“The Deaf Guy” published at Gobblers & Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Essays

Hey, folks. I’m excited to let you know that a series of essays I wrote about my experience as a deaf guy in a hearing world will be published at Gobblers & Masticadores, with the first one going live today. Many thanks to Juan Re Crivello for this opportunity to share my experiences with his readers. Today’s essay is “The Deaf Guy” and you can read it by following this link:

“The Deaf Guy” at Gobblers & Masticadores

It’s my hope that sharing my life as a deaf person will raise awareness of this “invisible disability” and the impact it has on those of us with hearing loss, and perhaps enlighten those with normal hearing in order to bridge the gap between us. I hope you enjoy it.

Once again, much gratitude to Juan Re Crivello for his kindness and generosity. It’s truly an honor for me.

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers & Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

52 thoughts on ““The Deaf Guy” published at Gobblers & Masticadores”

    1. Thanks, Iseult, for such an incredibly kind comment. It’s most definitely a very personal topic and I’ve been trying for years to finally come to terms with being deaf, but man, it’s hard, I won’t lie. But as with most things in my experience, writing about it results in a little bit of clarity, and perhaps inches me closer to fully accepting who I am. I’m really pleased that you read the essay and I appreciate your thoughtfulness so much. Thanks again! 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much. I suppose when you live with something for most of your life, you become intimately acquainted with it, so the words flow fairly easily when I write about this stuff. Writing helps, and the kindness of people (like you) on WP make things so much easier to bear. I thank you for that, my friend. 🙂

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    2. It’s such a unique coincidence, too. From what you’ve shared with me about your father, there are most definitely some interesting parallels. My very first interaction with you after I began my blog more than two years ago was regarding one of my essays, and how your father’s deaf journey had been similar to mine. I know you understand about deafness, and that means a lot to me because many hearing people don’t, or aren’t interested in learning about it. I appreciate you so much for this fact, David. A sincere thanks to you, good sir. 🙂

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  12. I can see how this must’ve been very therapeutic for you to write. Just voicing our struggles is often more helpful than anything else and writing is obviously your way to do that. I can see so many similarities in my own life that very much relate to things you’ve experienced. Feeling alone is the biggest one for me, but that was always due to my shy personality. People often asked me if I could speak because I rarely ever did when I was growing up. I think I always felt like the deaf girl because people treated me like I was. If you ever need a friend to talk to, don’t forget I’m always here. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Michelle, for such a thoughtful comment. I understand about feeling alone, for sure. I was painfully shy for all of my youth and still am today. It’s like being imprisoned in my own body, you know? Shyness can be devastating. I’m sorry you’ve gone through this. I want to say how much I appreciate your kindness, too. Your comment seriously touched my heart. I’m so glad you’re here on WP. Thank you, my friend. It means a lot to me. 🙂

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      1. Awww you’re welcome, Mike. ❤️
        And yes, I feel you. Sometimes we have to find ways to set ourselves free when we feel this way, but that is hardly easy. I’m just so glad I’ve gotten to follow along with you here on WordPress. Your kindhearted nature always means so much to me. 🙂

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  13. I’m so glad you’re running this series, Mike. It was heartbreaking to read about your marginalization, the otherism, and the bullying you experienced as a kid. I’m glad you’ve found your voice – through your poetry, and also in your desire to share your experiences. Both are loaded with power and every share shifts the world. I’m looking forward to reading more. Hugs.

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Diana. This series of essays comprised my first posts on this blog more than two years ago, but no one knew my blog existed back then so they went unread for the most part. I’m so grateful for Juan Re Crivello giving these essays a chance to see the light of day. It’s very personal stuff, but anyone who’s read my blog knows my poetry and nature images are all extremely personal and have deep meaning for me. I feel like sharing these essays is a way of not only enlightening people,, but also connecting with them. Not everyone is deaf or hard-of-hearing, but many readers know people who are, and perhaps my experiences will help people understand and be more compassionate and patient with those of us who are deaf.

      I actually began this blog as a means of reaching out to and connecting with other deaf people who might be socially isolated like me. That’s hasn’t really happened, but I’ve met some amazing people (like you) along the way, and sort of finding a place in this community of writers has been such a godsend for me. For the first time in maybe forever, I feel like I fit in, and I have all of you to thank for that.

      Thanks again, my friend. I hope you’ll enjoy the rest of the essays. 🙂

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  14. Mike, first of all, your story is so well written, so honest, and so brutally authentic. Thanks for sharing your perspective with us. Sometimes the biggest hurdle is we don’t see things from someone else’s point of view.

    You also touched on one of my biggest complaints about our society – why do we feel it is our job to label anyone? In education we label and separate kids. My first teaching job was in a “Behaviorally/Emotionally Handicapped” classroom. What a label to slap on a kid!

    Enough of my complaining. Congratulations on having your story published! I pray it not only helps you to tell it, but it also helps others who read it.

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    1. Thanks so much, Peggy, for taking the time to read this piece. You’re right–labeling a school kid as “behaviorally or emotionally handicapped” can really cause problems for the kid. Labels can be so destructive and even traumatizing. Childhood, adolescence and teenage years are difficult enough without the added weight of being separated into a group of “others.” I can just see all the bullies salivating in the hallways, you know?

      I know my experiences are solely mine, and I’m just some random dude, but I do hope that perhaps someone who reads my essays will come away with a better understanding of what deaf people must endure on a daily basis, and maybe it will lead to compassion instead of ridicule, inclusion rather than ostracism. We live in a broken world, and kindness seems in such short supply, but we really need to see everyone as a unique and valuable human, worthy of respect and dignity. Also, writing about it does help me a little as far as perspective goes. Organizing all those bad memories in an essay or a poem allows me to manage them more effectively.

      Anyway, many thanks for your kindness as always, my friend. I truly appreciate you. 🙂

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  15. Wonderful news about them publishing your series. I am truly sorry for your struggle. Thank you for being vulnerable in writing about it and hopefully helping people to understand that yes, there is so much more to people than labels!
    Oh, and Yes! Humor is vital to have in life!

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    1. Kindest thanks, Joy. I appreciate your reading this essay. I, too, hope we all can come to the point where we see past the labels. I wrote a poem back in college about this, how people judge by appearances and never get to know what’s behind the facade. So many people fall between the cracks and disappear because no one bothers to see beyond the label or the appearance or whatever. It’s terribly sad.

      I hope you’ll enjoy the upcoming essays. Thanks again for your kind comment and for taking time to read this one. Much appreciated. 🙂

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  16. Congratulations!!!
    Hello Mike, I hope you are doing well. I’m really glad to know that your essay (too) is published. These essays are worth reading and deserve to be published. I hope you will write more and we will get something beautiful to read. Always love to read your posts.. wise and deep writing indeed👍

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    1. Yay! My friend Saima is back! It’s been too long since you graced the pages of my blog, my friend. Thanks so much for your kind words and for taking the time to read this essay. You’ve always been so supportive and I really appreciate it. I hope you’ve been doing well and life is treating you generously. I hope the onset of autumn brings a singular joy to your life. It’s really good to see you here again, friend. You’re always welcome, and I hope you’ll stop by again. Many thanks again for reading and leaving such a warm comment. 🙂

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      1. Thank you, Mike. It’s my great pleasure and joy to be connected with a beautifully wise person like you. Yes I have a lot to read on your page yet:) I know that I missed a lot of good stuff to read and relax:) there is always something positive and great to learn from your work. Your essays are really good.. and I love reading them most.. your poetry itself is so beautiful but when you write an essay, it’s like you are talking to us and we love to listen. Keep writing 🙂 we need it. Yes, i have been absent from this platform for a long time but thinking of coming back as it keeps us connected with our ownselves.

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    2. You’re so very kind, Saima. Thank you, my friend. Hopefully I can write more essays. I wasn’t sure how people would react to them due to their length, but I’m humbled by your wonderful support. I appreciate you, and I’m always so glad to see you stop by. 🙂

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  17. Congratulations on this publication, Mike. Reading about your horrible experiences tugged at my heart. What you have gone through is not right, simple as that. I left a longer comment on the other site, but I hope that by sharing your essays and poetry the message of kindness, inclusion, and acceptance will spread. Sending hugs xo

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Lauren. I appreciate your supportive words so much. We all have important stories to tell, and the real tragedy is that sometimes there’s no one there to listen. I’m glad you took the time to read this essay and leave a comment. I hope you’ll enjoy the upcoming essays as well. A sincere and grateful thanks to you, my friend. This community is a better place because of people like you. 🙂

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  18. Oh, I am so excited to hear this Mike. This can help so many people. Bless you for doing this and I have never read anything you have written that I did not love. You are a very talented writer and you are right Juan is a very kind man. I am going in now to read my friend. Big hugs, Joni

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    1. Thanks, Joni. Your enthusiastic support means a lot to me. I do hope people might learn something from my experiences as a deaf guy in a hearing world. There’s still such a wide chasm between the two worlds, and there shouldn’t be, not in the 21st century. Hopefully, one day our differences will be embraced instead of shunned and we can finally have a decent world. I hope you enjoy the upcoming essays, my friend. 🙂

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      1. I enjoyed it so much, Mike. I plan to read them all. Of course, you are right there shouldn’t be a difference at all and yet there is. Public school should teach Spanish in the United States, and sign language should be taught as well. Do you know when your next installment is? I have to write it down or I might miss it and I don’t want to. It is just so great to see you riding again. Much love and hugs, Joni.

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    3. Hi, Joni. Not sure why my next essay hasn’t posted at Gobblers & Masticadores. I don’t know if there was a misunderstanding on scheduling. I have no idea, actually. Anyway, if you’re still interested in reading the essays, they’re here on my blog in the Essays menu section. I was under the impression the six essays would be published every other Monday. Not sure what to do at the moment, but wanted to get back to you since you mentioned you were going to see if the next one had posted.

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