I’ve been writing all week about the Calla Lily and taking photos of them that I have worked hard on and love.
Unfortunately, my Dyslexia surfaced with a vengeance and locked onto my beautiful flower. Dyslexia does that. I keep seeing the spelling of the flower in different ways, so different that I keep misspelling the flower and the word lily.
This has triggered a lot of criticism of my spelling and even outrage, suggesting that I disrespect flowers and am indifferent to my work. There is something Biblical about it, as I love these flowers very much and have rarely worked harder at anything than I have at photographing them.
Dyslexia can work in different ways. This illustrates one of them.
One of the most challenging things for me – all of my life – is that I see words and numbers differently from other people. It is not that I don’t care (I don’t care a lot about spelling and grammar, it’s true) but that I don’t see accurately. It got worse this week.
This Calla Lily spelling vividly demonstrates how Dyslexia works and how difficult it is for me to control it completely.
When I see a misspelling or learn of it, I change it immediately. Then, a few hours later, I might do it again. I can’t correct misspellings on Facebook, but I can and do on the blog. I have post-its and scribblings all over the place, but until tonight, I only had none on the Calla Lily, one of the most beautiful flowers.
I never know where Dyslexia will root itself, but it does; it hangs on and gets stubborn. I write a lot. I often don’t know when it’s happening.
The messages I’m getting are disheartening and often cruel and angry. They hurt.
They come primarily from people new to my blog who need help understanding these mistakes. Dyslexia ebbs and flows and is responsive to sickness and other things. It loves the Calla Flower.
I admit I was so disheartened by some of these messages – about 15 of them just today – that I considered stopping the blog and doing something else.
I was told that as a Dyslexic, I could never publish a blog, but the blog has been a triumph and success for me. The country is seething with rudeness and cruelty; I can’t help that. I can’t hide from it.
I’m not writing this to argue with anyone or seek pity. I am proud of my blog. I work hard at it, and most typos are acceptable and understandable, given people’s understanding of the subject. The blog has grown steadily since I started it in 2007, and I am grateful for that and proud of it.
I needed to explain why controlling my Calla Lily Flower Bulb has been so challenging when so many people are eager to judge, and make assumptions. The problem with Dyslexia is that I often can’t see what I’ve done wrong and don’t see what others see, so I’m sometimes mistaken about what is wrong. More than once, I claim to be right when I am wrong.
I should have put up the accuracy Post-it immediately, but understanding what was happening took me a while, and I just got the Callas a week ago.
That’s the story about me and my Calla Lily flower, which I continue to love and photograph. Those curves are hypnotic.
At Dyslexia school, I was warned that this would happen and encouraged to use Post-its when I understood what I was doing wrong. I was also told not to surrender to angry and often insensitive people; they are always ready to jump.
I’ve done that now: my post-it reads Calla Lily Flower Bulb. It’s on the computer. I feel obliged to explain what is happening, but my disorder won’t shame me.
Bloody but unbowed, I will get on with my work. I understand this bothers people, but I feel sorry that people can be unkind and unfeeling; that is their sickness.
That is life, and I will continue living it. Thanks to those who offered both your patience and understanding.
I don’t want to talk about this anymore. People offended by it should disappear; I don’t want them on my blog. I won’t publish any more messages about it. I just felt I needed to explain it. My flower photos are free and meant to uplift and calm people, not arouse and offend them.
This hurts, but it won’t stop me from doing my work. My blue Post-it is my new Calla friend.
I noticed your misspelling, Jon, but I didn’t care, because I knew what you meant, and understand your dyslexia is still with you. Although I so enjoy your writing—since your first book—these beautiful photographs are the star of this piece that you have shared. Thanks for taking me along on your ride.
Frankly I never even noticed any typos – I just enjoy the beautiful flowers and your interesting comments. I am so sorry that people can be so unkind and unfeeling, but as you said, that is their problem, not yours. Don’t be discouraged, Jon, and please don’t ever quit. Most of us truly appreciate and enjoy your work. Blessings to you and your work.
This touching message makes all the difference in helping me understand the challenges of your dyslexia.
Nice post. You explained it very well.
Please don’t give up! Keeo on keeping on! You are an inspiration to so many!
See, I made a typo too, keep on keepin on!
Jon,
It is so hard to believe that with all of what you believe about your many ” disfunctions”….
you have been so SUCCESFULL in all your various careers. I admire your tenacity.
For some with few ” disfunctions ” have not acheieved such as you have with so much fighting against you.
I applaud you.!!!!
Gill
I am really enjoying your calla posts, Jon. They are such lovely and graceful flowers. I’m be hardly noticed the typos as I am so interested in your content. I was recently given a red calla and am amazed at how well it is doing as a house plant.
The fact you must deal almost daily with the critics, makes me so sad…..the world is becoming crueler, it seems. Keep doing what you do so very well. ❤️
You have a beautiful blog , meaningful writing and riveting photos. The content is so much more valuable than any unimportant little mis-spellings. What does it really hurt . Spelling changes over time, anyway- there are many family names and nouns that have morphed through each century. Small potatoes. Who cares. It’s the contents that count and I find them very enriching. Please feel buffered and defended and thoroughly understood by hundreds, if not thousands, of your blog followers.
Some people can spell. Some people can do math. Some people can build. YOU can convey beauty, knowledge and emotions through writing, and thus give us the treasures of beauty and love of animals and good food and nuances of weather and people and caring. Which do you think is the most important talent? Never feel less because of dyslexia. You have so much to give us—keep it up!
So glad you’re not going to stop! Keep writing! And BTW, I finally read the 3rd Suburban Detective story – The Last Housewife. It was great and I wish you had continued in that genre – you have an excellent understanding of it. But then maybe you wouldn’t have been writing your blog which I love. May the Force be with you!
I have dyslexia, too, I never noticed your spelling errors or anything like that. If there’s a way to block people that have nasty things to say, please do. Your blog not only entertains it teaches, and it helps people. The army of God has done wonders for the school kids, the senior residence, the food pantry, it’s just lovely. I’m so sorry people can be cruel, I don’t understand it. But I’m a long time, reader and supporter of you and Maria! Happy Wednesday.
The idea that spelling should be invariable has been around for centuries, and ridiculed as pedantry the whole time. Even Shakespeare (who had a very flexible approach to spelling) included a pedant as a subject of mockery in one of his plays (I think it was Love’s Labor Lost). There are academy-accredited scholars like Simon Horobin (Oxford University professor) who have published articles and books pointing out that spelling really does not matter very much. And this from the author of a number of books ABOUT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE! Tell the pedants to go pound sand. They’ll probably enjoy it.
Communication is just that….ways in which we pass on stories to each other. I always know what you are saying in your words. Just love that you’re taking this recent experience and helping educate us on dyslexia. I love your blog and especially your photographs. Keep on being your beautiful self!
Thanks, Teresa; I love you back.
Before I retired, I was an editor for a Federal R&D company. I edited a lot of papers before they were permitted to leave the building. Spell checking does not always help, especially when it comes to editing different types of papers, medical, financial, scientific, etc.
What I would say to these critics, in the world that we live in, the here and now, focus on the good Jon, Maria and their animals, yes, their animals, provide, the giving, beautiful photos, art work, caring; I could go on and on. Why add more shaming and criticism, be grateful you have been given another day, do something good, large or small, quit judging; I leave that to my God. Ayy Noj oops I mean YAY JON! Make it a good day people. Oh, sorry one last thing, if it upsets you so much, quit reading the blog, it indicates to me, that secretly you are returning because you are getting something from the blog. A wise person said to me a long time ago when I found issue with a person, like these critics
and she said, don’t count that person as an enemy, God gives everyone a piece of a puzzle and that just might be the piece you need. I wish you all happiness, spreading joy and hope is a wonderful feeling.
Anyone who has been reading and loving your blog for years knows about your dyslexia and we can all read what you write and ignore the errors and read it as you thoughtfully wrote it. Keep being you Jon.
I have been reading you since before the 2020 election. Those posts were a place that I felt not so alone and were so important to me. I appreciate that you choose not to write about the current political mess and I appreciate that too. You are still the first thing I read everyone morning. It is a anchor of reason before all the craziness of the day works it ways in. There are always those that just have to pick on someone to make themselves feel better. Please ignore them and know there are many of us that rely on your posts to help us stay sane. Please don’t quit.
The most awful thing would be if these cruel, unthinking, ignorant people made you stop posting your blog, then they cruelty, nastiness, ignorance wins again. You are a shining star, Jon Katz. My daughter has dyslexia too and has worked hard to overcome it and it’s an ongoing issue. You and Maria are loved, your blog is loved, lean in to your supporters, to the kindness, joy and light you spread in the world.