I briefly mentioned in my last post that it wasn't on me to educate others or explain to them anything related to living and dealing with my disability. That act of explaining or educating someone who doesn't really know what it's like to live while disabled can frankly be a burden. It's not on me… Continue reading The Burden of Explanation
Category: Concepts
On Empathy
Sometimes I struggle with the distinction between empathy and sympathy. I suppose one way of looking at it would be that empathy is when you feel what another person is feeling, whereas sympathy is more like you care about what another person is feeling, but you can't experience it yourself because you don't know what… Continue reading On Empathy
On Positivity
GREY'S ANATOMY "Six Days" Season 3 Episode 11-12 JANUARY 11 & 18 2007 JUDITH HOAG, MAE WHITMAN, CHANDRA WILSONSource: Entertainment Weekly I mentioned in my last post that I've dealt with my disability "with a great amount of positivity." I began to wonder if there was a reason why. Could it be because of how… Continue reading On Positivity
Acceptance as a Non-Linear Experience
I realized I hadn't written much on acceptance when it comes to my disability. I think I've mentioned it offhandedly: how my disability is a part of me and not all of me, how it's nothing to be ashamed of...that is all still true, yet I think there's an important distinction to be made. I… Continue reading Acceptance as a Non-Linear Experience
The In-Between
As all of you know by now, I identify as disabled. I use forearm crutches as mobility aides. I consider both of these statements as factual. Yet even so, I feel like I reside in an invisible realm that I call the "In-Between," which is a place that is both perceived and tangible. Let me… Continue reading The In-Between
On Confidence, Self-Esteem and Being Self-Assured
The above photograph is a still from a video dating back to around 2004; I'm not sure. It was just another visit with my orthopedic surgeon, and he wanted to film me walking down the hallway, most likely to evaluate my walking. It's obvious at this point that I was more confident in my physical… Continue reading On Confidence, Self-Esteem and Being Self-Assured
On What I Can and Cannot Control
I know I can't control everything. I can't control that I am disabled. I can't control that I was born premature. However, I like to think that I can control certain things relating to my disability. For example, I'm the one who usually decides when I should or need to ask for help for whatever… Continue reading On What I Can and Cannot Control
The Spastic Diplege 