Chanelle Morris thought she was going to be "alone forever" after many deflating and hurtful dating experiences because of her vision impairment.
asserted
she → think → impairment
The 27-year-old had all but given up on finding love when she caught the eye of Jed on a social outing at a driving range.
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she → give → range
People didn't understand my disability
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People → understand → disability
Chanelle: I have a type of chorioretinal dystrophy, a rare vision condition which impacts my peripheral vision and ability to notice detail.
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which → have → detail
I thought no-one would love me because of my condition.
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one → think → condition
I thought that I was too much for people.
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I → think → people
I feel like a lot of people with disability experience that.
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lot → feel → that
Something that really rocked my confidence was when I would speak to someone, it would appear that my eyes were focused behind them, not on them.
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eyes → rock → them
So I stopped approaching people in public settings.
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I → stop → settings
I used to get anxious in the lead-up to meeting someone from a dating app because I chose not to disclose my vision condition.
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I → use → condition
It led to some people not believing me when I told them, or worse, being the subject of blind jokes that were disrespectful.
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that → lead → jokes
Once I included my condition in my dating profile, I got fewer matches, but they were more authentic, genuine and open.
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they → include → matches
I just didn't think that anyone would accept my vision impairment because most people didn't understand it and there was a lot of fear around it.
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people → think → it
I couldn't see he was checking me out
Chanelle: I was hosting a women's golf event at a driving range on the Gold Coast and Jed just happened to be there that day.
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Jed → see → Coast
Our meet-cute is a funny story because he was checking me out, but I couldn't see that.
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I → check → that
One of the ladies I was there with noticed and actually went over to Jed to see if he was single and was interested in me.
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he → notice → me
She came charging over to me and said, "Go right now, he's interested.
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he → charge → me
I wrote my number on a drink coaster and went straight over, and I can't remember what I said, I just remember the adrenaline.
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I → write → adrenaline
I gave him my number and then I left because it was at the end of the event.
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it → give → event
But I left my golf clubs behind because I was so nervous.
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I → leave → clubs
So I sent one of my friends back to get them because I was like, "I'm not going back in there."
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I → send → them
I remember Jed texted me that day to organise a date two days later.
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Jed → remember → date
I was so nervous, I couldn't eat.
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I → eat → ?
But he was so sweet and texted me specific instructions on where he was sitting at the restaurant so I could find him.
uncertain
I → texte → him
I'd never had anyone do that for me before.
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anyone → have → me
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Jed: When I went to the driving range, I thought I'd go hit some golf balls on my day off.
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I → sign → day
Little did I know I'd find the love of my life.
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I → know → life
I was definitely checking Chanelle out.
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I → check → Chanelle
The first thing her friend said to me was, "She's keen on you but she has an eye condition."
So I knew about her vision impairment straight away.
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I → say → impairment
But it wasn't something that was going to change my mind or affect my decision to see her.
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that → go → her
I was pretty nervous before our date, but it couldn't have gone any better, the conversation flowed so well.
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conversation → go → date
I just love how caring and supportive she is.
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she → love → ?
My heart is healing
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heart → heal → ?
Jed: I have type 1 diabetes and Chanelle will get me some sugar if I need it because my sugar's low or she carries my insulin pen for me in her purse.
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she → have → purse
I think that's why we get on so well, because we know what it's like to need support and help.
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it → think → support
I've always admired her selflessness.
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I → admire → selflessness
She has so much time for other people, including me.
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She → have → me
She goes to conferences for motivational speaking and I am so proud and impressed by that.
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I → go → that
I'll come home, and she's got some sort of little surprise for me.
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she → come → me
I've never felt so at ease before in my life.
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I → feel → life
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia