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.

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 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?

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.

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.

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!

I’ve been slowly trying to rejoice daily in my children and family. Absorbing my surroundings as not to “miss this”.

I know it seems maybe I’m eavesdropping “eye dropping”.

 

Recently I went to the 4 Deaf Club Wisconsin picnic. What an amazing event, everything was perfect, smooth and a beautiful day. The organizers and volunteers did a great job!

 

I’ve been to picnics when I was little, seemed there was one a week. They’ve started to diminish, so good job to the 4 clubs in Wisconsin, keep it up.

 

I really cherish the picnics and deaf socials. When I’m people watching, I really enjoy grabbing a word or two of a conversation and imagining what they may be talking about or their lives. For example, one woman told another one, “John is suppose to be here, dunno if he is coming”. To me I wonder if John is a friend, boyfriend or brother.  Another older man is telling his friend that he hurt his shoulder and recently saw the doctor. I wonder, what did he to as a worker during his life, was he working in a factory or a printer? The most amazing thing I saw, which really touched my heart was a man, about 40 years old, bending down and telling a young boy “I know your daddy a long time ago, we played football together at Gallaudet”. Wow, to imagine these young men, huddling and playing for this school just really moved me.

 

We all have stories, so keep sharing yours, share your story and keep signing!

Writing is hard. I’m writing two shows. One is my own show, another is for a not for profit CODA365. Three codas telling their stories of very different backgrounds of being raised in a Deaf household. The journeys they have and how they come together on one stage. Windell Smith, Keith Wann and myself will be presenting something so different than any other performance on coda issues.
photo credit: Bryan Valles

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While writing the last couple of years both on blog posts and personally, I feel blessed to be raising kodas. I feel like I am able to get a small glimpse into what I might have been like growing up. I have two younger girls and one teenage boy. With the girls, the cute movements as they try to learn big words in sign language, or just the structure of the language. No need to sign “the” and “to”. With my teen, I see the talking without signing while Dad is scoulding or trying to communicate on parenting issues. Unfortunately for my teen, I am there to translate. But I get it, I did it, and frankly – still do it.

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I’m trying to slow down and watch! Aren’t we all? What do you see in your children that make you glimpse into your childhood?

These girls are true codas every day! I came across this video by random and am so glad to have found it. It mirrors some of the questions I have gotten. Asking if your parents have a maid - this tired momma wishes she had one.

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This entire family is so cute!

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