Losing Vision, Reconnecting to Nature and the Spirit of Giving

Summary

Hadley Presents: Losing Vision, Reconnecting to Nature and the Spirit of Giving

Episode Release Date: November 7, 2024

In this inspiring episode of Hadley Presents: A Conversation with the Experts, host Ricky Enger engages in a heartfelt discussion with Ron Peterson, a dedicated docent at the Tijuana River Estuary in Southern California. The episode delves into Ron's remarkable journey of adapting to vision loss while maintaining a profound connection with nature, emphasizing the transformative power of volunteering and the spirit of giving.

---

1. Introduction to Ron Peterson's Journey

The episode opens with Ricky Enger introducing Ron Peterson, highlighting his longstanding relationship with nature, which began in his childhood as a Boy Scout and deepened even after losing his vision five and a half years prior. Ricky remarks, "I think it helps because people so much to hear just how incredible nature is and that there really is more than one way to connect with it" (00:27).

---

2. Evolution of the Sensory-Based Nature Tours

Ed Haynes, an avid gardener and fellow host, initiates the conversation by inquiring about Ron's unique role as a docent. Ron explains how his transition to blindness initially disrupted his volunteer work at the estuary, such as planting native plants and maintaining trails (02:58). Determined to continue contributing, Ron collaborated with the estuary staff to develop a new approach: offering "eye-opening experiences without sight." This innovative concept leverages the other four senses—touch, smell, sound, and even taste—to help visitors connect with the native flora.

Ron reflects, "It really worked out well. It turns out it's very unusual... It's become very popular and it has given me a great deal of joy sharing with people this experience" (02:59).

---

3. Conducting Sensory-Rich Nature Walks

During the nature walks, typically lasting an hour and a half, Ron guides groups of 2 to 20 visitors through the estuary, introducing them to approximately 15 to 18 different plants each session (03:46). He emphasizes the tactile and auditory qualities of plants, describing how "the leaves are different," "they have different veins and different shapes," and noting unique sounds like the "rattling pods of the bladder pod" and the "whispering sound" of cottonwoods (04:26).

Ron shares his transition from identifying plants by sight to using his other senses: "I learned to identify and enjoy these plants with these other senses" (04:54). This approach not only enriches the experience for sighted visitors but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the capabilities of the blind community.

---

4. Impact on Visitors and Broader Communities

Ed highlights the rarity and value of Ron's tours, observing, "it's like Mother Nature kind of invented the concept of universal design" (07:17). Ron elaborates on the educational aspect, particularly for visitors who are blind, by dedicating time to discuss how nature can be appreciated without sight: "they walk away with a better appreciation of how the blind can still enjoy life by taking advantage of these other senses" (06:13). This dual impact enhances understanding and empathy between sighted and visually impaired communities.

---

5. Overcoming Vision Loss through Volunteering and Giving

When asked for advice, Ron attributes his resilience to a combination of reconnecting with nature and embracing the spirit of giving, values instilled in him by his father. He shares, "Just giving to others can kind of help you get away from your own problems and to think about others" (08:01). This proactive approach not only helped him navigate the initial period of depression following his vision loss but also enriched his life by keeping him engaged and purposeful.

Ron further emphasizes the importance of community resources, stating, "my relationship with the Braille Institute... and Hadley was a huge help to me" (10:02). These organizations provided essential tools and support, enabling him to thrive despite his challenges.

---

6. The Role of Guide Dogs in Enhancing Independence

The conversation shifts to the practical aspects of Ron's accessibility in nature. Ron introduces Gidget, his guide dog for over two years, highlighting the pivotal role she plays in his daily activities and tours. "Gidget has been my guide dog now for over two years. She's an amazing animal" (11:27). Together, they navigate the estuary, with Gidget assisting Ron in maintaining a steady pace suitable for leading groups. Ron notes that having a guide dog has expanded his confidence to explore more diverse environments, such as downtown San Diego.

---

7. Integrating Skills and Passion for Nature

Ricky probes whether Ron's passion for nature drove him to acquire adaptive skills or vice versa. Ron responds thoughtfully, "it's both... the need for being out in nature led me to develop additional skills... and this dog has helped me do things that I wouldn't normally do" (13:18). This symbiotic relationship between his love for the outdoors and the practical tools he adopted underscores the holistic approach necessary for adapting to vision loss.

---

8. Final Thoughts and Encouragement

As the episode draws to a close, Ron offers heartfelt advice to listeners: "get out to the nearest park or go for hikes... find someone to help you with the hike, get a guide dog, learn cane skills" (14:13). He encourages embracing all senses to experience nature fully, reinforcing that "there's so much out there to smell, to touch, to hear. It's not just about sight."

Ricky echoes Ron's sentiments, underscoring the importance of engaging with nature beyond the visual component and the therapeutic benefits of volunteering and giving back. He concludes with an invitation to experience Ron's tours firsthand, promising a unique and enriching encounter with Southern California's native plants.

---

Key Takeaways

• Adaptive Volunteering: Losing vision doesn't preclude meaningful engagement with nature. Adapting roles to leverage other senses can create inclusive and enriching experiences for all.

• Spirit of Giving: Volunteering and helping others can be a powerful tool for personal recovery and maintaining a sense of purpose after vision loss.

• Importance of Support Systems: Community resources like the Braille Institute and organizations like Hadley are invaluable in providing the tools and support needed to navigate life after vision loss.

• Role of Guide Dogs: Guide dogs not only enhance mobility and independence but also expand the scope of activities and environments accessible to individuals with vision impairments.

• Sensory Engagement with Nature: Emphasizing touch, smell, sound, and even taste can deepen the connection with the natural world, offering a multifaceted appreciation that transcends visual observation.

---

Notable Quotes

• Ron Peterson (02:59): "It really worked out well. It turns out it's very unusual... It's become very popular and it has given me a great deal of joy sharing with people this experience."

• Ron Peterson (06:13): "They walk away with a better appreciation of how the blind can still enjoy life by taking advantage of these other senses."

• Ron Peterson (08:01): "Just giving to others can kind of help you get away from your own problems and to think about others."

• Ron Peterson (11:27): "Gidget has been my guide dog now for over two years. She's an amazing animal."

• Ron Peterson (14:13): "Get out to the nearest park or go for hikes... find someone to help you with the hike, get a guide dog, learn cane skills."

---

This episode of Hadley Presents serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless ways in which individuals can maintain and even deepen their connections with the natural world despite challenges such as vision loss. Ron Peterson's story is a beacon of hope and inspiration for anyone navigating similar paths, illustrating that with adaptability, support, and a giving heart, one can continue to thrive and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

---

Timestamps:

• 00:00
• 00:25
• 00:27
• 01:16
• 02:58
• 02:59
• 03:17
• 03:46
• 04:25
• 04:26
• 04:54
• 05:36
• 06:13
• 07:17
• 08:01
• 09:38
• 10:02
• 11:27
• 12:32
• 12:37
• 12:39
• 13:18
• 13:28
• 13:29
• 14:00
• 14:13
• 14:38
• 15:54
• 15:55
• 16:03

Transcript

[A]

Losing your vision doesn't have to mean missing out on the chance to enjoy a deep connection with nature. In this episode, Ed Haynes speaks with Ron Peterson, who shares his experiences as a tour guide for the Tijuana River Estuary in Southern California. I'm Ricky Enger and this is Hadley Presents. Welcome to the show, both of you.

[B]

Thank you, Ricky.

[C]

Thank you very much.

[A]

It is so good to have you both here. Ed, you are an avid gardener and I couldn't think of a more appropriate person to chat with Ron. And Ron, I know you've always had a really deep relationship with nature going all the way back to childhood as a member of the Boy Scouts. And of course that relationship continues to evolve after vision loss. You know, I think it helps because people so much to hear just how incredible nature is and that there really is more than one way to connect with it. So I am very much looking forward to hearing about your journey, Ron, and how you ended up doing what you currently do at the estuary. So, yeah, I will turn it over to Ed and Ron.

[B]

Yeah, thanks, Ricky and Ron, thanks for being with us today. Really, this is a great topic. It's really important and also a whole lot of fun for me just to talk about the natural world. Now, you work at the Tijuana River Estuary, which, after doing some research online, it's a large area with a lot of unique features, particularly with regard to bird and plant life. So how did the concept of your tours. You give a tour, it's called an eye opening experience without sight. And you're a docent and you give a tour for folks a couple times a month, I believe. So how did that concept of your tour evolve?

[C]

Well, I lost my vision about five and a half years ago and I. I had been working at the estuary for two or three years and that was a very special, a very special experience for me working as a volunteer at the estuary. Volunteering is very important to me overall. And when I lost my vision, I wasn't able to do some of the things I was doing out there. Planting native plants and removing invasives and working on the trails. And that was very frustrating, very difficult for me to adjust to. I couldn't do this anymore. So I got together a few years ago with the staff and we started thinking about different ways that I could continue to volunteer. And the idea came that how about becoming a docent and talking to visitors about the native plants there in the estuary in a completely different way as a blind person, introducing our visitors to our native plants with emphasizing the other four Senses besides sight.

[B]

It's a great idea.

[C]

It really worked out well. It turns out it's very unusual. I don't know of any other situation where people do this. It's become very popular and it has given me a great deal of joy sharing with people this, this experience. So it's worked out really well.

[B]

Well, that's great. And you know, why don't you tell us a little bit about how you share the experience of nature with others. And I think I read somewhere you identify something like 40 different plants. So that must have. Accumulating that body of knowledge must have been pretty big job to begin with. And then communicating that body of knowledge to sighted persons is another whole skill set. So how does the experience work for folks? What do you do when you take them out on the, on the estuary?

[C]

Right. Well, it's about a one and a half hour walk, nature walk, the first Saturday of every month. And anywhere from 2 to 20 visitors show up. They go to the website and they find out this opportunity and I give them an introduction to the Tijuana Estuary, the history and the, and the management and, and, and all about the Kumeya, the Native Americans that were the first people here and the San Diego area. And then we walk around for an hour or so and I visit about 15 or 18 different plants. The ones that I think are the most interesting.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And what happens is, I mean these plants are beautiful to look at, but, but also they, they all feel different. They have different textures and the, the leaves are different. They, and they have different veins and different shapes and different margins, edges. And also many of them have distinct smells and some of them even have sounds like the bladder pod if you, they have these pods that rattle when you shake them.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And, and the cottonwoods, when the wind is blowing, there's kind of a wonderful sound that kind of a whispering sound that comes from the leaves and, and the bees in the lemonade berry, the buzzing. So it's really about how they feel, it's not how they smell and how they sound. So I've learned when I worked at the estuary before I lost my vision, I learned quite a few plants by sight. But then a few years ago I said, you know what? I'm going to learn how to identify and enjoy these plants with these other senses. So I worked on that for a while. So that's how we were able to put this together.

[B]

Well, that's fantastic. You know, I actually live near a nature sanctuary and I'm always amazed that folks speed through it when they're touring it, or there's even a drive, they can drive through it. They never get out of their car. They may roll down a window occasionally. But even the walking trails, people don't take their time to really interact with the plant life in ways that it sounds like you're introducing. So I'm just curious, what do people come away from that experience on your nature walk? What. What are some of the things they come away with? And do they learn anything about themselves?

[C]

Well, one thing I do during the walk is I always take three or four minutes. We stop at one of the most. Most beautiful plants. It's the California sagebrush. And right about there, I stop for five minutes and talk to the people about blindness and how the. The experience that I'm sharing with them is important to. Many of my visitors are blind. I have special tour groups that come in that are blind. So I explain how this experience can help decided appreciate nature with all senses, all of the senses, and how the. The blind community can. Can learn to appreciate nature without sight. So I think that's something that I share with my visitors, and they walk away with a better appreciation of how the blind can still enjoy life by taking advantage of these other senses and how the sighted community can enjoy life more by taking care of all five senses. Does that make sense?

[B]

It does. And it's almost like you're saying Mother Nature kind of invented the concept of universal design. Right? There's something there for everybody. That's fantastic. I did want to ask you, Ron, just briefly, what sort of advice would you give to folks who maybe have lost some vision and who also really value being immersed in nature, whether it's getting out, hiking, backpacking, or doing whatever it is they do? And what advice would you give to folks if they're concerned that future vision loss will inhibit that ability? You've obviously overcome that issue, and you haven't let vision get in your way of experiencing nature. So what advice would you give to folks who are concerned that that might be a problem?

[C]

Well, you know, for me, it's. It's partly about getting back to nature that has helped me, but it's also about the spirit of giving, that volunteer spirit. And that's something that I learned from my father when I was very young. He instilled in me the. The love of nature and also the. The spirit of giving. And so most of my life, I've tried to be involved in volunteer activities. So what that did for me is when I lost my vision, I kind of reconnected with that Concept. I was pretty depressed for about a year or so. For most of a year, I was kind of down in the dumps, having lost my vision. But what happened was I reconnected with my love of nature and this value that he instilled in me at not volunteering. By putting those ingredients together, it really helped me to become, for my life, become more full. And. And I think that's a lesson for other people when they lose their vision. Just giving to others can kind of help you get away from your own problems and to think about others. And then I think it's about thinking, what are your skills? What are your various interests? In my case, it was love of nature and combining that with this spirit of giving. And spirit of giving is kind of the special sauce. And I think that's. That helped me to overcome that initial period, and I think it could help others as well.

[B]

Ron, it's a really great concept, that idea of not just being a passive participant in nature, but taking an active role. And it sounds like being active in nature and giving back to the natural world and to other people has helped you maintain your exposure to nature itself, which is just a wonderful idea. So thank you very much for that.

[C]

There's. There's a couple of other elements to. To the equation that helped me. Not just the. I mean, the spirit of giving is kind of a special sauce, but the love of nature. Also, I learned to reach out and ask for help, and that's something that I wasn't really as good at as I should have been. But that's something that's very important to. To someone who becomes blind is knowing to ask for help. Also, my relationship with the Braille Institute, I learned many of the tools to get along as a blind person, and Hadley was a huge help to me to help me learn the various tools to get along without sight. But the special sauce in all of this to me has been the spirit of giving, of helping others that I learned from my father many, many years ago.

[B]

Well, that's just great advice, and thanks for mentioning Hadley. I'm glad we've been of some help. And when you mentioned the Braille Institute, they have an office in San Diego, so that's wonderful. They could assist you. And speaking of assistance, that's a great segue. I do know from having seen your videos, you do have a dog guide. So I just was curious about the role of your dog guide in your tours and how having a dog guide has maybe helped you stay active in the natural environment.

[C]

Well, I'm glad you Asked. That's Gidget. Gidget has been my guide dog now for over two years. She's an amazing animal. I highly recommend the guide dog for folks. We go hiking in the estuary together, Gidget and I also. The estuary is about, almost a mile from our house. So every time I go to the estuary, she gets me there and back. But during the walk itself, a guide dog goes one speed, guide dog speed, whatever that speed might be. And you know, when I'm leading the group, we're kind of strolling. So I heal her during the hike. And I worked there for so many years, so I know my way around pretty well by almost by memory and by feel. And then once in a while I'll take the elbow of someone if I get a little bit confused. So I'm healing my guide dog while I'm doing the nature walk. But she gets me there and she gets me back home and, and also she. She and I go for hikes in yesterday together often.

[B]

She's living her best life as a. As a guide dog. I can tell you that. That's wonderful.

[C]

She loves it there almost as much as I do.

[B]

Yeah, I'm sure she does. And I just had two part question, really. And it's about your functional adjustment to vision loss and then about your need for a natural environment and your ability to participate fully in that environment. Again after your vision loss. I'm just curious, it's kind of chicken or the egg type of question. Did your need to participate in the natural environment drive your need to acquire adjustment skills like cane training or using a dog guide? Or did acquiring those skills then enable you to return back to the natural environment, or did it all happen together?

[C]

That is a good question. I'd have to say both. I love to be out in nature and walking around, and that's one of the reasons I. I got a guide dog.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And so, yes, the need for being out in nature led me to develop additional skills or in this case, obtain a guide dog. But also, this dog has helped me do things that I wouldn't normally do. Like, for example, I'm much more comfortable about taking the trolley and the bus and going into downtown San Diego with the guide dog. But I guess it was probably the need for nature, for being with nature, that actually was one of the reasons that I got the guide dog.

[B]

Interesting. Okay, that's an answer to my question. That's what I was curious about. Is there anything else you'd like to tell our listeners or tell folks who have lost some vision, who'd like to get back out there and experience the natural world.

[C]

I would sure recommend that people get out and to the nearest park or go for hikes. You find someone to help you with the hike, get a guide dog, learn cane skills. There's so much out there to smell, to touch, to hear. It's not just about sight. So that would be my advice to others. It is. Sure helped me.

[B]

Perfect. Thank you, Ron.

[A]

Yes, thank you, Ron. It really sounds like and maybe you experienced nature this way before, but really leaning into that. So leaning into it isn't just about what you're looking at. It's what you're hearing, it's what you're smelling, what you can touch it. It feels like a much deeper relationship with nature. And so if people are struggling with their vision loss journey, it's definitely it can come out of the blue for some people and it's not an easy adjustment. But I loved what you said about how paying attention to what you're finding in nature, going on these hikes and in your case, giving back to people, leaning into that, that helped you to stop thinking about the woe is me parts of it which I really think people will appreciate. Ron, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your story. And the next time I'm in Southern California, I certainly hope to come and enjoy your tour.

[B]

Yeah, me too.

[C]

I would love to have both of you. Well, I'll give you both a special tour of these beautiful native plants at Southern California.

[A]

Wonderful. Thank you so much. Got something to say? Share your thoughts about this episode of Hadley Presents or make suggestions for future episodes. We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at [e-mail]. that's P O D C A S T at hadleyhelps. Org or leave us a message at 847-784-2870. Thanks for listening.