Imagine you are in a busy department store. Your friend says she’ll be back in a sec. You are stood next to a clothes rail, fumbling about feeling the pretty dresses, doing your best to seem busy and not draw attention to yourself. As you slowly move from one hanger to another, you bump elbows with a not soo impressed shopper. You feel their eyes looking at you with intense suspicion.

Oh damn, there is no sign of your friend, you’ve forgotten your caine at home. how do you explain your blindness without sounding like a complete tit?

This is how some of my shopping experiences used to be before little laura came along. Being left alone, unable to move around safely, not having a clue what to do, especially in busy environments was a nervous feeling. I often refused to take my caine with me for fear of being judged, appearing vulnerable and I just disliked using the damn thing as it made me look different. It took me many years to finally accept that learning how to use the caine was an essential first step towards regaining my independence and ultimately realising that being different is an asset.

We live in an era where we feel pressure to look a certain way, worry about what people may think of us, compare ourselves to others, the list could go on and on. Your eyes see what you feel to be true, but the answer actually is within you. let me explain…

Think of a box of chocolates. One is filled with identical pieces, and the other is a brilliant selection of flavours, shapes, textures, colours. Which would you rather have?

Just like a delightful box of chocolate, Choose to be your sweet unique self, embrace your strengths and individuality with pride and passion. Always remind yourself of the following,“The things that make me different are the things that make me me” wise words from my fav Pooh character, Piglet

And as for my shopping experiences these days…Having Laura by my side means that I don’t need to worry about explaining myself. Knocking an elbow, brushing past someone not a big deal. People are often understanding and curious to learn more about the role of a guide dog. With the unmistakable image of the furry little miricles in uniform recognised by many, we stand out in a crowd and walk with confidence everywhere we go. peoples attitude and willingness to help is far different to the stick experience these days!