Going to the Moon

Before 1969, the notion of humans walking on the moon was met with widespread skepticism. The image of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the lunar surface felt like science fiction—impossible, even laughable to many. Yet history proved otherwise. That “giant leap for mankind” didn’t just silence doubters—it redefined the boundaries of possibility.

This moment echoes a theme I encounter often: the dismissal of the unconventional. As someone who is legally blind, I’ve heard countless variations of the question, “How can someone blind do [x]?”—sometimes from professionals who claim expertise in disability. These statements often carry an air of certainty, yet they reveal more about the speaker’s limitations than mine. Unfamiliarity is not the same as impossibility.

History is rich with examples of innovation once deemed implausible. We moved from horse-drawn carriages to autonomous vehicles, and now imagine flying cars. The method may change, but the destination remains. Progress isn’t linear—it’s imaginative.

I deeply admire those who challenge conventional wisdom and pursue outcomes once thought unreachable. I’ve been privileged to know many such pioneers, especially among the Greatest and Silent Generations. Their quiet courage and bold vision continue to inspire my own path—one that embraces adaptive thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the belief that barriers are meant to be reimagined.