Overcoming Problems
By Margaret Daley
My disability is auditory processing. All my life I've had difficulty processing correctly what I hear which has led to a number of problems. I had difficulty learning to read (especially with the phonetic approach) as well as spelling. I can’t learn to speak a foreign language because I don’t hear the sounds correctly. I also have trouble pronouncing words I’m not familiar with in the English language.
The Lord has given everyone strengths and weaknesses and His support in dealing with them. When you have the Lord’s love, anything is possible. You are not alone. I used this philosophy in my teaching.
In my testimony in The Overcomers, I describe what auditory processing is and my problems that stem from having difficulty with auditory processing. I show you what I went through as a child with a learning disability before it was a recognized problem in school. I discuss some of the strategies I used to work around my disability—still use to work around it. I’m not cured. I still have trouble today with auditory processing. I have learned to compensate for my auditory processing problem—sometimes not as successfully as I would like.
I've taught students with learning disabilities. I've taught other authors about writing. But I still struggle with having an auditory processing problem. It hasn’t disappeared. I’ve just found ways to work around it, and when I can’t, persevering where I can and ultimately depending on the Lord to support me. A person has to learn to play to his or her strengths. Of course, you can’t always do that. Yes, there are times I have to listen and focus on what a person is saying, when I can’t use my strong visual skills to help me. Phone conversations are an example of this.
To be honest I still don’t like getting up in front of an audience, but I have because I had classes every day when I taught high school. I even read to my classes although it isn’t my favorite activity. I still get scared and my stomach still knots, but with the Lord’s help, I have overcome a lot of my nervousness.
Someone once told me that he didn’t look at people as having weaknesses but opportunities. I liked how he put it. I can let it get me down and avoid activities that can enrich my life and others because of my auditory processing problem, or I can deal with it and embrace the opportunities presented to me.
If you look at failure as an opportunity to learn, this can help you handle those times you are put in a situation that is difficult for you—like reading in front of a group. If you avoid a difficulty because you fear failure, you may never experience new opportunities to further grow. The Lord is constantly challenging us. Sometimes we hear Him; sometimes we ignore Him.
By embracing my fears, I have met some wonderful people who have enhanced my life. I have spoken to various groups of writers and readers and become friends with many of them. If I hadn’t plowed through my fear of speaking and reading in front of people, I would have missed those chances to enrich the quality of my life. If I had let my struggles to learn to read as a child, I would never have written the stories I've sold over the years.
Margaret Daley, a USA Today Bestseller of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.
Her most current book out is Deadly Countdown. When Remy Broussard, an injured police officer, returns to Port David, Louisiana to visit before his medical leave is over, he discovers his childhood friend, Allie Martin, is being stalked. As Remy protects Allie and tries to find her stalker, they realize their feelings go beyond friendship.
When the stalker is found, they begin to explore the deeper feelings they have for each other, only to have a more sinister threat come between them. Will Allie be able to save Remy before he dies at the hand of a maniac?
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How wonderful of you to try to help others with the same problems. We should all remember how our opportunities help us to grow.
ReplyDeleteFor the longest time I didn't know what was wrong with me until I worked with students with learning problems.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderfully enriching post. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret, I'm commenting a little late to the party but I want to thank you for sharing this. I/we often look at published authors, especially bestselling authors as having it made, no problems. But obviously it's not true. We all have problems, or as you say, opportunities. I am very encouraged to hear your story. I have Fibromyalgia quite severely and am a writer not yet published but working towards it. I worry that if and when I become published I will struggle to meet deadlines, and do all the other hard work that's required of published authors. My energy is very low and my pain increases when I push myself. But you remind me that God is able to work in our weakness, he is strong in our weakness. And we are none of us alone. Thank you for this post. and God bless you.
ReplyDelete<> what an inspiring sentiment and wonderful post! I taught kids with learning disabilities and not many people understand just how hard these amazing students have to work to achieve what comes easily to others. I deeply admire you for all that you've achieved and the good work you do. Bless.
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