Hectic Holidays

Surviving the Hectic Holiday Season: A Personal Perspective

Hectic—that’s the word I use to describe this time of year. The holiday season is a whirlwind of gift shopping, meal planning, and party preparation. Guests are coming, and the festivities seem endless. While this season is challenging for most, for those of us living with vision loss, it can be particularly overwhelming.

Everyone appears to be in a rush. For me, shopping takes longer as I navigate aisles and search for the perfect gifts. Unfortunately, patience seems to be in short supply. Just the other day, I was in a store, carefully making my way down an aisle with my support cane, searching for a gift for a dear friend. A woman rushed past me, shoving her way through without noticing my cane. That moment was disheartening.

In response, I’ve started using a visibility cane alongside my support cane. The visibility cane is more recognizable, signaling to others that I have vision challenges. Still, during the Christmas rush, even that doesn’t always seem to help.

I strive to remain calm amidst the chaos, but there are moments when my patience wears thin. A recent experience on the bus stands out. All the seats reserved for people with disabilities were occupied by a group of women who were, frankly, the rudest individuals I’ve encountered. Laden with packages and balancing my canes, I struggled to find a seat. Despite my visible difficulty, only one of the women offered me a seat. The others couldn’t have cared less. In that moment, my faith in humanity wavered.

The distractions of the day got the better of me again later. After finally purchasing the last few items for an upcoming cruise, I forgot my shopping bags on the bus. Realizing my mistake meant another bus ride to repurchase those items. It was a frustrating end to an already exhausting day.

Now, as the day winds down, I’m grateful for a small moment of peace. Sitting here with a warm cup of tea, I reflect on the challenges of this season. Despite the struggles, I’m hopeful. Each day is a new opportunity to find kindness and patience—both in others and within myself. For now, I’ll savor this quiet moment and prepare to face whatever tomorrow brings.