16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!

 

 "16 Benefits of Being Blind"

Most people see blindness as a bad thing. A disability. A curse. Something they’d not want to have.

But it’s not… not always!

What most people fail to realize is that there are actually some perks to being blind.

Seriously. According to a couple of blind people I know, there are!

If you don’t believe me, read on.

16 Benefits of Being Blind

1. You don’t get asked to help people move.

2. You don’t have to be the designated driver… ever.

3. You can read in the dark – if it’s in Braille.

4. You don’t have to buy light bulbs or have a night-light on your bedside table.

5. You save money on your Hydro bill.

6. You get special treatment or bonuses.

7. You don’t have to be the map-reader when travelling with friends on a road trip.

8. You can avoid looking at unpleasant things, like a gory accident, or something else that’s disgusting.

9. You’ll never get asked to paint or wallpaper a room during home renovations.

10. You’ll never get asked for directions.

11. When you ask for directions, most people will be friendlier.

12.You don’t have to decorate.

13. You save money when buying a smaller TV or phone, because all you really need is the sound, not a big screen.

14. You can’t see that spider on the wall. You know, the one that’s inching closer to you right now.

15. You can use your blindness as an excuse to get out of doing certain chores (even though you are perfectly capable of doing them yourself).

16. You don’t have to put up with dirty looks from others. How can you? You can’t see them!

More Blind Benefits

There are some benefits to having blind friends, too, and also some perks to dating a blind guy.

Benefits of Having a Blind Friend

You can roll your eyes as often as you want, and not be judged.

You can flip your friend the bird (give him/her the finger) when you get frustrated with him/her… and you can even laugh about it.

You can lie to his/her face about the new outfit he/she loves, even if you think it’s hideous.

Benefits of Dating a Blind Man

You never have to worry about a bad hair day, or wearing make-up.

Your socks don’t have to match.

You can walk around naked without being self-conscious.

You can pretend to be taller by wearing heels.

You can say you’re a blonde, even if you’re not. How’s he going to know?

Benefits of Dating a Blind Woman

They are pretty much the same as the benefits of dating a blind man, but when you date a blind woman, you don’t have to wait forever for her to fix her make-up or her hair, or try on 50 different outfits before she decides upon one that is simply “perfect.”

You also don’t have to wait for her to apply polish to her fingernails. She’ll have already had someone do it for her. (Of course, that person might be you!)

If you have a lot of pimples on your chest, you can play a game (or trick) on her. Just tell her you created a special love message in Braille for her, and see if she can decipher it!

You will never awaken to screams for you to kill a spider. (Unless she feels one crawling on her!)

My Personal Benefits of Having Blind Friends

Surprise, surprise, you are actually reading a guest post from Max’s editor and friend, Lorraine Reguly. (You might have known this already, but in case you didn’t I felt obligated to tell you now, as the rest of this post won’t make sense unless you are “in the know.”)

Now, let’s move on.

When I interviewed Max last year, I learned a lot about him.

Max introduced me to Kerry Kijewski, too, whom I also interviewed. Kerry is a blind blogger who loves to write and travel, and is known by two alternate names: The Insightful Wanderer and Her Headache.

Kerry has a blind brother, Brian, who wrote a song about the perks of being blind. You can listen to it on Soundcloud, at this link. Just ignore the ending… it’s not part of the song!

Through knowing Max and Kerry, I’ve learned that sighted people take A LOT for granted.

Max and Kerry, ironically, taught me to see. In fact, they inspired me so much that I wrote a poem about this experience. This is the biggest benefit I’ve gained from knowing them.

They also helped me with this post. (Thanks, you two!)

Feel free to get inspired yourself by reading My Blind Friends Taught Me To See.

You’ll be glad you did.

YOUR TURN:

Please share this post. Like Max always says, “Sharing is caring!” Pin the image. Tell all your friends. Tweet about it. Share it on Facebook.

And feel free to drop either one of us a line in the comments, too. We’d both love to know if you enjoyed this post.

Can you think of any other perks to being blind? Feel free to answer, even if you’re a sighted person!

Wording Well logo that includes a picture of Lorraine RegulyLorraine Reguly is a freelance writer and editor for hire. She gives away a FREE blogging ebook, 20 Blog Post Must-Haves, to her Wording Well subscribers. Grab your copy TODAY!

71 thoughts on “16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!”

    • hi Kerry; I didn’t know it either. Lorraine was going to post it on her site but she noticed that i hadn’t had a new post in a while; so she offered it to me. the truth is i’m still recovering from a malfunctioning cpap machine. hoping to get back on schedule with a lot of things including videos and new equipment listings on the other site too. glad you liked it and thanks for contributing to it. take care my friend, max

      Reply
  1. Hi Max and Lorraine,

    WOW! What a great post. Love it and I appreciate your sense of humor, both of you!

    I sure hope you get to feeling better soon Max! I just read Fabrizio’s post on your book and I remembered that I needed to check up on your site and see what’s going on over here.

    S glad I did, I really needed that laugh!!!

    Get well soon and I hope you are having a Happy New Year!!!

    ~ Don Purdum
    Don Purdum recently posted…Meaning vs. Messaging: 2 Reasons Your Marketing is As Cold as The Weather?My Profile

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    • hi don’ well i’ve been a bit behind lately, and so when lorraine offered me this guest post; i jumped at it. thought it would be a great funny post for the first one of the new year. and while people like reading my posts sometimes i think that i am a bit too focused too serious for my own good. i contributed to it along with kerry kijewski but lorraine wrote it and that is where the magic comes from. I’ve often told people that its true about everyone but even more so with blindness, when you can laugh about it then you have overcome it. man that’s a good line i got to remember that one. 🙂 i am feeling better every day. the problem with not getting enough oxygen or sleep at night is it is cumulative. you feel tired and heavy a lot of the time. its hard to keep up your exercise and more difficult to eat properly. when you don’t get your rest your body craves the wrong foods even more. i am now riding my stationary bike or as i call it the bike that doesn’t go anywhere every day. and i’m on schedule or close to it with the rest of my routine. gastric surgery doesn’t require you to be super regular but i like it better that way for my own good whenever possible. so glad to hear that you think about me. that’s one of the things about having a community. they support and encourage you when you are here and worry about you when you aren’t. thanks again and take care my friend. max ps how are you doing? how is the new year going? and I’ll be stopping by directly,
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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  2. Thank you for including my brothers song in this post. It is good to have a sense of humor about these things. I can’t say I always do, but I try. Glad I could contribute to this in someway.

    Reply
    • Kerry, if you can’t have a sense of humour in this life, then life is simply not worth living. Remember, laughter is the best medicine!

      I know it’s tough for you to feel humorous, given all you’ve endured with not just your blindness, but your illness, too. I wish we could just be happy all the time, and not have to deal with such pain… and painful memories.

      I think your brother’s outlook is great, and I was happy to include a link to his song! After all, that’s why I asked you for it! 😉
      Lorraine Reguly recently posted…“F.I.T.S.” SERIES: Featuring #freelancewriter Deevra NorlingMy Profile

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  3. Hi Max and Lorraine, maybe I should add Kerry in there too. I’m not blind but get nauseous if I look up so I tell people that anything above eye level is not my problem, including spiders. If they see one they can just get rid of it. Saves a lot of headaches. You are a good ghostwriter Lorraine since I did think this was Max’ post. Max, I hope you will be feeling better soon.

    Reply
    • hi lenie; yes this post has turned out to be advertising for lorraine as you are the second person who didn’t realize it was her until the end. this was fun. need to do more collaboration. 😉 i am feeling so much better. i knew what was happening but had to wait for the medical/insurance system to work through and get my cpap machine fixed. i feel stronger every day. when you realize i went without the breathing machine for about four months feeling this good after about two weeks is very encouraging. and i’m working on a post about doing it all or how we can’t or shouldn’t expect to. how have you been my friend. take care, max
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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  4. I’m glad you’re feeling better. You certainly have given us a humorous take on being blind although I suspect a blind girlfriend could be as bad or worse than a sighted girlfriend about having the right outfit. In fact my mind is already thinking of using this for a character in a novella I’m working on.

    Reply
    • Hi Pat; Thanks so much for stopping by. I’ve spent many happy hours reading books downloaded from the national library services for the blind. so its fun to meet actual authors like you and kerry. if you are planning a character perhaps you and kerry could collaberate on something. I know she recently submitted a story to an anthology so perhaps she would be open to working on it with you. if there is anything i can do to help you with future visually impaired characters just email me. would be glad to help if i can. thanks again and take care, max
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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    • Hello; so glad we could make you laugh. too often as bloggers we focus on the subject or the message and forget to include the funny parts of life that make up the experiences that go into a good post. take care, max

      Reply
  5. “Itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout….”

    Thoroughly enjoyed your blog. Heehee! It’s amazing how people don’t let their life’s challenges stop them from enjoying the treasures of the world.

    Stay in the game, Maxwell!

    Reply
    • Hello; thanks for visiting the site. glad we could make you laugh. everyone has someone or something in their lives that troubles them. the key is how we can learn to live with these struggles. take care, max

      Reply
  6. Terrific stuff Maxwell… love it.
    Many years ago I read a list of ‘the benefits of being deaf’, written by a profoundly deaf man with a wicked sense of humour.
    A couple I remember were – ‘you don’t have to get up to the baby’s crying in the middle of the night’, and – ‘in an argument, make your best point and then take your hearing aids out’, and – ‘you’re never kept awake by the neighbour’s loud music/wild party’.
    Now I find another humorist to match. And deafness and blindness are called a dis-ability?

    Reply
    • Hi Christine; Thanks for your reply. got a couple laughs out of it. made me think of something lou ferigno’s character the hulk said while playing himself in one particular episode i remember. he was on screen as himself the death body builder and there is chaos all around. one of the other characters asked how he kept his cool during it. he said simple i took out my hearing aids. thanks again, max

      Reply
  7. Thanks for the fun post Max. Life is so much better with a positive outlook. I like the never being asked to help people move. After just having gone thru that experience I would be grateful to not have to do that ever again! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Thank you for this post. It brings back memories to me, as when I was a young child my father went blind because of cataracts.
    I could see where some people might find this offensive. I saw my father go through stages of shock, denial and finally acceptance over his blindness.
    He too use to joke about being blind, and once told me something that made so much sense. He said people would not be offended about making jokes about their jobs, or even spouses or family; because these things are part of life. And his blindness was part of his life. By accepting the reality of it, he was able to view it in a different perspective.

    Reply
  9. This was a nice post and I think that many points are raise to aware us as well. I like your humor.

    You are right Lorraine, we take a lot of things for granted. I enjoyed all your posts about Kerry, Max and now this one. They are not only teaching you the meaning of life, but us as well. I really appreciate your help and support that your extended. May God bless you and Max I wish you all the best with your book. I am happy it’s going good. My prayers and best wishes on your way.

    Thanks for a great share.
    andleeb recently posted…Easy Potato Cutlet: #RecipeMy Profile

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    • hi andleeb; for the second time i have been reminded that this funny post has a message even if it was unintended that being to help people value and treasure their sight along with the rest of their health. yes lorraine has been a great supporter and now she also knows and is giving kerry a push. the community continues to grow and more people are helped. thanks so much, max
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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    • hello; i think for most people their sense of smell improves or does not depending upon how much they work at it or depend on it. My sense of smell is very poor but i went blind gradually over a period of many years. i think the improvement of other senses probably happens more with suddenly blinded people or those born blind. however, my hearing is especially good. of course this comes from having cautious parents who taught me the value of my hearing and convinced me not to risk it by spending large amounts of time around unusually loud noises like concerts or stereos. think the key is just like with any other physical feature people are all individuals. Just like there is no one representative of ethnic or racial groups there is no one blind person. thanks for the question. I love a good conversation. take care, max
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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    • hi pamela; thanks for finding something in this post that i missed myself. I’m big on gratitude showing it and learning from it. and i didn’t recognize the lesson about gratitude for sight. thanks so much, max

      Reply
  10. Hi Max — I hadn’t received your blog in my inbox in a while and I wondered if I had dropped off your subscription list. Such a fun post. And I loved the surprise ending that it was Lorraine who had written it (with your help, of course). I admire you so much for your willingness to tackle new things, despite your being blind, like setting up your new website. I wouldn’t even think of trying that and I can see. Hope you are feeling better. Take care.
    Jeannette Paladino recently posted…How You Can Build Your Business and Brand on LinkedInMy Profile

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    • Hi Jeannette; sent you an email in reply to your resubscription. sorry about that. It is fun to try new things. And in the case of this post lorraine had the idea and brought it to me. I was just smart enough to realize i wanted it on my site. 🙂 and she also helped make the new site look a little more inviting. but i did start the new site and thankfully i have great friends like you who have supported me all the way.
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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    • Oh sweetie; I almost forgot. yes i am feeling better. still recovering from lack of sleep while the cpap machine wasn’t working right. it still needs to be moved up from 11 to 13 but at least its running at 11 instead of 5.5 now. and after a little over two weeks i’m starting to feel much better. still not back on schedule with my blog but am getting caught up on blog reading and commenting. I miss my friends. take care, max
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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  11. Hey Lorraine,

    Good to see you here at Max’s and for helping him out. My first thought was only a blind person can say these things and get away with it and as I read on down I learned it was you. Hey, as long as they are okay with it then all is good right! LOL!!! They were pretty funny actually, especially 14. Yikes!!!

    Max is the only blind friend that I have so it’s been a great experience getting to know him, his thoughts and feelings. I know since he’s been pretty much blind almost his entire life that this is normal for him. For those who have sight, we see this as a disability but although they can’t do things like drive, watch a movie, etc. doesn’t mean that there isn’t so much to life they still enjoy doing. They’ve just learned to do things differently that’s all. What an amazing attitude.

    Thanks for sharing this with us and the laugh for the day. Loved it.

    You guys have a great day and week okay.

    ~Adrienne
    Adrienne recently posted…2015 Is Officially Here; Are You Ready To BlogMy Profile

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    • hi adrienne; thanks for stopping by. I know you are really busy, but this just shows how much you believe in what you do and how well you support your friends. guess its a good thing no one realized it was lorraine until they got to the bottom. wonder if she planned that. I do know it was a big help having her post to get me going again. still not 100 percent but much better. I know what post I’m writing for tomorrow. and i recorded my first video in six months. I also recorded some audio files for my friends who like my voice. thanks again for your encouragement. You’re a great friend. and knowing you got a monday morning laugh out of it makes it even better. have a great weekend, max
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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    • Hi Lea; i’m glad you did like it. i feel like once you can laugh at something you have overcome it. and the american foundation for the blind has a running post section devoted to finding the funny in moments of trying every day life. thanks for your comment. take care, max

      Reply
    • hi beth; glad we made you laugh. and i’m generally a positive upbeat person. i am feeling much better. i’ve been on the repaired machine for about three weeks now after using a malfunctioning one for over four months. just yesterday i recorded some full length versions of songs i have recorded for my youtube videos. i also posted a new video about a park train today. harleena says i sounded great and it would be good to hear more of me. here is the link to where you can download those audio files if you like. its on selz but its a free download. 0.000 dollars. 🙂 thanks for worrying about me my friend, max https://maxwellivey.selz.com/item/54b58db5b7987211445d8217
      maxwell ivey recently posted…16 Benefits of Being Blind — Number 14 is HILARIOUS!My Profile

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    • hi brian; have been surprised by how many people say the post reminds them to appreciate and be grateful for their vision. that wasn’t the intention but a happy accident. glad i could do that. hope it also means people who read this will be making appointments with their eye doctor to make sure their vision is in good shape. there are many eye diseases that have to be tested for to avoid los of vision. blessings, max

      Reply
    • Hi Buddy; I actually read your post objectively, and you will notice that I haven’t deleted the link to it. Most web masters would have seen this as spam as the point to comment luv is you enter your url and then your latest post is automatically displayed. However, my point is that you wrote a great post. You gave me credit for my own achievements and then spotlighted the flaws you see in it. I should mention two things. One the post was written in fun. It was never intended to be a serious look at advantages and disadvantages of being blind. And since posting it I’ve had many people tell me that they will no longer omit their blind or otherwise apparently disabled friends when needing to move, getting directions, choosing colors, etc. I should also mention that I used to help move a 45 by 75 ft. roller coster 40 weeks out of the year so everyone in my family knows I can help move. They actually look for me first when heavy lifting is needed. They leave me out when fragile delicate items are involved. 🙂 I chose the colors for my website. They were exceedingly bright but lead to conversations rather than getting in the way of sales. I get your point. I’ll try to be more serious, you try to be a little less so? What do you say my friend? And don’t get down on twitter. Blogs need comments and twitter is one of the best ways to get them. After all would you have seen this post without twitter? Many blessings to you, Max

      Reply
      • Howdy Max,

        Yeah, I understand that posting a link would have the potential to be marked as spam, but I figured you probably didn’t want my really really long reply pasted into a comment. Not a lot else to be done for that, I guess.

        While I understand that the post was meant to be humorous, the trouble is that people actually believe this stuff. Naturally, those of us and our friends who actually know better don’t, but the misconceptions are far too pervasive. In any case, I’m glad that in lots of cases, the post had its intended effect.
        Buddy Brannan recently posted…Response to “16Benefits of Being Blind”My Profile

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        • Hi Buddy; Well, here at my site we not only accept but encourage long comments. A lot of sites will even eat short comments thinking they are spam. I appreciate your concerns. I am thankful for your comment especially seeing how it came after the post was revived by being shared on twitter. This is something I have been doing using a plug in called revive old posts. Many of my posts are getting new likes, retweets, and comments thanks to this. After all, my audience on twitter has grown so much in the last year or so. Keep the great comments coming, Max

          Reply
  12. I was curious if you ever considered changing the layout of your
    blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could
    connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text
    for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out
    better?
    messe-home.com recently posted…messe-home.comMy Profile

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    • I recently updated the page to reduce the amount of text. However, I didn’t pay attention to amount of blank space. Now that I know it’s a problem, I’ll go back and check it. I understand that things that don’t bother me because I read with speech will bother people who read with their eyes. Sorry about any inconvenience, Max

      Reply

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