I have introduced Laura few months ago – she is my friend who has cerebral palsy and writes from her wheelchair. I will not hesitate to admit that she motivates me on regular basis.
Laura has a blog website where she posts her thoughts.. and then some. Her latest post deserves to be shared – and I felt compelled to comment on it as well. It really got me thinking after I read a comment on Laura’s blog from J. I had numerous discussions with Laura on what she should blog about, what she should share and how she could be helping others. Funny – we both thought that the “helping others” meant helping those in a similar situation. Then I realized something – it is quite possible that she could be very helpful to people who are not challenged in the same way.
Read Laura’s Blog: Kids Always Say What They Want To:
So – J. feels that she is not different and her comment does make sense to a certain degree. What I am saying is that I am different – and I am not confined to a wheelchair. I am a mom, grandma, wife, friend…. And I believe that we are all different – in a different way. No two people on the face of this Earth are the same – and honestly – that is a good thing!
Bottom line: we can all learn from each other. Wheelchair or no wheelchair. All we have to do is keep our eyes and most importantly – our minds opened.
Here is my message to those in a wheelchair: next time you find yourself being stared at or ignored or being in any other unfitting situation – speak up and ask if there is anything that person wants to ask you. If you are ignored – definitely speak up (and honestly, I am surprised Laura didn’t, because she is pretty much never lost for words!)
And here is my message to those who are not in a wheelchair : next time you have a question – Ask it! And the next time you don’t know how to approach or to deal with a person in a wheelchair, please allow him or her to make you more comfortable and tell them!
So – that’s my opinion. If you have a different one, I would – as would Laura – love to hear from you!
