“Life is gray and dull. You might as well have a little fun when you dress and amuse people.”
“Color is so important. I mean, color can raise the dead.” – Iris Apfel
Sometimes, people let cultural attitudes define their worth. Older people can be influenced to believe that life’s purpose is winding down, so why be engaged? In my audiology clinic people sometimes tell me, “I’m old. I probably have little time left, so I am not going to do anything about my hearing loss.”
If you are still on the planet, then you have purpose, worth, and value. Period!
Source: INC International Concepts
Rare Bird of Fashion, Iris Apfel is 95 years old. During her exciting career, she was sought out internationally for original interior design in grand estates, museums, and even the White House. Her disregard for fashion rules, eye for the exotic, and legendary multicultural accessory collection landed her a wildly successful exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here you see her modeling for Macy’s as a cover girl! Age does not define her boundaries, her worth, or her value.
Photographer Bruce Weber’s description of Iris on a glamour photoshoot:
“When I first met her, there were all kinds of people, all ages, all walks of life, all surrounding her. She was so engaging to everybody, you know? But I could feel the pulse of her life, of her excitement about living.”
Iris ~ Remembering the wisdom of a family friend:
“When you would say, “How are you feeling today?” She’d say, ‘Well to tell you the truth, when I get up in the morning, everything I have two of, one hurts’… and that’s the way it is. I mean when you’re older, a lot of people just give into that, unless it’s something really serious; but if it isn’t, you just have to push yourself. And then you go out, and you start to do things, you forget about yourself. Otherwise, you just sit there and brood all day.”
“It’s better to be happy than well-dressed…” – Iris Apfel
So you may be thinking, “I’m not some famous designer who has had a distinguished career and I don’t get calls from NYC every week and young people don’t give me the time of day.” Fair enough. Let’s look at two local sisters.
Sisters Diane and Adair, who live locally in Denton, TX, felt the pull of nations on the other side of the planet. They have recently traveled to Israel and New Zealand on prayer journeys. Together, they minister to people of other nations to effect positive change and help individuals recover from past hurts. Sometimes their travel involves challenges like renting a car and driving where they don’t speak or read the language. On a journey through Scotland, they discovered more of their Celtic roots. And from that growth and refreshing, they found new strength and more adventures. You go Girls!
Regardless of age, you have purpose. The adventure germinates when get your mind off yourself, tap into your roots and re-engage life. People are waiting for you to fulfill the reason you were put into their lives.
Come see us and we will help you “Keep it Colorful.”
At Colorful Hearing we see our Patients about every 4 months to clean and check the hearing instruments.
Dr. Taylor (not some tech) reviews your unique pattern of usage specific to your communication challenges, catches any need for adjustments, and checks for connectivity issues with your smartphone or accessories.
Hearing Aid Maintenance
Consider how your cell phone looks after about 2 years of normal wear and tear?
Imagine the performance requirements for a medical device, the size of an almond, that has to work seamlessly in the presence of heat and moisture, 365 days per year. That level of precision performance is what we expect and deliver for your hearing aids. So Dr. Taylor carefully considers which technology to recommend, to ensure reliability for all concerned.
When you come to your maintenance appointment, your hearing instruments are brought to our pristine lab for examination and cleaning. Dr. Taylor removes moisture and wax from them with special tools. Domes, wax guards, and sport locks are replaced and verified to be optimal for your changing needs. If a firmware upgrade is available, she also updates the chip inside your sophisticated hearing instruments so they keep pace with your smartphones and accessories.
Dr. Taylor reviews the data logging to see how you are interacting with your technology. She can discuss those results with you according to your personal style and preference. Why should you put up with a glitchy problem that could easily be solved if she knew you were wrestling with it? Colorful Hearing’s commitment to every Patient is to optimize the use of technology and maximize communication ease, consistently over the life of the hearing instruments.
Otoscopic exam is conducted at each visit to check for physical changes in your ear canal or eardrum, as well as any accumulation of wax which may interfere with sound transmission. We have ear cleaning kits available that are very effective for keeping your ears clear, in between visits.
Veterans Day – Colorful Hearing Honors You
The profession of audiology was born when Veterans returned from World War II. Hearing Loss and tinnitus is often a consequence of war. We’re dedicated to supporting our Veterans, both in spirit and in deed.
We thank you for your extraordinary sacrifice and service to the Nation. Freedom isn’t free. We understand that military service is a privilege, not an obligation.
In the United States Army, our own Financial Director Michael Mische served as a Ranger and a Green Beret. He commanded rifle and mortar platoons in the 82nd Airborne Division and acted as the Executive Officer for an A-team, Fifth Special Forces.
Michael’s father Lieutenant Lester Mische was a Navy aviator in East Asia. On a combat mission in 1951, Lieutenant Mische’s plane and entire crew were MIA. For two little boys and a young bride back home, the vagaries of war became real.
Michael understands the stories many of our Veterans share with him.
Colorful Hearing is an audiology clinic in Denton Texas. We work with Veterans who obtained hearing aids through their VA benefits, but find that their technology isn’t really helping. We optimize their existing technology so that conversation is better understood. Colorful Hearing offers U.S. Veterans 10% discount on hearing devices purchased through us. For Veterans who suffer from tinnitus, we provide tinnitus management that can bring focus, peace, and the ability to sleep.
National peace was hard won. And for soldiers who know the high price that was paid, the memories of war can overshadow civilian life. Americans have enjoyed peace so long that it can be taken for granted. Mark Twain reminds us…
“We now face the danger, which in the past has been the most destructive to humans: Success, plenty, comfort and ever-increasing leisure. No dynamic people has ever survived these dangers.”
Miss Texas International speaks on overcoming severe hearing loss and tinnitus
Colorful Hearing’s Dr. Taylor met with Miss Texas International while attending the Texas Academy of Audiology’s 17th Annual Conference in Frisco, TX featuring industry experts on hearing loss, tinnitus, and listening. Rachael Burns captured the title of Miss Texas International in 2014 and was the keynote speaker at this years’ event. At first glance, no one would know that Miss Texas is hearing impaired.
Rachel is young, beautiful, engaged, and in excellent health. As a successful beauty queen and entrepreneur, Rachael manages daily communication challenges with severe hearing loss and tinnitus. Hearing impairment has been a part of her life since she had meningitis as a baby. Growing up with a hearing family, Rachel sometimes found herself in between two worlds.
“I am not part of the deaf community, because I don’t know how to sign fluently, and I oftentimes feel ostracized from the hearing community, because there are days when I just can’t hear anything.”
Rachael’s hearing loss affected more than her ability to process sound. It also had the potential to negatively impact her relationships.
“I don’t look or sound like there is anything wrong with me, so people will think I am ignoring them and being rude. I’m not! I just can’t hear them!
Communication grew even tougher by the distortion of tinnitus, which sounds like a siren going off in one’s head 24/7. Tinnitus makes it difficult to focus, relax, or concentrate. Rachel sought treatment for tinnitus long before she actually received effective treatment. Persistence is why she advances the philosophy of “Conquer. Live. Repeat.” People with tinnitus are often told that there is nothing that can be done about it, even by well meaning healthcare practitioners. By seeking tinnitus management from an audiologist who specializes in treating hearing loss and tinnitus, Miss Texas could carry on her reign in peace and enjoy life to the fullest.
