Beauty Buzz/Blog Biz
Editor’s Note:
Don’t you just love an innocent story that has an unexpected ending? If you do, then “Caution Wet Floor” by Catherine Harrison won’t disappoint. What I love most about this one is how relatable it is. Enjoy!
Caution Wet Floor
I’m not sure if it’s just my Southern upbringing or a personality flaw of raw tenacity, but I have a loyalty conviction that runs deep in my veins. I firmly believe you dance with the one that brung ya and play the hand you’re dealt.
This has been a theme in my life and has translated into friendships, jobs, my faith, and decisions. Once I make a decision, accept a job, or choose to be your friend I rarely (almost never) change my mind or direction.
There are, however, a few occasions when my stubborn streak teaches me a hard lesson or two about when it’s time to stop, evaluate the situation, and reluctantly change my choice.
Being legally blind there are only two things left that I can still drive. One is a horse and the other is a shopping cart. A few years back while I was grocery shopping, my cart started making a loud scraping noise and became hard to push. “Darn it”, I thought, I choose the one cart, out of a hundred, that has a bad wheel. You know the one I am talking about…it’s the cart that has chewing gum on the wheel, won’t turn left, makes a loud scraping noise, and pulls hard to the right.
I got THAT cart, but decided to persevere, push a little harder and to live with my choice.
Because after all, like many Southern women I believe it’s a sign of weakness if you have to go back and get a different cart. You have to commit to your basket and don’t envy the other carefree shoppers whizzing past you.
Keep On Pushing
In a hurry, I was unwilling to admit my poor choice and because I already had lots of groceries piled inside I just kept on pushing.
The scraping (irritating) noise got louder and louder, so by now, people began to turn and stare. I’m sure they thought, “poor girl, she’s not only blind but must be deaf too,” because I willfully pretended like I didn’t hear the flapping PowPowPow going on around me…I just kept on shopping. Then it got so hard to steer that I looked like I was doing a K-turn in a limo just to make the corner. At one point, sweat beaded on my forehead and upper lip because I had to lean into the handle with all my weight just to get the darn cart rolling.
Still, I pressed on, righteous in my choice and unwilling to admit defeat. As I made my way down the bread aisle a young grocery clerk approached me (he heard me coming) with his hand outstretched, motioning for me to stop. “Hey Lady”, he says, “you know if you would take that WET FLOOR sign out from underneath your cart it won’t make so much noise.”
Indeed, I had run over the neon yellow, Caution Wet Floor sign back in the produce section and pushed it (wedged under my basket) all the way to the middle of the store.
I couldn’t see it underneath because of my visual handicap, not to mention the mounds of veggies, wonder bread, and potato chips loaded in my cart. But I also didn’t bother to slow down long enough to find out what the problem was.
Moral of the Story
We all do this from time to time in life. We let hard times, hurt feelings, or bad circumstances get wedged underneath “our cart” so to speak and the problems don’t go away…they just get louder. They can make each day more difficult than it has to be, steal our joy, distract us and others from what is most important all because we are too stubborn to make a different choice.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all experience the glorious freedom of riding down the aisle, feet up on the cart like we did as unencumbered youth?! But that’s not reality.
I learned the hard way the wet floor sign wasn’t really my problem. It was my prideful reluctance to take the time – to stop—to deal with what was diverting attention away from my goal. I needed to address the impediments making it hard to see the problem before then pressing on.
Regardless of impairments or obstacles no one else can drive your cart for you.
Connecting With Catherine:
- Instagram: @CatherineHarrison_Model
- Facebook: @ModelCatherineHarrison
- Website: linktr.ee/catherineharrison_model
Author Bio:
Catherine is both fearless in the face of a challenge and skilled at defying the stereotypes assigned to women over 50 and to the handicapped. As a former professional ballerina, who studied at Julliard’s School of American Ballet, Catherine brings that same discipline, grace and poise to being a model who happens to be blind.
Catherine started her modeling career in the 1980’s working her way through nursing school. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and was an operating room nurse for many years before losing the majority of her eyesight. Although only partially sighted, due to a progressive retinal disease, she is very independent and uses her white cane for mobility.
Today, Catherine combines her skills as a ballerina, 10+ years of weight training and her knowledge as a nurse to become a popular certified fitness instructor, teaching stretching/flexibility class. Her lean, athletic physique and positive approach to fitness/nutrition/beauty at every age makes her both a role model and expert in what an active, healthy lifestyle can be.
Her encouraging message of perseverance and strength regardless of circumstances led Catherine to be a sought-after public speaker and writer for more than 10 years.
Image Descriptions
- Header: A yellow “Caution Wet Floor” signage on a white tiled floor.
- A professional black & white headshot of Catherine Harrison in a suit jacket.
- Shopping cart view in a supermarket aisle with product shelves abstract blur defocused background a digital tablet computer screen showing types of facelift, forehead lift, and nose correcting procedures available.
- A young man waving and smiling with a speech bubble nezxt to him that says “Hey Lady!”
- A pair of sneaker-clad feet on the road with a “STOP” sign.
- Author bio photo of Catherine who has short blonde hair and mesmerizing green eyes. She is wearing a stunning sleeveless red keyhole top.