Sometimes one has to share something that speaks of gratitude. Realising something about humility and that at the end of the day things tend to happen without our control or input. Not because I am deserving of anything but because of grace.
When I wrote this I had had my hearing aid for one month, 30 days. I am 36 years old. And I couldn’t believe how big an issue something so small could be for me! (Vain much??). My hearing loss is something that I have been aware of for a long time but was only now forced to address it due to various vestibular and balance issues. I have to admit that I was disappointed and even ashamed of this new official confirmation that I am in fact hard of hearing. But this whole experience has left me dumbfounded with gratitude. It has also taught me how my attitude can change my outlook on things.
Those of you who know me are well aware of my stupid baby ears. My grommets, my shingles. Stick out ears. And I am sure that as soon as you heard that I had gotten a hearing aid, you had nodded to yourselves and said “I have been saying for a long time that she doesn’t hear me”. But I actually do not want to talk about my hearing aid at all, but more about the fact that the perfect people come across our paths at the perfect time. And not only were these the perfect people but they were also prepared with the perfect attitude and advice.
My ENT, where I have frequent flyer miles, referred me to the audiologist for a full hearing screening where I was diagnosed with hearing loss of 20dB in my left ear as well as tinnitus. She took a look at my manicure colours and said “Usually I tell people that you won’t even see it. But in your case I’ll just tell you we can make it any colour you want it to be.” I was amased at all the tests included in a hearing screening and the exact mapping that goes on for the frequency definition.
So I got issued with a blue hearing aid that is small, sleek and modern, one that includes fractal music (ZEN) for the tinnitus. It has various channels for my exact hearing needs and I can control all of this with my phone. So I can now hear rather than guess.
I am grateful for a medical aid. I am grateful for a husband who keeps saying that it is exactly like glasses. And I am especially grateful for a God who just confirmed again that I worry too much and that everything is planned and sorted before I even knew that it was a problem. May you all have a weekend where you are not only blinded by the things that are wrong or negative, broken or ugly. May you rather see everything that has fallen into place, has been fixed or addressed in some way while you weren’t even looking. And may all these things leave you grateful. Because a small bit of gratitude will always lead to more.