As someone who regularly consults rottentomatoes.com for new movie reviews, but still over the years has often shared similar opinions with Roger Ebert, whose website I surf on an almost weekly basis, I was blown away today when I stumbled upon this video of a recent "talk" he gave about losing the use of his voice to cancer. I had no idea that this had even happened, and when someone's tone and inflection is ingrained so well in your memory I know that I at least can "hear" their voice like it is speaking to me as I read their written words. I hope perhaps that is the case for many of you reading along with me in my blog.
Though our health issues are different, the words in this video resonated deeply with my own feelings of loss of identity and my voice and ability to put on a positive and "normal" face with which to greet the world with each day. I encourage you all to take the time to watch this short video that moved me to tears several times. Despite my strength, passion and dedication to face my own fear for the first time in my life, I am humbled and deeply inspired in the face of real courage and positivity such as this.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/232234/tedtalks-roger-ebert-remaking-my-voice
I read his site constantly too. Even on the rare occasions when my opinion disagrees with his, I love his writing style and blog.
ReplyDeleteI found your site through a link on Mr. Ebert's Facebook page, and I'm so happy I clicked through. Your documentation of your journey is inspiring - keep writing, even if no one is reading. It's easy to see that it is an integral part of your healing.
ReplyDeleteI am also inspired because I have recently been going to the dentist again after a 20-year hiatus. You can probably guess the reason I stopped going - a dental technician telling me that I was doing everything wrong, and that permanent damage would be the result if I didn't shape up. I wish someone could tell those "professionals" how much damage they do when they chastise their patients that way. When I visited my current dentist the first time there was not one discouraging word about what had happened in my mouth up until that point. It was all, "Here's how were going to fix it, here's what you can do to help heal." It was so simple! Why can't they all be like that?
Anyway, thanks for the inspirational words! Best of luck on future appointments!