With a white cane in the gym

Other people in a similar situation would think it was the end of the world, but he doesn't feel sorry for himself, even though he has lost his sight. He is not made of that stuff. Fifty-five-year-old Attila Németh is a happy man who, when he can play sports, finds his everyday life more beautiful and colorful. For him, exercise is also a form of therapy, which improves his quality of life. However, his workouts at Top Gym fitness center in Veszprém also serve the purpose of social integration, because these always break down the imaginary wall between the blind and the sighted. He is a role model for those who, in addition to lifting weights, have other sporting dreams: to cycle around Lake Balaton on a tandem bicycle.

Attila Németh's life began like most of ours: he enjoyed every moment of his childhood and youth, loved riding his bike, and was introduced to the world of Far Eastern martial arts in the House of Pioneers of the City of Queens. While the athlete had carved out an important place for himself, he had every reason to believe that nothing bad could happen to him, but then his eyesight began to deteriorate. He was eighteen when he visited a specialist who did not mince words, telling him that his condition could lead to blindness. All he could do was pray to God "not to 'cross' him," but his prayers were in vain, and in 2013 his condition worsened: from then on, seeing in the dark and adjusting to light caused him more and more problems. His visual field gradually narrowed, and then his central vision was lost.

- he introduces us to the mysteries of medicine, then reveals that even then, as a healthy person - thinking the worst – he learned to walk with a white cane, just as he had mastered Braille, the so-called 'blind writing'. Today, he can only perceive blurred shadows of people, recognizing them by their voices or distinguishing them from each other. The man, who once trained as a chef, now works for VKSZ Veszprémi Közüzemi Szolgáltató Zrt. (Veszprém Public Utility Services Ltd), but for a while he has not been working as a telephone operator at the Kistó utca site, but as a customer service representative at the Haszkovó Street Heat Supply Directorate's customer service department, where he answers calls with the help of a screen reader computer to respond to the problems and questions of people living in district-heated apartments.

Since Attila Németh's self-definition places blindness in the background, I will try to steer our discourse in such a way that I do not see primarily the blind man, but the person who is interesting not only because of his blindness. I am not interested in his Calvary, but if I thought otherwise, I would probably ask him about it. After our conversation, I hardly need to ask anything: he tells me that he started lifting weights six years ago because he no longer felt comfortable in his own skin.

Attila soon became so determined that his coach dared to let him go his own way. And since then, the student has not "let the machines gather dust," but has been using them several times a week.

As before, he continues to neglect free weights machines: after careful consideration, he only works out on flat machines, placing the weights where his fitness level currently allows. Mondays are shoulder days, Wednesdays are leg days and he presses his abs, while on Fridays it's the back, biceps and triceps – in sets of twelve. Our protagonist likes arm exercises the most, and although chest exercises are not his favorite, he staunchly does them, too. As is seen from the above, he does not go to the gym to warm up, but to defy his limitations and create something lasting in his own way. There is no doubt about it: movement also ensures equality of opportunity for him, as it allows him to thrive somewhere in the wide world on his own. Others take a simple, human approach: if they are not amazed by his willpower and determination, they help him in every way they can. They understand perfectly well that for their friend, sport and exercise have become his purpose in life. After all, every single training session relieves the anxiety that comes from his altered social situation. Yes, sport still helps him to accept the fact of his disability. However, through exercise, his self-confidence and motivation have increased, the network of relationships between the elderly and the disabled has expanded, and his self-esteem has also shifted in a positive direction.

Regular exercise should be an integral part of everyone's lifestyle, but it is more difficult for disadvantaged people to satisfy this legitimate need. This is also because in Hungary it is not self-evident that people with disabilities can expect to have opportunities for regular physical activity, even though sport can now be considered an effective tool for social acceptance and integration. The gym also provides Attila Németh with an opportunity where conditions tailored to his special needs are ensured. There, sport and exercise are the common language that can make people forget their exaggerated, sometimes excessive generalizations without the need for words. Because when you're lifting weights, the focus is not on your disability.

– he says: it's true, I already know from his teammates that he doesn't even have to say anything at times like this - happiness is written all over his face. Attila Németh is not chasing unattainable dreams – his long-cherished plan to cycle around the Hungarian Sea on a tandem bike is not even a coincidence – he is happy just to be able to enter the gym, as these moments give him the strength to overcome the difficulties of everyday life.

Attila adds, who also pays attention to his diet. You could say that he has already conquered the immeasurable, and with no small amount of effort, patience, and perseverance, he visits his "gym" from time to time, because he is convinced that regular exercise has a positive effect on his quality of life. His more complete life can serve as a model for others, showing them that this is how life can be lived.

With a pure soul, happily, in a life-affirming way.

Author: Ferenc Király