We recently connected with Raymond Chambless and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Raymond, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
Myself discipline comes from my stepfather that raised me since I was two years old. He taught me to do the best. I can do anytime that I do anything. Even if it isn’t good enough I still do the best that I can do and at the end of the day, I can honestly say that I put for my best effort even if I fail, I know that I succeeded because I did the best that I could do. Thanks to my stepfather.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At the moment I am retired. I became legally blind back in May 2023. My goals now are to be able to reach out to other blind people that are experiencing the same or similar circumstances that I faced daily. There are so many people in this world That need help with their issues of being blind or legally blind. I have many people now that reach out to me for advice from my experience only and guidance as to how to live a normal life. It is my goal to help anyone that may need my help in anyway that I can help being recently legally blind has created a whole new way of life for myself as well as for my spouse. It is a learning event daily of what we can, and cannot do and be comfortable without the anxiety of failure. Failure is not an option.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My advice to anyone facing the issues that I face as to take each day and it comes and do the best that you can do without feeling useless or without feeling a failure. There are so many options on the Internet that can help as well as a lot of agencies or organizations, that can help as well. Being blind or legally blind is no fun and everything that you knew growing up will be changed. You will have to learn a whole new way of living. Be having a guide dog or a seeing eye stick. it also helps to have a counselor so that you may have someone to talk to about your issues in your struggles that can also help guide you through the transition of being legally blind.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle that I face daily is just getting up out of bed and fighting the depression that comes along with a recently legally blind individual. I am working with a service dog now that helps me get through the day and I am also trying to get out more so that I can face my fears of the unknown.
Image Credits
The image provided was taken by myself
