Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. Actually it\u2019s a tossup between Christmas and Halloween, but that\u2019s beside the point. It is the holiday season for those of us who celebrate December holidays, and it is one of the busiest times of the year.<\/p>\n
There is tons of shopping to be done; wrapping; Christmas activities; and decorating. And I love every minute of it!<\/p>\n
So, how and why<\/em>would a blind person decorate for the holidays you might ask? I asked myself those same questions when I first went blind. Why would I decorate for Christmas if I couldn\u2019t see how festive it looked? If I can\u2019t see it, what\u2019s the point? Moreover, how would I decorate so that it looked good visually? How would I make sure the ornaments were spaced evenly, and not clustered on the tree? How would I make sure Santa was not hanging lopsided on the wall? There were so many questions I had about how as a blind person I was going to celebrate Christmas. I mean, how was I even going to wrap presents, something that I used to love to do. Sure I could wrap the paper around the gift, but how was I to cut the wrapping paper in the first place?<\/p>\n So, I had a lot of questions, and for a while, I didn\u2019t help decorate, or wrap. When I first went blind, I thought the fun parts of my life were over. I was only twelve though, so I had a life time ahead of me. Well \u2026 it was going to be a long and dismal life if I kept that attitude wasn\u2019t it? Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, so let\u2019s talk about how to overcome some of these seeming setbacks.<\/p>\n One of the very first things I learned about Christmas as a blind individual was how to cut the wrapping paper. This was actually a crucial step for me in adapting to being blind. I mentioned how much I loved wrapping before, so if I could figure that out, what else could I still do? Anyways, I realized that if you fold the wrapping paper where you want to cut it, you can just follow the fold. Scissors sit amazingly between the two sides of the folded paper. It was an easy fix, so what else would I still be able to do if I just used simple adaptations like that?<\/p>\n I could do a lot, and I do even more every year. Last year, I took the tree down by myself and tied the branches together from each row so I wouldn\u2019t have to sort them out this year. I string the lights and garland on the tree by myself, which I really don\u2019t think is any different than the way someone with sight would do it. And the ornaments \u2026 well, I just kind of randomly put them on the tree. One top, one left, one right, one up, one down and so on. Though, this year my son got to help me. Up until now, the ornaments could only be at the top of the tree. Now the good ones are at the top, and the ones my son and cat (yes I said my cat) can play with are at the bottom.<\/p>\n As far as hanging things like Santas, Rudolphs, snowmen, and all the other decorations, my favorite thing to use is push pins. Push pins are the best! I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only one who feels this way. You can put them in the wall, and if you don\u2019t like how it\u2019s hanging or the location, it\u2019s super easy to fix. Just take the pins out and try again. Eventually Santa hangs straight. My walls are gray now though, so apparently it is leaving marks, and the white underneath is visible. It\u2019s not a huge deal though. I just leave them up all year now, which makes decorating extra easy.<\/p>\n One thing I\u2019ve never really done though is to hang lights up on the house. Mostly because I\u2019ve never really been settled in one spot long enough to invest in lights. However, last year I did hang some of the net lights in a tree which was super easy. And they ended up in the shape of a heart, which was an unexpected bonus. Plus, I got to climb a tree, which is always fun!<\/p>\n Anyways, back to my other more important question: Why would I decorate for the holidays? This is something that I needed to figure out for myself before I could even think about decorating. Keeping in mind that I was newly blind, my mind set was that of: I can\u2019t see the decorations like I used to. Was there a point in even trying to be festive?<\/p>\n Yes, turns out that there was. Along with adding holiday cheer, it provided a sense of normalcy to my life. Just because I couldn\u2019t see the tree, or the lights, or the silver bells, doesn\u2019t mean that they weren\u2019t there. I still knew that they were there, could still visualize my environment and enjoy it. It was the smallest step forward to helping my life go back to normal, maybe not the original normal, but a new normal. It was a baby step towards accepting and adapting to my new normal. It opened the door to possibilities that I believed were beyond me. My life wasn\u2019t over because I couldn\u2019t see, it was just different. I needed to start accepting that, and learning how to adapt to my new situation. And here I am today, still loving and enjoying all the festivities around Christmas.<\/p>\n Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!<\/p>\n This is me! Hope you enjoyed the read. I love questions, so if you Thanks<\/p>\n Kelsi<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thank you for listening!<\/p>\n You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities<\/a> Dreaming of a Blind Christmas – By Kelsi Hansen Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. Actually it\u2019s a tossup between Christmas and Halloween, but that\u2019s beside the point. It is the holiday season for those of us who celebrate December holidays, and it is one of the busiest times of the year. There is tons […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"closed","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":[239,495],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-lifeenrichment"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-14I","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5650,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=5650","url_meta":{"origin":4136,"position":0},"title":"Leveling the Playing Field with Darkness and Challenging yourself in Full Sight – Kelsi Hansen Stars in Theater Production of Wait Until Dark.","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Show Summary: Kelsi Hansen is starring in the Waterloo Playhouse Theater production of \u201cWait Until Dark.\u201d She will be playing the part of Susan, a Blind person threatened by a murderous villain. Audrey Hepburn played the part of Susan on the big screen years ago, but a huge difference Kelsey\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BlindAbilities Presents"","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"Poster of Wait Until Dark showing Kelsi Hansen with lit match looking serious.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Poster-of-Wait-Until-Dark-with-Kelsi-Hansen-with-lit-match-looking-serious.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Poster-of-Wait-Until-Dark-with-Kelsi-Hansen-with-lit-match-looking-serious.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Poster-of-Wait-Until-Dark-with-Kelsi-Hansen-with-lit-match-looking-serious.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4062,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4062","url_meta":{"origin":4136,"position":1},"title":"Being a Single Mom Who Also Happens to be Blind – Blog Post by Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"November 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Being a Single Mom Who Also Happens to be Blind By Kelsi Hansen \u00a0 I am Kelsi, and I am a mother. A mother who happens to be single, and a mother who also happens to be blind. But first and foremost, I am a mother. People are constantly praising\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","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":4119,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4119","url_meta":{"origin":4136,"position":2},"title":"Oopsies with Blind Mama — By Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"December 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Oopsies with Blind Mama -- By Kelsi Hansen Being a parent means that your children are going to have oopsies, and some of them will be your fault. Being a blind parent means that more of them will be your fault. Okay, okay \u2026 not necessarily. I cause some accidents\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","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":4078,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4078","url_meta":{"origin":4136,"position":3},"title":"Running To Thanksgiving! Blog post by Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"November 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Running to Thanksgiving by Kelsi Hansen Thanksgiving? It\u2019s already Thanksgiving? I can\u2019t believe it! The years fly by, don\u2019t they? Normally my family has a small Turkey Day, planned at the last second, and we all stuff as much food as we can into our gullets. Nothing too unusual, just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BlindAbilities Presents"","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"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":4351,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4351","url_meta":{"origin":4136,"position":4},"title":"Bird Box From a Blind Perspective – Good or Bad? By Kelsi Hansen","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"There has been a lot of hype lately involving Bird Box, and the Bird Box Challenge in the blind community. I\u2019ve heard: Bird Box gives an unrealistic view of blindness, and the Bird Box Challenge is dangerous. And this is true. It is definitely not advisable to blind fold yourself\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","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":3158,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=3158","url_meta":{"origin":4136,"position":5},"title":"A Lil’ Sumpin\u2019 Sumpin\u2019 for the Holidays! Gift Ideas for Stuffing that Stocking! (Transcription Provided)","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"December 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Join the Blind Abilities Team for a Lil Sumpin\u2019 Sumpin\u2019 for the Holidays. Nick, Jessica, Pete and Jeff along with friends serve of some holiday wishes and gift ideas for all to consider. We thought sharing our stocking stuffing incarnations would help spread the joy of giving during the festive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BlindAbilities Presents"","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"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":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4136"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4138,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4136\/revisions\/4138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Meet Kelsi!<\/h2>\n
\nhave any, or just a comment, feel free to email them to
\ninfo@blindabilities.com<\/a>.<\/p>\nContact:<\/h2>\n
\nOn the web at www.BlindAbilities.com<\/a>
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