I’m sure by now you get my point. Life in a wheelchair or with any type of ailment really is an adaptation. Every little thing, from putting on your socks to grabbing a can of pop from the fridge, should be cherished because you never know what tomorrow brings.
You, too, could be the next person who can’t open a jar anymore or cannot get through the hallways in your home. You may be unable to eat certain foods you have always eaten because if you do it will affect your blood sugar or your heart.
Yet, I see so many people take the simple things in life for granted and I wonder why. I’d give anything to be able to do these things again….
Of course, they do say you never really miss something until you no longer have it. With this in mind, my disability challenge for you is simple.
Make a list of everything you can do in your everyday life which you do not think a person in a wheelchair or with another disability or ailment would be able to do in the conventional way. For example, listening to music by turning on a stereo is not something a deaf person can do. They can adapt music to flash lights as it is playing and this light therapy, though not the same, has been used in performances by symphonies, choirs, etc.
I’m not saying we cannot do these things at all, but the true challenge of any disabled person is finding a way to do simple, everyday things with their disability forever in their mind.
Next time you seem to be taking the everyday things for granted, you could look at your list. I hope it will remind you of what your life could be like and how lucky you truly are.
Article comments
1 - peter
I liked the article and shared it with some students who cannot be bothered participating in simple physical activity.
I hope they don't take things for granted.