Welcome to the author interview with author Michael Hingson and his co-author Kerri Wyatt Kent as he shares with us about his book Live Like a Guide Dog: True Stories from a Blind Man and His Dogs about Being Brave, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward in Faith!
Blurb:
A guide dog’s guide to life’s most important lessons!
Michael Hingson’s inspiring true story captivated the world when he and his guide dog Roselle escaped the Twin Towers together on 9/11, a story that became the New York Times bestselling book Thunder Dog. During decades of walking with guide dogs, he had learned a surprising truth that helped save his life that day: Being afraid can be a positive thing, one that prepares us to deal with any situation that befalls us. Now, in Live like a Guide Dog, he reveals how to:
- Get equipped for whatever obstacles or challenges you may encounter as you make your way through the world
- Train yourself to be brave, just like a guide dog’s training equips handler and dog to prepare for the unexpected
- Learn to use your natural fear reactions as a way to focus and concentrate to make better decisions and turn your fear into courage and confidence.
- Apply eleven principles Michael has learned with his guide dogs to overcome the fears that you face every day
Join Michael on the joyful adventure of walking with, loving, and learning from guide dogs!
Ready to learn more about Live Like a Guide Dog and the author behind it? Keep reading for our interview with Michael Hingson and his co-author Kerri Wyatt Kent!
Hello, and thank you so much for your time today, authors Michael Hingson and Keri Wyatt Kent! We’re thrilled to be able to interview with you and learn more about Live Like a Guide Dog!
Live Like a Guide Dog is a book meant to inspire and encourage those who read it. Do you think that this book is even more relevant in today’s climate of uncertainty?
Author Hingson: Yes. In fact, one of the reasons we wrote “Live Like a Guide Dog” was to help people learn to control fear and not let all the fears promoted by politicians “blind” or overwhelm them.
We can definitely understand that sentiment of encouraging all to not let fear and those who promote fear to overwhelm us.
Author Hingson, you describe your youth and having to learn to pay attention to your surroundings. Did you have to exercise a lot of patience in the process?
Author Hingson: Always, but living and functioning at and around home was just as much something I had to do as did everyone else. When people did not provide me with enough information by describing different things I could get a bit frustrated. However, my parents helped me learn that getting frustrated wasn’t going to solve anything. So, I learned to teach people how to describe so I had as much knowledge of whatever the issue as did everyone else.
Wow. That makes a lot of sense to each people to describe things as much as possible so that you can garner as much information to act accordingly. That is definitely something that we can all learn to do more often. Who knows. It might create dynamic improvements in the world around us.
Author Higson, you share with readers how you learn to ride a bike without sight. How difficult for you was that?
Author Hingson: No more difficult than it was for sighted kids to learn to ride. What you need to understand is that blindness is not and was not the problem. I used alternative techniques, such as listening to be aware of my surroundings. It was as natural for me to listen as it is for you to use your eyesight. The problem, as I said, is not and was not blindness. Instead, the problem comes from the incredible misconceptions, lack of education and poor education that sighted people have concerning blindness.
Squire sounds like quite the guide dog. While he experienced trauma from the irresponsible individuals with the firecracker, he still showed his bravery when the time came. What was that like for you?
Author Hingson: It is always all about the team. I help Squire regain calmness and poise. Remember, a guide dog does NOT lead a blind person. A guide dog and its handler are a team. I am the team leader and give the dog direction about where I want to go. The job of the guide dog is to make sure we walk safely.
(a) You couldn’t see what was going on, so what emotions were you feeling in those moments?
Author Hingson: Sight is not the only game in town. I always got and get my information through alternative means. So, my emotions are the same as anyone else except I think I have learned to deal with the unexpected and surprises more calmly than most. That is, of course, what “Live Like a Guide Dog” is all about.
Using Squire’s response to the pack of dogs prowling after you you take the opportunity to address two important things – awareness and fear. You provide quite the bit of insight for readers in how fear impacts us.
Author Hingson: Yes, but my hope is that by readers thinking about my comments they too can learn that there are alternatives to sight they can and should use. Also, I hope they recognize that “disability” is Not a lack of ability. At the end of this set of questions I will provide links to two articles I wrote and published that you and your readers may find quite enlightening and helpful.
We are sure that as readers delve deeper into Live Like a Guide Dog that they will discover much insight and inspiration from your words and experiences.
Thank you! We look forward to the links and checking out the information contained in the articles.
Can you share with readers moments or situations where you yourself chose to view anxiety in a positive light?
Autor Hingson: There are many such examples in “Live Like a Guide Dog”. One involves a time when I was working for Guide Dogs for the blind and had to spend a few days at and near the Oregon campus. I went one evening to a restaurant, but seemed to get lost returning to the apartment where I was staying. This situation could have been quite stressful. I knew that stress and fear was something I could not allow to overtake me because exhibiting fear would also stress out my guide dog who looked to me for direction. Mentally stepping back allowed me to remember that I had available to me an early talking GPS system which I used and successfully returned to the apartment.
Yes, we remember reading about that in Live Like a Guide Dog. We’re not so sure that we would have been able to handle the situation as well as you did. So you have our immense respect concerning that whole situation. LOL!
Author Hingson: The whole experience of escaping from the World Trade Center also was as stressful as it gets. However, my mindset was to remain calm and focused in part to keep Roselle focused. Also I needed to remain alert for any unexpected situations and/or changes.
Yes, we can imagine that 9/11 was probably peak stressful. We’re just glad that you and Roselle made it out alive, and made the decision to share your story with readers.
When did faith start having a more noticeable influence in your life? What prompted it?
Author Hingson: It has always been a part of my life. My father and I often talked about God, life and how to look to God for guidance.
You stated in Holland’s first chapter that you “travel best when you familiarize yourself with areas before you arrive.” How do you go about accomplishing this? Do you familiarize yourself through research? Or do you accomplish this in another way?
Author Hingson: Different now than earlier. When growing up, going to college and while traveling before major technological advances such as GPS and MAPS, I researched. When I knew I was going somewhere I reached out to people where I was going to learn the area including how to get around. I also asked people for directions while traveling. Of course, some people gave good directions and others were clueless. Either way, I figured out how to get around.
Today I use the same technologies you use. I use various apps on an iPhone, for example.
That absolutely makes sense. We’re sure that you became very proficient at researching locations that you were going to, and thereby became better adjusted to even educating people on how to give you better directions so that they could be more helpful to you. Which by the short and long of it would essentially help them become better at helping people in future.
Throughout your book Live Like a Guide Dog you quote scriptures and have short little prayers to go with them. How did you decide on which scriptures to select for your book?
Author Hingson: Keri Wyatt Kent and I discussed various scriptures and found those we felt best fit each situation.
Very simplistic answer, and that absolutely makes sense. Thank you for sharing that!
Author Hingson, you state in your book as you reflect on the struggles you went through to find another job “that primary feeling, the one under anger, is often fear.” In that particular situation with the executive recruiter – wouldn’t it be fair to say that anger was the more primary feeling? It’s easy for readers to jump to the conclusion you were blatantly discriminated against due to your blindness.
Author Hingson: I was discriminated against. However, anger wasn’t going to help. When the airline ticket was canceled I wrote off that recruiter and continued my job search. I knew God would provide. The end result was I and two others formed the System Connection.
We have to say author Hingson, your faith and resilience is definitely inspiring.
In each chapter that you share your life and story of your guide dogs, you share how each one helped to inspire and encourage you in some way or another. Which guide dog would you say inspired or encouraged you the most? Would you mind elaborating as to why?
Author Hingson: They all inspired and helped. EVERY dog taught me things I used and use in life. Remember, it is all about Trust and Teamwork.
It is quite the emotional rollercoaster to read the harrowing experience you endured while in tower one of the World Trade Center and the resulting aftermath. As you share the memories from that day in your book are the emotions you felt that day still fresh? Or have they tempered with time?
Author Hingson: I remember everything about that day. However, of course now it is nearly 24 years since those events occurred. I also have 24 years of thoughts and ponderings to help put everything into perspective. Emotions are not raw, but they are not forgotten. Since I do believe I am my own best teacher I remember my emotions and always work to learn from them.
That absolutely makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing that with us and our readers.
Throughout your book one reoccurring theme we readers will find is “mindfulness.” Stress, fear, anxiety, all of these rogue emotions can trigger us into tense states. You constantly speak about mindfulness – what are some steps that you would recommend or encourage your readers to practice on a daily basis to improve our own mindfulness?
Author Hingson: As I discuss, take time at the end of each day to directly think about ALL the events of that day. What worked? What did not? (No such thing as failure.) How can you improve or make everything better that happened to you that day? Work to listen to your inner voice to make sure you do not repeat things that did not go well. Listen to your inner voice to improve on even the best things. Learn to recognize what caused you fear and eliminate the fears. You can do it.
Thank you for that. We’re sure that us and our readers will absolutely benefit from taking a moment in their day to reflect, assess, and improve. These recommendations are sure to help in the most innovative ways.
Live Like a Guide Dog gives readers glimpses into your life, author Hingson, and the way the story flows frequently feels like a rollercoaster ride. Is that how it felt in the moments that are spotlighted in this book?
Author Hingson: Isn’t life, in some ways, a roller coaster for everyone? Again, life is no different for me than it is for you. We may experience things differently because we each use different techniques and come to life with our personal experiences. However, life is life and, again, it is in some ways a roller coaster for all of us.
Haha. Yes, that is very true.
Despite so much loss you endure, author Hingson, you never stop moving forward. You share your experiences ups and downs, highs and lows. You are sure to be a huge inspiration to all who read your story.
On that note – our sincerest condolences on the passing of your wife.
Author Hingson: Thank you. Fear not, however. She monitors me and if I misbehave, I am sure I will hear from her. I have forty almost forty-one years of tremendous memories of her that teach me daily. I will NEVER move on from Karen. I will move forward with her.
That is such a beautiful sentiment and way to look at your life moving forward.
Author Keri Wyatt Kent – what was it like working with author Hingson writing this book?
(a) What was your favorite part of working with author Hingson and bringing Live Like a Guide Dog to life?
Author Wyatt Kent: Working with Mike was both entertaining and informative. Mike has a great sense of humor and loves to crack jokes. We laughed a lot.
He’s a stickler for details and has an amazing memory.
I also learned a lot about how blind people navigate the world. Mike can order sandwiches from Jimmy John’s on his phone WAY faster than I can. He can read emails (using his screen reader) far faster than I can with my eyes. I realized that we all have limitations. I am, for example, light dependent. Mike is not. He has taught himself to hear doorways and obstacles, a skill I’ve never developed. He’s much better at math than me (he can do algebra and geometry in his head, I am calculator-dependent).
I learned that guide dogs do not “lead” their handlers, but “guide” them to where the handler directs. It’s truly a beautiful dance of teamwork with each doing their part.
Finally, I learned that guide dogs learn to be brave, and we all can learn the same thing.
Author Hingson: I promised you two articles to read.
- Words Matter
- A New Definition of Disability: Embracing Our Shared Humanity and Redefining How We Perceive Abilities and Differences
Thank you for sharing these articles, author Hingson. We’re sure that our readers will enjoy checking out the articles and learning from them.
Author Michael Hingson, Author Keri Wyatt Kent – thank you both for your time answering our questions and sharing with us at Scribbles, and our readers.
We here at Scribble’s Worth sincerely thank author Michael Hingson and his co-author, Keri Wyatt Kent, for taking the time out of their day to answer our questions about this book.
We enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to read and review Live Like a Guide Dog, and you can check out the review here.
About Michael Hingson
Michael Hingson wrote the runaway bestseller, Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero. He lives on the water in Novato, California, with his wife, Karen, his guide dog, Africa, and Africa’s mother, Fantasia. When he isn’t traveling the world with Africa speaking and teaching, he enjoys playing with his dogs, cooking, and helping Karen with her quilting business. Mike’s favorite things include Harry Potter books, nachos with cheese only, talking with people on his ham radio set, and listening to vintage radio shows. Visit Mike’s website: michaelhingson.com.
Michael Hingson, blind since birth, was born to sighted parents who raised him with a can-do attitude., Michael rode a bike and learned to do advanced math in his head! He moved to California and attended college receiving a master’s degree in Physics and a secondary teaching credential.
Michael worked for high-tech companies in management roles until September 11, 2001 when he and his guide dog, Roselle, escaped from the 78th floor of Tower One in the World Trade Center. They were then thrust into the international limelight where Michael began to share lessons of trust, courage, and teamwork as a public speaker.
Mike is the author of the #1 NY Times Bestseller: “Thunder dog: the true story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the triumph of trust at Ground Zero” – selling over 2.5 million copies. In 2014 he published his 2nd book “Running with Roselle”, A story for our youth. His third book, “Live Like A Guide Dog” is currently available.
Mike has spoken to the world’s elite, including George Bush and Larry King. He has appeared on hundreds of TV and Radio programs. Now he is hired by major organizations Speaking on perseverance, the importance of Teamwork and Trust, Moving from Diversity to Inclusion, and offering Adaptive Technology Training.
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