyone around me! With a university scholarship to study journalism, I decided to pursue my passion for psychology instead. Eventually, I obtained my master’s degree in psychology, and while I had aspirations for a doctorate, I decided to take a little rest.”

The second part
“I met my husband, Muhammad, at school and we fell in love. Though he had already started working, he decided to pursue the baccalaureate with me. Despite being of another religion, his openness and understanding have been essential in making our relationship work. From the beginning, I let him know the importance of faith in my life, and it continues to play a significant role even today. We hold hands every day before eating, share a few words of prayer and a kiss, and then begin our meal.

“After getting married, we lived in the South, where educational opportunities were limited. As someone with a degree in psychology and a passion for challenges, I took up the task of teaching local children at the request of some parents. And I challenged myself again. Starting with one student, I gradually extended and successfully taught several, helping them pass the Brevet exams. I am someone who really likes challenges and challenging myself. ⇒ And then I turned to teaching for the Baccalaureate level as well! To this day, parents of students I have taught reach out to me and express their gratitude.

“When we returned to Beirut, we rented an apartment close to my parents’ house, enjoying the opportunity to be near them and visit them daily. I am grateful to God for the grace of having my parents still with us. I make it a point to spend time with 74-year-old mother on a daily basis and help her with household chores. I even help her with tasks like cleaning the windows.

“My day begins at 5am. I manage all the tasks at home without any help. Our home is clean and in order. I have challenged myself and practiced my skills, knowing that I will eventually go blind. ⇒ To prepare for this, I practiced doing things with my eyes closed: forcing myself to focus and memorize the steps involved in various activities.

“I mentioned that I have a passion for cooking. If someone presented me with a good recipe that is considered exceptionally challenging, and they suggest that I shouldn’t attempt to make it, it fuels my determination to try it. I rebel and refuse to accept limitations: ⇒ I challenge myself and repeatedly attempt until I succeed.
Recently, I was entrusted with preparing food for a reception held among friends at work. It was an opportunity to show my culinary expertise.

“This approach of tackling challenges and seeking self-improvement extends to all aspects of my life. If someone was to point out a mistake in me, I take it upon myself to assess the situation. If they are right, even in part, I don’t shy away from the truth. I make it my priority to work on my shortcomings and ensure that my personal growth. I do not accept to have anything wrong within myself ⇒ I strive to fix it.”

Today
“I am grateful of the life I have.
My husband works in the manufacture of straw baskets at the school for the blind and I work in the public sector. My husband has had cataract since childhood, and despite numerous surgeries, his ability to see has not improved; on the contrary, he faces further challenges. He can see but can’t drive and needs to sit close to the television when watching something, like a match, to see the ball.

“Mohammad and I have also had our problems. While we had hoped for children, it seems that it is not in God’s plan for us. ⇒ Despite this challenge, I have worked hard to improve and overcome this. Although difficulties arise in our life, we cherish living in peace and security at home, where we often sing and dance together; we have great voices. Mohammad skillfully plays the tambourine (derbakke), and we were once members of a choir called Layalel al Charek, and he also teaches the tambourine.

“Before, with Mohammad’s salary, we managed to cover our rent, electricity, generator fees, and water bills, while my salary supported our daily expenses and allowed us to save some money. However, our landlord decided to raise the rent and threatened to evict us. Fortunately, through the help we received, we were able to pay rent for the next nine months and stay in our home.

Even in my workplace, I encountered challenges, but I managed to make significant progress in my career. I had to put in a lot of effort.

It is regrettable you did not continue pursuing psychology as a career. “Even if I had, I suspect that society might not have fully accepted me as a psychologist due to my visual impairment. This thought saddens me because personal growth and continuous learning are important to me. Recently, I participated in a graduation ceremony at USJ, where I took various courses, including computer skills, sports, and mental health. Last year, I focused on improving my English writing.

“I have honed my ability to concentrate deeply on multiple tasks simultaneously. Knowing that my vision would continue to deteriorate, I made a conscious effort to train myself and improve my concentration abilities.”

My Message:
“Nothing lasts forever; even in the face of enormous pressure and challenges, we must hold on to the idea that this too shall eventually pass.

“For blind individuals, self-acceptance is crucial. Support from parents is essential in this process.
Moreover, every person faces their unique challenges, not just related to disabilities like blindness or deafness. Life is filled with various adventures and disasters that can strike unexpectedly, such as not being able to have children, the loss of a loved one, or struggling with self-esteem. However, in every problem, there can be a positive aspect, and it is important to recognize this.

“Personally, when faced with challenges, like the rent issue, I initially felt anger and sadness, but I reminded myself to rebel (intefed); stand tall, and find a solution. It’s similar to slipping and getting covered in sand; you shake it off and keep moving forward as if nothing happened.
Life is a journey with its ups and downs, and we all stumble and fall sometimes. The key is to remember that losing a battle doesn’t mean losing a war. Whenever I fall, I make sure to pick myself up and continue. Life goes on, whether or not I am ready for it, so I choose to face it head-on and embrace the challenges. No matter what life throws our way, we must rise again, brush off the setbacks, and continue our journey with strength and determination.”

Kathy and Mohammad, throughout their relationship, understood that their fight was not against each other but rather together, against the challenges that life placed before them. There are so many lessons to draw from these two remarkable human beings.

Kathy teaches us that resilience is not fueled by hate or vengeance towards life or others, but rather by accepting the situation while refusing to give up or surrender. It is an ongoing personal struggle and journey of self-improvement to evolve and become a better version of oneself. Alongside resilience, gratitude for what we have plays a crucial role in overcoming obstacles and also appreciating our achievements every step of the way is very important. It is this mindset that empowers and strengthens our resilience. Kathy’s example is a truly inspiring model for those seeking well-being: the embodiment of resilience, appreciation, and gratitude.

For me personally, spending time with Kathy and listening to her has been an enlightening and continuous learning experience. The impact she has had on me, the strength she has shared, and the feeling of gratitude she emanates have brought about a profound change in me.

Kathy, your resilience, energy, positivity, constant smile, and gratitude are all CONTAGIOUS. While ‘contagious’ often carries negative connotations like suspicion, hatred, fear, viruses, and contamination, we tend to forget that positive energy, like resilience and gratitude, holds even more power and is even more transferable. One or a few individuals can spark an amazing chain of positive impact and well-being. This is indeed a strong message of hope.

Kathy, you have taken me on a beautiful journey, and I am now carrying a treasure trove of well-being wisdom. I wish I could convince you to visit universities, companies, and meet as many people as possible to share and spread your extraordinary attitude.

Kathy, you can make a real difference in this world.