My Supports

Supports to me are anything that helps you get through a normal day as well as accomplish short-term and long-term goals.

On a daily basis, I need a LOT of support.  I need affirmations and to be thought of by my loved ones in order help me feel confident and loved throughout the day.  I need prayer and to read the Bible daily in order to stay encouraged, successful, and peaceful.  I need wise counsel from sources I trust.  I need an internet connection for pretty much everything :-)  I need fellowship and laughs with my coworkers and friends, lists to help me prioritize, a budget to help guide my daily spending, my cell phone to help me organize and remember things, my car for transportation, and clothing for every occasion.  If I didn't have these supports, I would probably suffer greatly.  I'd be more insecure, more worried and ineffective, making dumb decisions, detached from the outside world, lonely, disorganized, forgetful, broke, walking a lot (which might not be a bad thing :-), and improperly dressed.

I imagined if I were deaf or hard of hearing.  After reflecting on what I might need if I had this challenge, I realized that I'd still need a lot of the same things.  Additionally, I'd need for people to look beyond my deafness to see who I am in order to feel confident.  I'd need a way to communicate and fellowship with people in a natural way in order to feel like I belong.  I'd also need a discreet hearing aid of some sort in order to assist my hearing but not make it totally obvious that I have difficulty in this area.  Without these supports I'd feel less accepted, appreciated, and competent.