WELCOME
Steph
Welcome back to another edition of Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. podcast, the show that's clearing the air for more A.I.R. (Access, Inclusion, and Representation). I'm Stephanae McCoy, and with me on my co-hosts,
Nasreen
I'm Nasreen Bhutta
Sylvia
and Sylvia Stinson-Perez.
Steph
In this month's episode, Nasreen, Sylvia, and I are excited to talk about Channeling Our Inner Boldness. When I knew our conversation was going to be about finding our boldness, I immediately thought about Bold Blind Beauty as I'm often asked how I came up with the name.
Because of the stigma about blindness and the lack of access for blind people, I felt surrounding the word 'blind' with 'bold' and 'beauty' would help to demystify it. Blind people who are making a conscious decision to live their lives are bold, and that alone is beautiful.
Life is hard, and it can be doubly hard for those of us who are blind or living with another disability. When we are able to fully embrace ourselves as we are, I think it's one of the boldest things we can do. What do you think ladies?
Sylvia
So true, Steph.
Nasreen
Absolutely. Totally agree.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BOLD?
Nasreen
I have to ask you guys, then, ladies, what does bold mean to you? Sylvia, what do you think?
Sylvia
For me, Boldness is confidence and courage. I think we find our boldness, our confidence, and our courage by getting out of our comfort zone.
You guys know that I just love quotes. And so when we were thinking about this, I had to go and dig into some quotes. I think they just so eloquently express what we're trying to say.
So in this quote by Nelson Mandela, let's substitute the word courage for boldness. "So courage [or boldness], is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man [or woman] is not [she] who does not feel afraid. But [she] who conquers that fear."
So boldness for me is really about conquering that fear every day in every situation, in whatever way I can manage. And I think that's different for each of us. Steph, what about you?
Steph
Thank you, Sylvia, I couldn't have said that any better. And I love Nelson Mandela. And that quote especially speaks to my heart. And I agree with it so fully.
Being, bold to me, means being unapologetically myself. A favorite quote of mine from my preteen years that I've tried to pattern my life after is by Ralph Waldo Emerson. And it goes like this, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Even though I march to the beat of my own drum, as a highly sensitive, introverted person, I struggle and many times would rather seek solitude, than to be front and center. So that's getting out of that comfort zone that you talked about Sylvia. Because of this, I so wish that we could see ourselves as others see us.
People will say the nicest things to me, about me. And yet, sometimes I have a hard time seeing those things in myself. Nasreen, what are your thoughts on boldness? What does it mean to you?
Nasreen
Ladies, this is a really good question and I love both of your answers and your quotes. And I agree with the quotes that you both have shared.
Steph, I think it's really difficult, you're right to see ourselves. For me. It's having your own identity. Having the courage and the willingness to express it, I think is important by stepping up and stepping out onto our edge in life as we see it. And sometimes having to push the limits of what we think is possible or appropriate.
Being fearless and I know for some people, that is really hard to embrace or to think about. But a lot of things in my life a lot of experiences and situations coming from somebody who was fully sighted and never thought of blindness ever hitting, or a lifestyle change ever happening, just embracing the whole idea of this new community, this new lifestyle, all of this, it was very, I was very fearful and very scared.
And all of it at the beginning and so embracing, it was very difficult. And I think that happens to everybody in a lot of change or trauma, or whatever, that they're going through this time. In their lives, it's hard for them. And I think there should be no excuse for having the willingness of having your own identity. We all need to have our own identity.
Everyone is different and unique. Some people are brash, some people are sassy, some people are timid, some people, extrovert/introvert, whatever you have it, you should be able to express it, be bold in it and embrace it, and own it. And I think that's, that's what I think of it today.
Now, if you asked me this question, four/five years ago, I probably would be like a mouse and have nothing really to say. But, today, I I stand tall and proud. And I own my own identity, whatever it is, whether somebody likes it, or doesn't like it, I am who I am, and I don't apologize for it.
Sylvia
So what I'm hearing all of us say is, boldness, is authenticity, being ourselves, and having the courage to be ourselves.
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WHAT BOLD THING HAVE YOU DONE RECENTLY?
Sylvia
So ladies, what have you done recently, to express or to find your boldness recently? So Steph Let's start with you.
Steph
I had to think about that for a minute. Because I'm like, what have I done recently? And then, you know, I remembered.
I accepted an invitation from the FCC to be their featured speaker at their Second Forum On Improving Accessibility Of Online Video Programming. For me, this was huge because it was a rather major, you know, platform, and an amazing opportunity for me to represent Bold Blind Beauty by sharing my views on audio description from a consumer and an advocacy perspective.
So as I said earlier, rather seeking solitude rather than being front and center. That, for me, was a really bold, a bold move. And to both of you all's comments on what it means to be bold, I did move through that fear, found my courage, and did it, and felt so good.
Nasreen
That's awesome Steph. I think that's very commendable.
For me, there are two things and one is that I'm always helping other people launch or relaunch their, their, you know, their careers and stuff and, and being sort of a career coach or mentor to them. This time decided to take a bold step and invest some time and energy in doing the same for myself.
Because I think over time, you know, if you give, give, give sometimes you miss your own self to kind of look back and refine re group restructure yourself. And I'm also looking at that today. That's a big bold step for me because when you're always mentoring others, you never think about yourself. It doesn't come to your mind. You think, Oh, I've got it all in order, I'm good. But no, sometimes you really need to rework yourself and, and just work on your own professionalism and your goals and aspirations because they change over time and we tend to forget that as people.
We lock ourselves in and think okay, six months, one year, 18 months, it goes by so fast. And we need to do that self-care and self-evaluation and reflection in ourselves. So that's one thing.
And the other thing, and I talk about this a lot in our recent podcasts, that is traveling by myself and becoming very good at it. I feel really bold, and empowered when I do that.
This year, I've gone on a couple of trips, as you all know, to different places, and I've loved it, I've enjoyed it. But this time, I've done something a little bit different than the last time that I've ever traveled in the last couple of years. And that's, I've always taken my handy dandy cane that I was given as a gift that I talked about on one of my last podcast with me, as my trusted friend, confidant, and safety net, with me on my travel, and my trips.
And I really feel so powerful with that whole combination of travel is increased my confidence, my awareness allowed me to advocate for myself better to be bold by showing it sporting it around, and getting the help and things that I need as I'm traveling. But feeling like having that freedom of independence, that I can do this. And that was done. I felt that at the airports, I felt that you know, when I was waiting for my connection of the planes, and just what I needed for myself and getting back home safely and being safe.
I love that because although each time it's scary each trip that I go on and each time I step out to travel, I'm always like, okay, doing my mental map of me going through my trip mentally, to getting ready in preparation for it. You know, you never are aware of any hiccups or shortcomings over time, you gotta prepare for those.
For me, I've never been exposed up here I am to the blindness community. So when I have to travel to an event that is catered to the blindness community I'm excited. I'm like, you know, really super, super excited to go. Packing my, you know, packing my bags, the first one to get everything ready. And then getting all the tools that I need and going and I love it. I love going and being part of the community because it's something I've never been exposed to up here.
And to me, that's being bold, because I would never have taken those steps five, six years ago. In fact, I would shun away from anything like that. So to me, that is what I've recently done is embraced in the sense of boldness for me, Sylvia?
Sylvia
Nasreen, I just love that. I love that! I am so excited to hear that. Because I know when we did a whole episode on using the cane a little while back, this was not what you said. So I'm so excited that you've embraced that and found that independence and that courage and the confidence that's so exciting to me.
So, for me, I would say that most people think I'm an incredibly confident, bold person. And I can put on a great show for that. In some situations, I am very confident.
But I will tell you that I think that there's a quote by Marianne, Marianne Radmacher that really always sticks deep in me. Because I think it really is so, so profound, and so much a part of me. And it says "Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it's that little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." And for me, I think that that is just so deeply embedded in who I am, is that I'm an optimist, and I'll try things. And if I don't get it, right, it doesn't turn out right. I'll keep going. I'll keep trying.
So I think so many of us are just trying to get comfortable with who we are. I think Nasreen and Steph just expressed that so well. But while also, you know, we're just trying to work on ourselves at the same time, we're trying to get comfortable with being authentic while also working on being better. So for me, sorry, Steph, go ahead.
Steph
I was gonna say that quote that you mentioned, I just saw that just the other day. I was looking for a quote, to lift someone up and I came across that quote. And it actually was meaningful to me because you know, sometimes when we have those really tough days where it's really hard to get going, and I read that and I'm like, oh my god that that's so perfect. So yeah, I really, that resonated with me. I just wanted to thank you for sharing that.
Sylvia
And it really is one of my favorites, because it's about hope. What is it's about hope.
Steph
Yes.
Sylvia
So for me getting out of my comfort zone is about trying new things, reaching out to people speaking up for myself, and saying no when I need to. And, of course, doing all of this as someone who's blind.
So recently, on a trip, I happen to love waterfalls, and I love the feel of the spray of the water. And just, something about water just soothes me. And so we, my husband, and I hiked out to this waterfall. And he said, "well, do you want to climb down to it?" And it was a very rigorous, rigorous climb, and I knew it would be because I'd done it before, but when I could see more, I was scared. And he was there encouraging me and helping me.
But I will tell you that the whole time I'm climbing down ladies, I'm thinking if I fall, I'm gonna bust out my teeth and break my nose, and that will not look good. That's what I'm thinking the whole time. I'm not worried about anything for breaking my teeth and my nose and how I'm going to look.
But I managed to get down and physically it was a challenge. But at the end, I sat down at the bottom of that waterfall, which is you know, pride and peace. And I take a little rock from there to remind myself that it's okay to get out of my comfort zone and that I need to do that more. Now it was a little tiny rock. There were a lot of big rocks, but I was like, Oh, I can't carry those big rocks up that because now I gotta climb back up.
WHAT NEW BOLD THING WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO SOON?
Steph
Well, that sounds like the definition of bold. And I think it's a nice segue to the next question, which is what bold thing would you like to do soon? Nasreen, can we start with you?
Nasreen
Sure. I have done some bungee jumping in the past just in case y'all don't know. And I love that kind of stuff. I love being sort of high up and sort of gravity pull and all this stuff.
So one of the things I was thinking about was taking a ride up high in a hot air balloon. And just being free and letting myself go and just enjoying the view of the air and maybe a bird or two. If I see one up that high. I love those kinds of things.
And also trying my hand at ziplining since I've done the bungee jumping, I've seen ziplining and I thought this would be kind of cool maybe going over a lake or like you, Sylvia a waterfall that seems so surreal and fun and just this getting kind of wet and looks that to me is just really surreal and fun and just letting yourself go and destressing and just the whole mental relaxation and I love that kind of stuff.
So I'm a kid at heart. I love that kind of sort of G-force stuff. You know going up high going down low up and down roller coasters and things like that. So that's why what I would love to do and I am scared because I've heard of hot air balloons kind of crashing down on you. But I would just love to go up high in the little basket and just pop my head over. See what I can see.
DANA'S BEAUTY BYTE
Dana Hinnant
Here is some bold beauty to transition into your fall season. Giving you the green light. Eye Color is coming up in various shades - color green. Eyeliner, eyeshadow, in green combined with cobalt blue, is very interesting.
And if you want that feathery look to your eyelashes with some color why not have green eyelashes? Now, you might not want to go through the process of sewing yarn into your eyelashes like they did at some of the fall 2022 shows but no worries. You can purchase green eyelashes.
And we're gonna stay on eyes. We know we've used lipstick for various things. So why not use electric pink on your eyes as a cream shout-out? Give you that bold, beautiful look.
Sparkle and shine with your blush. One of the trending things that's happening is using rhinestones on your cheeks with your blush, little eyelash glue, and sparkle. That will be great for an evening out.
And finally move over bronzer, according to Allure, green highlighter is taking over Tick Tock. Now, this is very interesting if you can pull this off, but I feel a look such as this will be great for those fall festivals. And that's your Bold Blind Beauty Byte.
Nasreen
How about you Steph?
Steph
Mine's not quite as daring or risky. But then I'm not a daring and risky person. But it is deep in my heart, it really is.
I would like to write an autobiography. It's something I've been wanting to do for a while now. But it really does scare me to death. I mean, just like exposing myself is just so it gives me heart palpitations. So to a lot of people that would be they'd roll their eyes like really? seriously? an autobiography? That's not bold, but it really is a bold thing for me. Sylvia, how about you?
Sylvia
So I'm gonna wrap up with a final quote that I think just says what bold is so much and it's from Nora Ephron. And she says, "above all, be the heroine of your life." There's a part that also says "and not the victim," but I love that be the heroine of your life.
It's so easy to slip into I can't, is too hard, you know, as people who are blind things, things can be hard, they can be scary. I think for me, I am a fairly adventurous person who's done lots of adventures. And, and, and I try not to let blindness ever stop me. Now, I go back to on that I'm scared to death on the inside. But I try still not to let it stop me.
Because number one for myself, I think that I'm really trying to be everything and experience everything that I want to. But I also want to share that with other people, I want people who are blind, our sisters and brothers who are blind out there to really know you can do it. And so we each have that opportunity to kind of model that for people. And so part of that is getting out of my comfort zone to make sure other people feel like they can also do that.
So I think the bold things that I'm doing, are being more authentic, and not having to feel like I have to be shiny all the time. Be that confident person all the time. That I don't have to be on stage all the time. To say no when I want to, to shine when I want to. To hide when I want to, to be brave or bold when I want to, and to admit it when I'm scared. But of course, I'll just say I'd love to travel the whole world.
Steph
That is so very well said. And I think to wrap things up, I would like to also share a quote, "We are all in the same storm. But we are not all in the same boat." The storm is life and the boat is our story.
As we've demonstrated through the numerous stories that we've shared on Bold Blind Beauty and the blind people that we featured here on the podcast, all of our stories are different, and they are all valuable. When we take the time to stop, listen and learn from others' lived experiences, the tapestry of life becomes more enriched.
Many of us look at adventurers and risk-takers as bold people, and they really are. However, depending on where we are in our stories. Sometimes being bold can be something as simple as getting out of bed and taking a shower. It's important for all of us to remember that we're all walking, talking stories, and each is different. The real Boldness is living our lives or stories to the very best of our ability.
Nasreen
Thank you for listening to the Bold Blind Beauty On A.I.R. Podcast with your hosts Stephanae McCoy, Nasreen Bhutta, and Sylvia Stinson-Perez. Subscribe to Our Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or your favorite podcast platform. And do watch out for our next monthly episode.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
