Just another Adventure!

Throughout my life, I have learned that even though we often have no control over our circumstances, we do have control over how we react to each one of our personal challenges. I have also learned that sometimes, having a positive attitude is easier said than done, especially if it seems as though there is nothing positive about your current situation. This week, I would like to share this thought with you … It is not a hindrance, just another adventure. In other words, the challenges you are experiencing are only temporary. A couple of weeks ago, I was surprised to find out that I had fractured my foot in three different places without even knowing it. Apparently, the sensation in my legs is totally whacked! Needless to say, I now have to wear an air cast for four weeks. If I am being honest, not being able to get out of my wheelchair and be my normal, ambulatory self is driving me completely batty, but I know that my broken foot is only temporary.

Something that I have had to accept is that my cerebral palsy is not temporary. It is something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. I have chosen to make the best of what each day has to offer. One of the challenges that I have encountered is trying to obtain funding for a roommate companion (someone who can assist me in my home with certain tasks that I cannot physically do on my own). Due to muscles spasms caused by my cerebral palsy, dressing, putting on and tying my shoes, getting in and out of the shower and cooking can be difficult and exhausting. However, I am not eligible to receive government funding for a roommate companion because my IQ is higher than seventy. I have been fortunate enough to receive assistance from my roommate, who does not expect anything in return. Intelligence and physical capability are not synonymous, meaning that being smart does not allow me to physically do everything on my own. I think that we all need different types of support from those around us. I am an independent person by nature, and I do not like to acknowledge that I cannot do something. In an effort to create change, I have started a petition stating that the intelligence regulation should not exist. Rather than using my challenges as an excuse, I feel obligated to advocate for those who are also dealing with similar issues, something that has always been important to me.