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Thai Life Insurance – It could have been ME

August 15, 2011 admin Reply

This Thai Life Insurance commercial has been with me for over a week since I’ve seen it. It’s set off so many emotions, but for me it went quite deep. First, let’s set something straight. It’s a life insurance commercial made in a culture very different for ours in the US. Second, I’m not looking to find out more about the actors or whether they knew sign or not.

My impressions come solely from the impact of the message seeing it the first time. I think it’s important because it is so close to my message of advocating that hearing children of Deaf parents have a very different upbringing in the hearing world. We are the minority that no one even knows about. View the commercial, and then see what my reaction is below.

I gasped, choked up and cried. I was at work. The images stuck with me all day. In the store eight hours later while shopping, an image brought me back to the commercial. I wept on my drive home.

I see a teenager that was rebellious and couldn’t understand why “she” had a Deaf Dad.

I see a girl being taunted which elevated her rage, creating bias. It might have been one or two girls, making her uniqueness public. But, I could see she felt they were ALL against her.

I see a rebelling teenager. In the mind of a teenager, no parent or adult is right. Teenagers think they know it all.

I see a strained relationship. She wants to discover who she is, but she’s unable to understand how, when all she thinks about is she is different.

I see a father, doing his best. Unable to break through the stubbornness of a teenage daughter. Drawing from his experiences so very different than his daughter’s. Struggles while equally difficult, worlds apart. A Deaf teen in a hearing world. A father that could never foresee his hearing daughter in a hearing world living the same ignorance.

I see a father unable to solve his daughter’s pain, nor understand why she is so upset. He keeps trying his best. Frustrated at the lack of response.

I see a hearing daughter burdened with ridicule that seeps into her soul and unable to see past her anger, to see the love.

I see a teenager thinking that no ONE person could ever know her pain, resorting to stop it immediately.

I see ME!

The fact that a director, writer or someone else could create the very same feelings I felt as a teenager means it needs to be addressed.

As I reflect, I now see it was one or two that teased me, but in my mind it was magnified to my core. I don’t think my parents realized that I would be viewed differently because of their Deafness. How or why could they think that? And me, I never told anyone so it would be addressed. I didn’t want to hurt their feelings, so I kept it in! I kept it in for a very long time.

Now, my mission is to educate, inspire and motivate.

You’ve changed…thank goodness!

I’m 39 years old. I’ve written about my new chapter entitled Positive Positioning. I’m working on my attitude, lifestyle and outlook on life. I’m beginning to find I want to learn more about yoga, chakras and meditation.

photo credit: Rilind Hoxha

Do you remember who you were at age 22? I look back and wonder how did I know everything so young? Today I find myself curious about more opportunities to seek, explore and to find who I am today, at my core. Actually it’s not about finding myself but developing the things I find interesting to add to myself.

I knew I was going to find a new way of freedom. Not sure what that really includes, but mostly peace. I made a commitment to change daily. The past three months have shown, I am the most centered I’ve been in a very long time. From the moment I committed to doing what makes me happy, shedding any concern of what others think of my decisions, I’ve been able to feel centered.

For three years, I was unbalanced. Each decision I wanted to make had to be explained to my friends, acquaintances, Facebook connections and the cashier at Petco. I couldn’t make a decision or depend on my gut feelings for anything. What are you having for dinner? What should I charge for comedy tickets? Should I buy the toilet paper on sale at Walmart or get it while I purchase my breakfast on sale at CVS?

Today, it’s not all rosey and happy just because I vowed to be positive! It takes practice, and I find the more experience I bank, the easier it is to get out of the more challenging days! So thank goodness I’m not the same person I was before, a know it all 22 year old isn’t as fun as a living life large while learning 39 year old!

Positive Peeps

July 26, 2011 admin 2 comments

I’m currently on “staycation” where you take vacation from work and stay home. It’s been a pretty good day and I’m catching up on the website. After reflecting about my past month, I thought it only perfect to highlight some great people doing great things. Positive things. My new chapter is entitled “Positive Positioning” and I’m perfecting it daily (sometimes hourly). It takes time but I’m learning so much. By positioning myself with great influences, I can only continue to move forward. They make me smile.

photo credit: epSos.de

Last month Positive Impact Magazine was kind enough to publish an article I wrote. I was thrilled to see over 50 people shared it on Facebook. If you missed the article take a peek. They highlight those giving back, making a difference and living life truly for the better. I’m proud to know them, actually Charity, Jen and I were in the same graduating class.

Other great influences I have been vibing with are the gals at 411 Voices, all of us living our passions in our daily work. However, the one woman that stands out is Louise Sattler – get to know her and see her drive…I mean her drive puts me in the carpool lane! She’s doing great things with sign language and is a super smart lady.

I’ve also been inspired by those that keep me going – reaching for my dream. They allow me to think out my obstacles (ok rant about them). Being positive isn’t just an attitude, it is a lifestyle. I am practicing daily and looking forward to each day.

I give them credit, I’m a great deal of force to keep up with,however Maria Birch, she’s a powerhouse and she full of information, being a reporter and all.

Thanks to Facebook for reconnecting a high school mate, Kathleen Howell, she also is working on her passion – daily – her photography is wonderful, and her vision is inspiring.

Kathryn Gahl, writer and red lipstick wearer – I’m grateful to have you so close to tap into. Your energy and wisdom is moving!

Those that believe in me, (all my family and closest friends – they don’t have websites, so Ican’t link them, but they know, I know that they support me!) Dr. J, she’s amazing – not only is she a successful chiropractor at age 40, but she doesn’t even work in the office and still collecting a paycheck! She’ll also try just about anything – a free spirit! Syllviea -what energy of love, loving each and every organism as it should be nurtured and love, you inspire me greatly.

photo credit: Shay Tal

Be sure to align yourself with those that are positive! What is your passion? What are you working on? Who inspires you?

Tug-of-War

June 9, 2011 admin 2 comments

I am one woman with three cultures. I live them daily. I bounce among the worlds of the hearing, Deaf and CODA. For those not familiar, CODA means child of deaf adults, and specifically refers to hearing children of deaf parents. For me, CODA has a deeper meaning, it is the part that helped to define me…the true ME at my core.

People have been telling me for years how fascinated they are with my life story. After 38 years I finally embraced it. Growing up with Deaf parents before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed there were limited resources for my parents to have equal access to communication. In order to better assist my non-hearing parents I was their ears and voice. I made simple phone calls for appointments by age six. I translated life insurance language like whole term and beneficiaries by the age of ten. As I got older, my chores were more complex, dealing with doctors’ appointments. My mom got really sick and when finally diagnosed, I signed to my mother she needed to have brain surgery, I was 12.

My childhood was filled with the bridging the gap between the hearing and the Deaf world. My heart was in a constant tug-of-war battle. One side constantly pulled towards worry. Am I properly signing what the hearing people are saying to my parents? Did I get it right? The other side pulled to advocate. Do you know my parents are smart, able and capable? They are my parents, and they love me. This carried such a heavy burden that wasn’t even clear to me until later in my adult life.

In 2008, I was truly lost. I knew I wanted to try to live true to me. I had lived a life of trying to please others. My tug-of-war battles trickled into my own goals and expectations causing me to constantly second guess myself. I realized no one should feel they have to live up to someone else’s expectations.

Reflection helped me see, I never had the opportunity to learn “I” had my own culture, I failed to find ME. Once I tied the tug of war ropes together, I discovered, I went from bridging the gap of the Deaf and hearing worlds to actually living within it daily. The core of what melded the two cultures together was me, my third culture, coda. I started to embrace these three cultures together and realized I had suppressed the one dream I had in high school, to be a performer.

I began to shift my mind more positively, entering into my new chapter of life which I titled, “Positive Positioning” and immediately things started to opened up. After several months of conditioning, just like an athlete, I saw a noticeable difference. I decided it wasn’t enough to think more positively, it had to become a lifestyle, a belief in myself that was deeper than a “can do” attitude.

So, with my new passion driving me, I took myself up on the dare create a one-woman show, and now I’m doing more than ever. I’ve embraced my three cultures with open arms, and have the opportunity to educate people about these worlds.

The response to “codadiva” has been tremendous. People with no deafness in their family share with me they were touched and could relate because they too had held on to a struggle. Once embraced, struggles can be turned into positive energy that fuels the soul. The best accomplishment from this journey was from another CODA. She took a leap of faith to see my show. Afterwards, she thanked me. She didn’t think there was anyone else that had the same story that she did growing up. My eyes filled with tears, realizing I’m the voice and hands for others that didn’t realize they needed it. “Positive Positioning” is my novel that is yet to be written as my life unfolds. I made a dream a reality with pure positive thinking. I’ve learned the more you stay balanced positively, it returns in abundance. I’m still learning, but am amazed it gets easier to handle the uncontrollable situations.

So, what is your tug-of-war? What is your suppressed dream? Shift your mind positively, reflect, journal and take time to unravel those tug-of-war ropes connected to your heart. Once you find it…whatever it is that rocks your core, make it your passion. You too may be the voice of someone that needs it.

Happy Mother’s Day – Gift of Language

May 7, 2011 admin 1 comment

I really wish I had a tech crew in the spare bedroom. I open the door and then instantly, make-up, lights, camera, action and poof my Vlog is perfect. Instead, I have a flip camera which at the moment I cannot find. But then I thought, this picture below speaks volumes to my Mother’s Day wish this year.

My journey had had plenty of challenges in life, and Mom has been a great influence. I am proud of my mom. She is a smart, brave, and a confident woman. She knows what she likes and probably more importantly, knows what she doesn’t. She showed me that to be particular in what I want is my right. Looking back, of all the gifts my mother has given me, this year I highlight the language I was given. I thank her for teaching and sharing with me this beautiful language. As a mother, I turn to my children and ask them to embrace this language as I much as I do. When communication is key, sign language makes it possible to engage with my mom. ILY mom!

Vacation Interpreting

April 16, 2011 admin Reply

In Liysa’s one woman show codadiva, she shares about her vacations. As a CODA, child of Deaf adults, vacation gigs with all expenses paid however, she didn’t know she could get paid for it!

Liysa still loves to travel, so book her for your city! Email her for details.

Telephone Relay – go ahead!

April 3, 2011 admin Reply

Telephone relay come into my life while in my 20′s. An arrogant and impatient time in my life.

codadiva first show review

March 30, 2011 admin Reply

While I never imagined a theatre critic to take an interest in my how, especially being really new to this kind of show, I was thrilled when you posted online. He received all that I sought out to share. I’m truly proud of this work and it can only get better. Thank you Russ Bickerstaff for your insight!

I skip right to the parts about me. The full excerpt is here.

This is living out my passion, my motivation for waking up each day. The Vox Box offered a space, my interpreter Kat offered the voice and you all give me the fuel. Deaf and coda fans are sharing their telephone stories, and bi-lingual/bi-cultural fans are sharing they feel a connection to my stories. This is straight from my heart. So that you can be empowered.

A Child Of Deaf Adults, Callsen’s monologue is delivered almost entirely in sign language. Fellow CODA Catherine Siudzinski interprets the signs for those of us not familiar with the language. Being someone from outside the culture of the hearing impaired, I had only really been familiar with sign language from watching interpreters. With a sign interpreter or any other kind of interpreter for that matter the emphasis seems to be on the basics of getting the message across in simple translation.

It’s a different experience altogether to see a deaf person actually communicating in casual conversation. There’s more emotion, more personal flair in communication. I recall seeing a pair of deaf people argue on a Milwaukee County bus some time ago. It was fascinating . . . but what Callsen’s doing here elevates that kind of personal, emotional expression through sign language to kind of a graceful art form. Callsen’s signing here is beautiful and deeply expressive. There’s a strong element of Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin here–Callsen’s sense of the comic come across in strikingly vivid detail. It’s a sense of humor that can swiftly change gears into the deeper end of human emotion.

In the course of the show, Callsen is relating what it’s like to be caught between three different cultures that of the hearing world, that of the deaf world and that of the CODA world. Delivered almost entirely in sign language, the Codadiva exposes the rest of us to two cultures that aren’t very visible to the rest of the culture as a whole.

The biography that Callsen is delivering here is really interesting. If it’s lacking anything, it’s a bigger, more thematically cohesive overall composition. Codadiva consists of many smaller narratives that fit into the larger history of Callsen’s life and the life of her parents. While the roughly chronological re-telling of the past makes a simple kind of sense, Callsen presents the stories without much embellishment or analysis it’s a presentation style that allows the audience its own reaction, which is admirable, but the stories would feel that much more captivating if they were woven a bit more elaborately into a single narrative framework. Callsen’s visual expression is irresistibly charming. Given just the right attention to blending that performance into a more cohesive narrative format would make Codadiva that much more powerful. As it stands even without a brilliant overall sense of composition, Liysa Callsen’s Codadiva is a refreshingly unique kind of stage performance in an intimate studio theatre environment.

Ever so grateful!

For ALL codadivas

March 18, 2011 admin 2 comments

My daughters have always been the inspiration for my codadiva show. They have my genes of being pretty fragile, sensitive. My oldest is a mini-me inside and out. codadiva is about re-claiming the freedom to be myself. Giving myself approval to be ME, no matter what anyone else thinks! It took me 37 years to get there. I hope that I can teach this to my children. NOW, like right now… like tonight.

Being a parent can be tough, but being a kid sometimes is worse. I didn’t know, but apparently for the last week my daughter has felt lonely at school. When I asked why she didn’t feel she could tell me sooner she said she didn’t want to burden me. *sigh*

Tears quickly flooded. It brought back everything that I did for my parents. I didn’t want to burden them with the rude remarks I heard of people making fun of my parents…people I love. I didn’t want to burden them with the teasing I got in school. I didn’t tell them about several things, either avoiding the hurt I would bring to them or myself.

My wish is that through my journey of writing codadiva, the stories I’ll tell will allow me to educate my daughters, your children and even YOU about the power of accepting who you are and embracing your identity. Living it without feeling judgment or concern for what others think.

codadiva show – Milwaukee March 26 and April 2

March 12, 2011 admin Reply

Are you coming to codadiva? You’ll hear stories of me trying to figure out two worlds, hearing and Deaf. You’ll be moved, maybe cry and laugh, of course laugh. March 26 and April 2! So get tickets at www.codadiva.com

Show starts on March 26 at 7pm get tickets now!

Sign up for codadiva