From the time we are little most people are told that they can do anything they want to if they have the willpower to do it. However, as somebody with a physical disability, I have begun to realize that there is power in the phrase “I can’t.” Knowing my limits has allowed me to focus on what I can do. It taught me to respect my disabled body’s abilities as well as its constraints.
Realizing that at times I can’t really walk a little more, is not a symbol of failure at all, but of freedom. My wheelchair doesn’t limit me. When I am in my power wheelchair, I feel unburdened by my body’s limits. I can focus on fully enjoying experiences which I might otherwise miss out on. My power wheelchair has allowed me a level of spontaneity that I wouldn’t have otherwise.
I will never climb a tree or ride a two-wheeler, but there are plenty of things I can do. I must focus on these things because they are worthwhile. I have found joy in the things I can do. Despite the limits of my body, I still live a full life. I have found a unique way to share my perspective with the world through my blog.
A non-disabled woman, even one with the most unbreakable spirit, knows that she cannot outrun a cheetah. It’s not because she isn’t brave, or because she didn’t try hard enough. That’s because she’s a human being whose legs do not match the power of a cheetah.
Nobody can do everything in the world. We are not invincible. Just like any other person, I have my strengths and challenges. Whatever you can do, I am sure it is uniquely you.