Sound is how I navigate life. Losing my vision due to diabetic retinopathy over eight years ago was a complete life shift. I had to learn to think differently and move with calculated steps or focus in order to conduct my days efficiently. Most people do not consider these things when they have all of their faculties, but this was a new way of life for me. Sound, however, became my most powerful tool and weapon. 

Much like the wind, sound can’t be seen unless converted digitally into waves of patterns. It is felt. The bass pulsating from speakers or when the frequency of an opera singer’s voice is so high that it is able to shatter glass. You see, sound is energy, and it is also that energy that can be used to empower or destroy.

When I was a newlywed, I suddenly got sick just two months into my marriage. My husband and I thought we were pregnant. We were elated and took in the weight of being possible parents. These dreams were quickly delayed when we discovered I was experiencing kidney rejection. 

We could have never seen the endless doctor visits, months at a time spent in the hospital, and dialysis three times a week coming, all as we both worked multiple jobs. That first year was devastating, and I could feel the disappointment my husband was feeling. It is hard to witness someone you love broken and frustrated, knowing that you do not have the power to will the situation in their favor. 

There is something about ending your affirmations with gratitude that changes you even though the situation might not change at the time.

Being that I had experienced renal failure before I knew what to expect. But this time, older and wiser with patience, I went about living differently. Whenever we heard bad news, I would whisper to my husband with my hand on his heart, “It won’t always be like this.” Once I actually started believing the words I was trying to use to convince and uplift him, I began to end my motto with “Thank you, Lord.”

There is something about ending your affirmations with gratitude that changes you even though the situation might not change at the time. I was determined to use the power of sound to change the atmosphere of every room I entered. Somehow at 109 pounds, I had enough energy after dialysis to encourage people through various speaking engagements and webinars. 

You have the power to speak light into a situation and for others’ lives to be completely shifted by your presence and perspective.

In a way, gratefulness changed my perspective and lifted my spirits long enough until I was gifted a kidney from one of my closest friends three years later. 

What I learned is that you have the power to speak light into a situation and for others’ lives to be completely shifted by your presence and perspective. Today, my husband and I travel to discover new experiences, and we are heavily involved in our community through service. I speak and write extensively because I desire to encourage people that by amplifying the sound of gratefulness, you are simultaneously healing yourself and those affected by your story. 

There is power in your words. Use it.

Photo by Bruno Martins


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Tiffani Martin

Tiffani Martin

About the author

Tiffani Martin is the CEO of JancynCo, a digital strategy firm and founder of VisioTech, an accessibility tech startup in Dallas, Texas. As the Author of "Branding the Heart" and with over 15 years of experience in Digital Strategy, her efforts are focused on making the world more accessible, and her Intersectionality is reflected on the C suite level. She proudly serves on the Ability Task-force for the City of DeSoto and is an executive board member for the North Texas Disability Chamber. She is happily married to her husband, Richard Martin Jr., and they reside in DeSoto, Texas. Her work can be found at JancynCo.com or on
LinkedIn.