Category Archives: Life in a wheelchair

Life in a wheelchair, Motivational

In case you aren’t aware Christmas is here

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Let’s get this out-of-the-way right now. I’m an adult and I believe in Santa Claus. Christmas may be my favorite holiday.I’ve never thought to ask Santa for a body upgrade, but after seeing the comic a couple of days early I added it to my list. (I’ll let you know how it’s working out in a future post).

I love to give and there is just something special about this day. Most important to me is what this day means to me as a Christian. I believe that God has blessed me in more ways than I can even describe, and I I am so thankful.

Know that you are special. blessed with gifts and talents you might not even be aware of. You may not feel it, but trust me there are there.

I am blessed by the people around me. My family, Evie, Natalie and more friends than I can name, Evie doesn’t like for me to talk about her much. The truth is this blog would be nothing without her. She keeps me on my toes, and  is constantly pushing me to create better content.  I’ve always wanted a business partner. It’s no fun taking over the world by yourself. If I am successful at all, it will be because we did it together. Thank you for all your work and all that you do.

If you’re reading this I hope you have support in your life similar to what I have been blessed with. If not, the new year starts in just a few days, and we all get to start fresh. We are going to take a small break, but we will be back January 1 with fresh new content. In the meantime, we have lots of content that you may not have gotten around to reading. Most of it makes sense I promise.

I don’t talk about often, but we do have a donate button on the side of the page if you’d like to give us a Christmas present, and support what we do. No obligation of course. Our content is free and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. If you have ever wondered what the money goes for. It helps me to pay for all the fabulous work that goes on around here. (Points to the comic above).

Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanzaa and whatever else I forgot. (I guess that’s why people say happy holidays) we will see you in about a week. Thanks for reading, if you weren’t reading, there would be no reason for me to write. You make it all worth it.

Life in a wheelchair

There is never enough handicap parking

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I have a small confession to make. People who can walk stealing a parking place from someone like me doesn’t bother me that much. Think about it, what’s the worst that could happen if I have to roll a mile and the half in Walmart parking lot? At worst I might strain a joystick finger. I’ve watched people walk all my life, I have to be honest, that looks like it hurts. I have very limited experience in walking, but honestly, watching people walk, I am genuinely surprised that they don’t keel over from the effort more often. I think I probably would,

With that in mind, I think this handicap parking thing might be backwards. I think you people stealing my spots, might actually deserve them because you have to walk. However, we must also keep in mind that there are older people who are still walking who genuinely needs those spots. The next time you steal a parking place, Think twice. Someone in a motorized chair like me may not need the spot, but you might be taking it from a 90-year-old grandmother, who definitely doesn’t need to walk that far. When an older person like that falls, not only is it really hard to get up, but It can be deadly. Just a little food for thought

This has been Wheelchair Wednesday,

Thanks to Evie for the comic. She is available for hire folks. If you’re interested, let us know in the comments.

 

Comedy, Life in a wheelchair

Do you trust the bladders of those around you?

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I truly enjoyed being in the pool when I was little. Up until the age of 16 or so. I had to have a lot of help. I mean a lot. When I was in the pool, someone had to hold me, or at least give some support. most of the time that was my mom. It was good exercise, my arms and legs got a great workout. At some point mom stopped wanting to get in the pool. I never had a hot girlfriend that wanted to take me into the pool, so my options for partners were limited.

Also, this comic is pretty much true. I’ll admit I peed in the pool. I could make lots of excuses, but I’m pretty sure all of you have done it at one point or another even if you don’t remember. If you were ever  in the pool as a small child, I guarantee you did. Go ask your mom, she’s probably got a few good stories, and maybe even some pictures. (yes it shows up in some pools) Once I realized that others had probably done it as well, I stopped missing being in the pool quite so much.

This has been Funny Friday

Thanks again to Evie for making us all laugh

Life in a wheelchair, Motivational

Rocky ain’t got nothin on me

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I’ll admit I probably missed out on a few things in my life, I would have loved to have been able to play sports, but to be honest, the chair is all I know.

When I think about playing sports I can’t really imagine what it would feel like to be graceful enough to do something like that. It would be fun I’m sure but I can’t really imagine having that much ability, and control over my body. I think there is something to the saying “you don’t really miss what you never had”

The only reason I wanted to run up the steps in Philadelphia is because the image of Rocky doing it was etched in my brain at very early age.

Truthfully, the only time I really ever think about not being able to walk or run is when there is an accessibility issue, or I want to dance with a girl. (I have been known to take a girl out onto the dance floor in my lap for a spin). So the chair doesn’t really stop me from dancing,  finding a woman who is open-minded enough to do that           Is rare, but they do exist. I also dance in the virtual world of Second Life from time to time, but I’m kind of picky when choosing my dance partner, and they don’t always say yes. If you want to dance it can be done.

I suppose the same could be said for wheelchair sports, although I’ve never really been interested in trying them. so I can’t speak to that. The moral of the story is, whether it’s a wheelchair, or a loss of a limb, or any other number of things that might seem like a limitation. The only real limitation is whether or not you’re willing to try and find a way around it. If there is no way around it, then find the benefit in it. Are half full or half empty?

 

This has been Wheelchair Wednesday

Thanks again to Evie for the fabulous comic. Comments are welcome.

Comedy, Life in a wheelchair

The cerebral palsy weight-loss plan

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Today’s comic is funny but it’s also very true. I can open a piece of candy or get a piece of cake for myself, but only if it is placed at a level where I can reach it. Even then, it takes a lot more effort to get the job done then it does for most people.The upside to this is that I rarely overdo it. I’ve never struggled with my weight or had to worry about what I was eating. Nothing like a built-in obstacle to keep you healthy. This holiday season I know it can be a extremely tempting to overindulge in all the good things that are around. You know as well as I do, you’ll feel better if you don’t. If you are having trouble with the self-restraint. Put some oven mitts on your hands while you’re trying to open candy. Better yet, put that cake or pie where you can’t reach it. When you do decide to indulge only allow yourself a little bit.

I have a massive sweet tooth. I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me I have some Candy sitting on the table next to me, and I’d really like a piece. I’ll probably have one before the afternoon is over, but I’ll make myself open it so I will use a little restraint.

 

This has been Motivational Monday

Today’s comic was done by Evie Marie I couldn’t do any of this without her.

Life in a wheelchair, Motivational

We all have issues but do you know yours?

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My physical weaknesses are fairly apparent. I can’t walk and I have fairly limited motor skills. These are probably obvious to anyone who meets me. What they may not know is that I have mental weakness as well. I have self Image issues, as well as occasional doubt about my self worth. I know that I have these issues. Knowing means that I am aware of the aspects of my life that need  work.

Like me, you have some fairly obvious weaknesses. Some of them you may not be able to do anything about. I can’t do anything about my cerebral palsy. That’s completely out of my control. I will always need help, dressing, showering, etc. What I can work on is believing that I am worthy. Knowing that I’m a good man, and understanding that the way that someone reacts to me, my chair, my looks, my approach to life is not my problem. I have felt rejected many times in my life. I felt that the rejection was somehow my fault. I pushed too hard, was around too much, As I get older I’m learning that when this happens it’s rarely my fault. Knowing this doesn’t make rejection easier to take but it helps to combat my self-doubt. It has taken me years to understand why I have self doubt. For a long time I thought I was broken, that women treated me badly because I had done something to deserve it. That maybe I wasn’t good enough to do a certain job, or speak at a certain place. As I have said in previous posts, it’s very easy to get depressed and let self-doubt take over. Knowing who I am. and reminding myself that my doubt isn’t rational keeps me level, and allows me to focus on what I can control.

We all have weaknesses, places we struggle. Knowing and understanding yours, may not change your life, but ultimately it will make you stronger. We all have issues but do you know all yours?

 

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Life in a wheelchair, Motivational

Bullies can only do as much as you allow

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Life is so much more complicated for kids in school today then it was when I was going up. I’ve had lots of people ask me if I was ever picked on because of my chair. It may surprise you but I wasn’t. There are two reasons for this. The first is that I think most boys were afraid of me. If you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty outgoing, and I give as well as I get,

If anyone ever came at me with taunting or whatever, I came back at them just as hard. I also think I didn’t get picked on because no one wanted to be seen picking on a disabled kid. I was always popular, I wasn’t the best looking guy, I didn’t have a lot of money, I just knew how to talk to people. In those days, people thought my chair was special. They had more fun rolling with me, (yes that pun was intended) then picking a fight.

It’s not that easy for kids these days, there are pressures and expectations that I and other adults have no concept of. That said, do the best you can every day to be good to the kids around you. If you do have a run in with a bully, use every resource at your disposal to handle this situation the right way. The teachers around you have your back everyday. Trust them, they have your best interest in mind. You are a gifted and special, and can change the world like no one else. Don’t let everyone tell you any different.

Life in a wheelchair

I feel the need, the need for speed

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I don't even want to think about what fuel would cost
I don’t even want to think about what fuel would cost

 

When I got into high school and got my power chair, I was constantly being told to SLOW DOWN. I never understood this. If you had to sit in a chair with the motor on it, why wouldn’t you go as fast as possible all the time?

Okay I admit it, I’m a guy and I love things that go fast. I loved Top Gun, as a kid(still do really) and The Fast and The Furious movies. I love anything that I could possibly die while doing. Roller coasters, homemade airplanes built from a kit,(yes I’ve ridden in one) I love it all. I’ve even gone skiing. That was a blast. People ask me if I would like to race a lot.(I think they truly believe that I can hit a button on my joystick, and afterburners and will pop out like the picture above). The truth is most chairs only do 4 miles an hour(I’m pretty sure most of you can walk faster than that). I do not have a chair that will do 8 miles an hour but it’s big and the battery drains quickly.

I think those people that always told me to slow down were afraid I was going to lose control and mow someone down. It could happen I guess, but I don’t really see it. On the other end of the spectrum every guy that I grew up with, who had any mechanical skills at all, wanted to soup up the chair. (if I hadn’t been afraid of being grounded until the end of time if something went wrong, I probably would have let some of them do it.)

I’ve often thought that electric wheelchair racing should be an actual sport, with pit crews and sponsors just like NASCAR. The cool thing about it would be that you can actually see your favorite driver as they went around the track.(The advertisers would actually get their moneys worth). if that were a real thing I think, I would be really good at it. Yeah I know, I’ve got too much time on my hands, but you have to admit it’s a great idea.

This has been Wheelchair Wednesday

 

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