{"id":201,"date":"2012-07-15T02:45:31","date_gmt":"2012-07-15T02:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jeffthompson61.wordpress.com\/?p=191"},"modified":"2012-07-15T02:45:31","modified_gmt":"2012-07-15T02:45:31","slug":"191","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=201","title":{"rendered":"Shoes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Shoes<\/p>\n<p>I will never know what it is like to wear the shoes of a black man in a small white town. To wear the shoes of a Japanese in California in 1941, that too, I\u2019ll never know. I\u2019ll never really know what different shoes would bring me nor different times would show me but I do know my own shoes I fill and I fill them well. Being blind or Visually Impaired comes with it something I never ever knew and I could never ever compare it to some other shoes. But my shoes, I know all too well. And, in them I come to find a new me who you see through nothing but my shoes. No pity I beg of you, I am no different than before these shoes came true. I am still me, still the same, older, growing and changing as you do to. Woes me I beg, not from me. For what I can not see I am blind to but for what you don\u2019t understand you, too, are blind to. One moment on a bus seat, next to me, one conversation 16 blocks long, and the world can change for one, one at a time. Some take only 3 blocks long, some never get off the bus. If all was well in blindville, I\u2019d for ever never need to write no more. But, behind the curtain, behind the shades, perception changes instantly and forever. I\u2019m here for the long term and hopefully, I\u2019m only about a 7 block long bus ride. I hope you get it. Enjoy the ride. All aboard! Oh, by the way, Nice shoes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shoes I will never know what it is like to wear the shoes of a black man in a small white town. To wear the shoes of a Japanese in California in 1941, that too, I\u2019ll never know. I\u2019ll never really know what different shoes would bring me nor different times would show me but [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17],"tags":[176,177,46,175],"class_list":["post-201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bapresents","tag-jeff-thompson","tag-sight","tag-vision","tag-visually-impaired"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s6rcRg-191","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":202,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=202","url_meta":{"origin":201,"position":0},"title":"Accepting My Blindness","author":"blind Abilities","date":"July 15, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"A blog post created for BeautifullyBlind.com Accepting My Blindness As I pass through so many worlds, so many lives each day, I wish my Scarlet Letter was not my defining impression. My blindness does not define me. And to those who don\u2019t understand I begin to write\u2026 If I never\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9455,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9455","url_meta":{"origin":201,"position":1},"title":"Wellness Wednesday: Self-Esteem vs. Self-Confidence \u2014 And Yes, Those Are Cute Shoes","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 11, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"Podcast Summary: What\u2019s the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence\u2014and why does something as simple as a pair of shoes sometimes spark the conversation? In this Wellness Wednesday episode, Beth, Robin, and Jeff explore how the way we present ourselves can shape how we feel on the inside. From compliments and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Personal Care&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Personal Care","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4434,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4434","url_meta":{"origin":201,"position":2},"title":"Tips and Tricks From a Blind Perspective &#8211; By Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"My last Tips and Tricks blog seemed to go over very well. I received a few emails from other blind individuals sharing their own helpful pointers. So, today I would like to share tips I received from readers, as well as a few more of my own.\u00a0 Let\u2019s start in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3329,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=3329","url_meta":{"origin":201,"position":3},"title":"Syrup Isn&#8217;t Lemmon Juice: Finding Bottle Labels With Various Free Apps #TapTapSee #BeSpecular #SeeingAI #BeMyEyes","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"February 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Syrup Isn't Lemmon Juice: Finding Bottle Labels With Various Free Apps #TapTapSee #BeSpecular #SeeingAI #BeMyEyes By Jessica Hodges Pecan pie is delicious, the day is young, and my oven is hot. Music is playing, and the filling for my pie is almost done. I am content. Then I taste the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Apps for Students&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Apps for Students","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=497"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5055,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=5055","url_meta":{"origin":201,"position":4},"title":"What Makes a Disability? A Blog Posts by Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"May 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of disability isa physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person's ability to engage in certain tasks or actions or participate in typical daily activities and interactions. And according to the Oxford English dictionary, a disability is: a physical\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4131,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4131","url_meta":{"origin":201,"position":5},"title":"TVI Toolbox: A Conversation with Keith Ford l- Retired Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired and  Orientation and Mobility Instructor (Transcript Provided)","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"December 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Show Summary: (Full Transcript Below) Please welcome Teen correspondent, Simon Bonenfant, as he steps into the interviewer role for Blind Abilities. While attending and presenting at the Pennsylvania NFB convention, Simon pulled out his recorder and went to work. Conducting 5 interviews from vendors and presenters. 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