I know anyone with a disability can relate to this, you are speaking to someone or just going about your regular life, and an abled person says "You are so brave." This sentence has always bothered me because I am not brave. Soldiers are brave; they fight with bullets swirling around them. Firefighters are brave because they run into burning buildings. So when someone says I am brave, it leads me to believe that they think my life is awful or somehow less than. This is entirely untrue, and in the spirit of David Letterman I have come up with a top 10 list of reasons why.
1. Preferred parking
I can also park near the building when it is raining or bitter cold outside. That is when people who don't need the spaces don't take them.
2. Always having a seat
Think about all the times when you stand in the back of church because there were no seats or waiting for the rides at Cedar Point. I never have that problem because I have a comfortable chair with me at all the time. Plus I don't have to sit on nasty bus seats.
3. I have my own roller coaster
Whenever I come to a big down hill, I can just let my hands off the wheels and zoom down. It's like a coaster all to myself.
4. My shoes don't get dirty
My feet are always off the ground, so my shoes stay cleaner and dryer. How awful is it when you step in a puddle and get your shoes and socks wet. Ick!
5. Being at eye level with dogs and kids
I am at eye level with children and dogs which makes them like me more because I am less intimidating,
6. I always have someone to carry my bags in the airport
They have wonderful people at the airport to carry your luggage if you have a disability. It is so nice not to have to worry about lugging your bags everywhere.
7. I can do wheelchair tricks
I can pop wheelies and hop curbs like a skateboard champion. The US skateboarding champs have nothing on me.
8. I can drive a car without shoes on
In most states, shoeless driving is a big no no. You know they like it when your feet don't slip off the peddles, but when you drive with your hands and not your feet, it's not really an issue. Honestly, I could never wear shoes at all in the in the summer and be just fine. Not that I would do that because I think it's gross.
9. Shaving my legs is so much easier
It is so much easier to shave your legs sitting down then standing up. A shower chair is just as important as shaving cream. You should try it.
10. I get to see the best and the worst in people every day
I have written many times in this blog about weird or crazy things that people say or do around me. That does get annoying, but they also hold doors open for me, push me through the snow, and help me get my wheelchair into the car.
See my life rocks you just never knew!
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Monday, October 10, 2016
Let the children come to me
Luke 18:15-17
I have always loved this passage because I love kids, but also because I love the innocence of children. How they just blanketing accept things and the love they show to everyone regardless of skin color or what you wear. Mostly, I love children because they ask the questions adults want to, but don't because society has told them that it is not appropriate.
Yesterday I was a wake for a family member and to be honest I hate funeral homes. They are sad and dark, and smell funny. . However, God blessed me with the company of a 4 year old who was completely fascinated by my wheelchair.
She started the conversation with me by leaning directly into my face and saying "get out of that chair."
I said "I can't."
The little girl said "get up."
I said "I can't my legs don't work as well as yours." She tilled her head at me a little and smiled as if that made perfect sense. Then she says " Are you a mother or a sister?" At this point I am positive that her father wanted to crawl in a whole and die.
Now as this was happening her dad was sitting close by tell her to stop asking me questions and to stop being rude. I turned to him and said I'm ok don't worry it's ok. Please understand I get that this little girl's father was trying to protect my feelings and that is really nice, but I don't need him to do that because that little girl was just trying to understand something new. I wanted to answer her questions so maybe one day when her classmate uses a wheelchair or her co-worker or even a boy/girl she likes has one she might think it's cool.
She spent the entire time pushing my wheelchair back and fore through the entire wake and I have to tell you it was the best wake I have ever attended. My point is that just like Jesus said we should all approach life like a child. Ask the question, seek to understand what you don't know, and love as if everyone is your equal. Take a lesson from a little girl who just wanted to check out the interesting lady in the wheelchair.
"One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the, Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
I have always loved this passage because I love kids, but also because I love the innocence of children. How they just blanketing accept things and the love they show to everyone regardless of skin color or what you wear. Mostly, I love children because they ask the questions adults want to, but don't because society has told them that it is not appropriate.
Yesterday I was a wake for a family member and to be honest I hate funeral homes. They are sad and dark, and smell funny. . However, God blessed me with the company of a 4 year old who was completely fascinated by my wheelchair.
She started the conversation with me by leaning directly into my face and saying "get out of that chair."
I said "I can't."
The little girl said "get up."
I said "I can't my legs don't work as well as yours." She tilled her head at me a little and smiled as if that made perfect sense. Then she says " Are you a mother or a sister?" At this point I am positive that her father wanted to crawl in a whole and die.
Now as this was happening her dad was sitting close by tell her to stop asking me questions and to stop being rude. I turned to him and said I'm ok don't worry it's ok. Please understand I get that this little girl's father was trying to protect my feelings and that is really nice, but I don't need him to do that because that little girl was just trying to understand something new. I wanted to answer her questions so maybe one day when her classmate uses a wheelchair or her co-worker or even a boy/girl she likes has one she might think it's cool.
She spent the entire time pushing my wheelchair back and fore through the entire wake and I have to tell you it was the best wake I have ever attended. My point is that just like Jesus said we should all approach life like a child. Ask the question, seek to understand what you don't know, and love as if everyone is your equal. Take a lesson from a little girl who just wanted to check out the interesting lady in the wheelchair.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Learning to be a big girl
This blog is difficult for me to write because I have to admit
something very personal to you. I am scared basically all the time. I
put on a good face of being strong and able but the truth is it is
completely fake. So recently my boyfriend of 4 years and I broke up and
I am faced with living on my own, which I have never done before. I
have lived with my parents, and lived with my roommate but never
completely by myself. I have learned a lot about myself in recent
time. First, I am completely capable for doing most things on my own.
Second, it is OK to ask for help when I need it from others, and third
there are a million and one ways to get just about anything done.
I was worried that I would not be able to pick up dog poop on my own and dispose it. We only have one poop station at our apartment building and it is up on curb so I cannot reach it. Thanks to Amazon.com I found the perfect solution, flushable poop bags.
https://www.amazon.com/Flush-Puppies-Flushable-Certified-Compostable/dp/B004K4ZV1K/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1471712560&sr=1-2&keywords=flushable+poop+bags
I have used these for a week now and they are priced comparable to other bags, are just as durable, and do not clog the toilet. They tear easy off the roll but they do not have scented bags and i wish the did.
Further I have learned that my apartment building has fabulous maintenance men who just about run when I call them. Normally I would be so nervous about letting strange men into my apartment and I still am but I pray before they come in and I make sure that the dogs are on guard
The other day, Cody darned out the door other day and I freaked out. I started to chase him around the complex and I was stared. I prayed to God to make him come back. When literally almost immediately two people came to help me and we were able to get Cody back in the house. I am so blessed to have good neighbors and God to count on.
It got me thinking that I need to count on God to protect me and help me when I need it. Also it I am capable and that people are flawed, so I have to count on God more than I do I people. This is a harder life, I believe God will not fail me.
I was worried that I would not be able to pick up dog poop on my own and dispose it. We only have one poop station at our apartment building and it is up on curb so I cannot reach it. Thanks to Amazon.com I found the perfect solution, flushable poop bags.
https://www.amazon.com/Flush-Puppies-Flushable-Certified-Compostable/dp/B004K4ZV1K/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1471712560&sr=1-2&keywords=flushable+poop+bags
I have used these for a week now and they are priced comparable to other bags, are just as durable, and do not clog the toilet. They tear easy off the roll but they do not have scented bags and i wish the did.
Further I have learned that my apartment building has fabulous maintenance men who just about run when I call them. Normally I would be so nervous about letting strange men into my apartment and I still am but I pray before they come in and I make sure that the dogs are on guard
The other day, Cody darned out the door other day and I freaked out. I started to chase him around the complex and I was stared. I prayed to God to make him come back. When literally almost immediately two people came to help me and we were able to get Cody back in the house. I am so blessed to have good neighbors and God to count on.
It got me thinking that I need to count on God to protect me and help me when I need it. Also it I am capable and that people are flawed, so I have to count on God more than I do I people. This is a harder life, I believe God will not fail me.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
My Chair is not furniture
What is a wheelchair????
Webster's Dictionary defines a wheelchair this way "a chair mounted on wheels especially for the use of disabled persons"
I would define my wheelchair as my legs. It is an extension of my person and not just a piece of equipment.
The other day I was in the office and I was working at my desk. There were a group of men putting together tables. Now I had previously told my manager that I didn't want a table next to my desk because I put my wheelchair where the table would go. I like to transfer from my wheelchair to my desk chair and then I leave my wheelchair next to me. However, I don't think the workers got the message that I was not requesting a table in my cube. One of the workers began to roll my wheelchair away to place a table in my cube, I screamed don't touch that and I said I don't want a table. He sort of coward a little and said I was told to put this here. I said I don't care where you put it but it's going here.
Now, you may have read that exchange and thought "why where you so mean to that poor guy". He was just doing is job right? Yes, that is true but this is the problem with what he did. My wheelchair is not a piece of furniture to be moved around like a desk chair. It is not a file cabinet to be moved at a whim. My wheelchair is my lifeline. My ability to move and be independent. What happens if there is an emergency?
You might still think I over-reacted, but let me enlighten you about something. I was scared to death! My legs were being stolen from me without my consent. I reacted out of instinct. I felt like I was being trapped. Of course that was not the man's intention but that is how I felt I had to do something fast in my mind.
This is just one example, sometimes when I am in a store pushing through, just doing my shopping, and a helpful stranger will come up to me and start pushing my chair. They are trying to help and the mean well but if you saw someone walking down the street would go up to them and grab their hand and pull them down the street of course not. That would be weird and inappropriate but doing that to someone in a wheelchair is exactly the same.
Think of my wheelchair as an extension of my body. You would not touch me without permission and my chair should be treated that way. It is always OK to ask if I need help but it is not OK to force your help on me. Keep in mind that just like you I don't want to be put in a situation where I feel unsafe.
Webster's Dictionary defines a wheelchair this way "a chair mounted on wheels especially for the use of disabled persons"
I would define my wheelchair as my legs. It is an extension of my person and not just a piece of equipment.
The other day I was in the office and I was working at my desk. There were a group of men putting together tables. Now I had previously told my manager that I didn't want a table next to my desk because I put my wheelchair where the table would go. I like to transfer from my wheelchair to my desk chair and then I leave my wheelchair next to me. However, I don't think the workers got the message that I was not requesting a table in my cube. One of the workers began to roll my wheelchair away to place a table in my cube, I screamed don't touch that and I said I don't want a table. He sort of coward a little and said I was told to put this here. I said I don't care where you put it but it's going here.
Now, you may have read that exchange and thought "why where you so mean to that poor guy". He was just doing is job right? Yes, that is true but this is the problem with what he did. My wheelchair is not a piece of furniture to be moved around like a desk chair. It is not a file cabinet to be moved at a whim. My wheelchair is my lifeline. My ability to move and be independent. What happens if there is an emergency?
You might still think I over-reacted, but let me enlighten you about something. I was scared to death! My legs were being stolen from me without my consent. I reacted out of instinct. I felt like I was being trapped. Of course that was not the man's intention but that is how I felt I had to do something fast in my mind.
This is just one example, sometimes when I am in a store pushing through, just doing my shopping, and a helpful stranger will come up to me and start pushing my chair. They are trying to help and the mean well but if you saw someone walking down the street would go up to them and grab their hand and pull them down the street of course not. That would be weird and inappropriate but doing that to someone in a wheelchair is exactly the same.
Think of my wheelchair as an extension of my body. You would not touch me without permission and my chair should be treated that way. It is always OK to ask if I need help but it is not OK to force your help on me. Keep in mind that just like you I don't want to be put in a situation where I feel unsafe.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Why I do this---About me
Why write a blog you say....well one answer is I love to write and miss my journalist passion. The real reason that I felt I needed to do this is because life is stranger then fiction. So many odd things happen to me because of my disability and I feel that it is just because of most people's ignorance about what life with a disability is like.
So let me tell you a little bit about myself. Currently, I am in my thirties and live with my long time boyfriend Bryon. I have two dogs Dusty and Cody.
Aren't they adorable?
I am a college graduate and I am currently back in school for computer programming, I also run my own Avon business. I also work full-time for a local employer. Yes, I am super busy. My point in telling you all of this is to show you that people with disabilities have the same rich lives as anyone else. I hope you enjoy and learn from all my future posts
So let me tell you a little bit about myself. Currently, I am in my thirties and live with my long time boyfriend Bryon. I have two dogs Dusty and Cody.
I am a college graduate and I am currently back in school for computer programming, I also run my own Avon business. I also work full-time for a local employer. Yes, I am super busy. My point in telling you all of this is to show you that people with disabilities have the same rich lives as anyone else. I hope you enjoy and learn from all my future posts
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