{"id":27656,"date":"2021-11-23T22:54:54","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T22:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=361488"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:14:09","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:14:09","slug":"blind-man-overcomes-life-of-struggles-becomes-an-incredible-woodworker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/blind-man-overcomes-life-of-struggles-becomes-an-incredible-woodworker\/","title":{"rendered":"Blind Man Overcomes Life Of Struggles & Becomes An Incredible Woodworker"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Looking at John Furniss\u2019 beautiful woodwork, you would never know he was blind.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dubbed \u201cThe Blind Woodsman,\u201d he uses his spatial memory, along with a special measuring tool, to create incredible, one-of-a-kind pine canisters, farmhouse bowls and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got the hang of it right away, really. I\u2019ve got a very visual imagination and really good spatial awareness. So I was able to work it out almost like I\u2019ve got a computer program in my mind,\u201d Furniss told Portland Monthly<\/a>. \u201cI see it right in front of me, and I can move it this way, change its shape, color, layers, whatever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: YouTube\/Upworthy<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Furniss lost his eyesight, as well as his sense of smell, after he attempted suicide at the age of 16. To make matters worse, he was convicted with a felony in Colorado after telling someone where they could buy marijuana before it became legal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between being blind and having a felony on his record, finding a job was nearly impossible for Furniss. But soon he would get a job repairing pianos, although he was quite unhappy with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter Anni, Furniss\u2019 wife. The two met in 2012 when he was studying at the Emil Fries School of Piano Technology for the Blind. She was there to help with a fundraiser, and the two of them instantly clicked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: YouTube\/Upworthy<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anni knew how unhappy Furniss was with his job, so she encouraged him to quit. At the same time, a job counselor told Furniss how incredible his woodworking skills were. That\u2019s when Furniss decided to make it his full time job.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Furniss is much happier doing woodworking, and has even gone viral for his work. His wife recorded videos of him doing his woodwork, which has more than 4.7 million likes on TikTok.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Furniss isn\u2019t creating beautiful wood pieces, he and Anni are doing talks at schools about blind awareness, drug abuse prevention, and suicide prevention.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo: YouTube\/Upworthy<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI really enjoy being a motivational speaker,\u201d Furniss told Portland Monthly<\/a>. And I\u2019ve been able to do that on literally a global scale because of TikTok. We\u2019ve messaged back and forth with a man and his son in Portugal. We\u2019ve had messages from people in Peru, Australia, and I have a really big German following,\u201d John says. \u201cWe thought, that\u2019s really popular among them, we might as well take a gander into their world. And it has turned into an extraordinary thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Last December, Colorado Govenor Jared Polis fully pardoned Furniss\u2019 drug charge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more of Furniss\u2019 story and amazing woodworking in the video below:<\/span><\/p>\n