Sometimes when we are tired and worn down by the tough struggle with T, we need that guiding light, some uplifting example of positivity to help us soldier on our journey with T. As requested by a forum member,I want to post the positive story of Zoe here in the Positivity Thread. Hopefully, you can gain some inspiration from this pretty young lady.
This is a tinnitus short film made by a young European lady Zoe Cartwright. She went to the Yuku forum many years ago to introduce her film when I was new with T. She made the film as a university project. She is an inspiration to me in my struggle with tinnitus, prompting me to accept the reality of my T regardless of the impossibility and reluctance. I figured that if this young pretty girl can overcome such an incredible challenge of her unmaskable loud T and total deafness, then I should have more faith in myself to be able to overcome my own T.
She told us her story that she turned completely deaf at young 15. It would have been easier for someone born with deafness. Yet a young, vibrant pretty girl having to face such sudden change in her life? It must have been devastating to say the least. Then she is hit with this loud T. Her T is unmaskable due to her deafness. How tough is it to handle the loud scream without any ability to mask and face a whole life of this horrible sound w/o any other sounds? I don't even want to think about that possibility for myself and it sends chill through my spine to even think of it. I admire her courage and stamina. What impresses me most is her wise decision to accept the reality of her unmaskable T, however loud and %(#%*^! unbearable. She said it is either acceptance or utter misery for the rest of her life, and the decision was easy for her. To accept the reality of T in one's life doesn't mean you have to like T, but that you are willing to move on, willing to peacefully co-exist with T without being swarmed by all the negative reactions and emotions. It may take time to get there but she shows me the possibility back then.
So Zoe chooses to accept her reality and move on with her young life. She said she loves the beauty of the visible world and she loves diving. That is probably why she has scenes of underwater shots. She also moved on to achieve her goal to attend university where she made her film. You may have a tough time understanding what she narrates in the film due to her accent as she is from some northern European country. But in this site, Zoe came to explain herself in the comment section and you can understand her narration better:
http://www.grumpyoldeafies.com/2008/05/film_experience_of_tinnitus.html
Here is her film and I hope you come out realizing her courage and positivity to climb this incredibly tough mountain in her young life. She has been a guiding light for me and I hope you can be inspired by her story too. I think she is a film director now:
(by the way, the film title of 24.7.52.10 means she has had her loud, unmaskable tinnitus 7/24 & 52 weeks a year for 10 years at the time of making this film)
. Then for the rest of the hospital stay it was almost quiet for me as well. Strange things.
!! strange how that works out huh? It sucks that sometimes that happens at the worst possible time.there's a lesson to be learned in the midst of that and strength to be gained. I pray that your cruise is fantastic and stress free! I hope the calm of the ocean waters gives you some relief from your T!!! Enjoy my friend!!! Smooth sailing and following winds 
!!!
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