Imagine: An Inspirational Story

by Jimmy Hulme

(originally written on January 30, 2013)

Imagine me having an unforgettable dream of walking with my white cane from this beutiful spacious Garden State: New Jersey to California! I can create an unique experience in my mind and see it through my own intense blue eyes that this is an incomprehensible feat for me to accomplish, but I challenge myself to accomplish it before the year 2020. I can imagine all of the people standing still in a queue on Santa Monica Boulevard or Hollywood's Stars Walk of Fame in that precious golden redwood and beach state we have always dreamed of vacating to: California. 

Independence would be the strength and the key element of success towards my goal. I would also need to utilize the following technologically advanced items: Global Positioning System (GPS), Kindle, and Smartphone. If Erik Weihenmayer was able to "Touch the Top of the World" by climbing Mount Everest as a determined blind individual then I would like to ask one valuable question, "Why on earth am I not able to accomplish and set myself out on this incredible and long journey?"

Throughout my life I have learned to persevere through every obstacle known to mankind including loss of vision at birth and loss of hearing at age twenty-one. Luckily, I imagine every animal I have to meet through Interstate 10 while walking would be just another walk in the park for me. Throughout my incredible everlasting journey I would discover many historic national parks, rivers, lakes, creeks, and forest along the way...

Imagine all of Mother Nature's possibilities and I am grateful for the kindness of strangers and give credit to the builders of each locale along the way. I would not take each obstacle and opportunity along the way to imagine the long run for granted, and I would look at these new experiences as a time in my life that I can make new friends. I believe my future will be that, while I can imagine a long hike with just my white cane and make my dream come true, I know that I will need help in this elongated journey. 

I hope to reminisce with all of my peers when I return from thsi trip. I can imagine this trip will help me to gain more self confidence in my ability to succeed and will be the greatest strength for the rest of my life. If I just keep my head up and learn to persevere through a difficult task, I will make it through successfully.

"You  may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."- John Lennon, Imagine

Please comment below or send me an e-mail to jim.hulme@gmail.com