When Absolutely Everything Matters

Have you never seen a cane before? Never seen a disabled person? Do you exist in the world? Or do you just choose to be oblivious so you don’t have to think about it?

Why do people feel the need to act like they’ve never seen a disability before, or a mobility aid? It’s not cute, it’s not funny, it’s arrogant and rude. I didn’t need that shouted at me. I didn’t need to feel bad about my cane. I’m already stressed enough using it in public.

*pushes body past limits and ends up in pain*

Me:

I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now.  I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.

I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love.  Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives.  Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.

Abled person when theyre called “abled”:

Its okay to wish that you didnt have this chronic thing.

Its okay to not be okay with the circumstances surrounding you.

But I’ve gotten myself through the last week by reminding myself that:

I will go at my own pace.

I will persist.

I will keep trying to keep myself at baseline.

I will accept my flares, and I will get through them.

Disability is not a dirty word

Disability is not a dirty word

The number of people I have known who have pretended to be less ill/disabled than they really are: almost everyone.

He built a fire just to keep me warm …