Nighthawk's Blog

A student once asked anthropologist Margaret Mead, “What is the earliest sign of civilization?” The student expected her to say a clay pot, a grinding stone, or maybe a weapon. Margaret Mead thought for a moment, then she said, “A healed femur.” A femur is the longest bone in the body, linking hip to knee. In societies without the benefits of modern medicine, it takes about six weeks of rest for a fractured femur to heal. A healed femur shows that someone cared for the injured person, did their hunting and gathering, stayed with them, and offered physical protection and human companionship until the injury could mend. Mead explained that where the law of the jungle—the survival of the fittest—rules, no healed femurs are found. The first sign of civilization is compassion, seen in a healed femur.

You know how the disabled community sends out the psa that things which seem “silly” or “unnecessary” to you are more than likely inventions designed to assist us?  I can’t mention my choice to microwave water without getting laughed at or looked at like I’m speaking gibberish.  For the record:  - I can use a standard tea kettle, but on days when I feel like my hands are not cooperating I switch to the adaptive one just to be safe.  - it literally looks like this:

what “don’t encourage the delusion” means:

When someone is lost in a terrifying world of delusions the one thing that can help them most is to show genuine compassion.  If you don’t feel compassion for their fear and feelings of abandonment, don’t try to fake it and manipulate them.  A human connection, a genuine one, can cut through their psychotic world like nothing else can.  Just be a friend to them.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CScfuqWFfJn/?utm_medium=share_sheet

I am considering getting a cane because despite getting surgery a couple years ago my hip still occassionally gives me pain and I'd like to take some of the strain off of it, but theres still that little voice in the back of head like "yeah, but do you really need it?" I guess I'm just looking for some help quieting that voice down

Some of us don’t need canes all the time, but have issues at times with dizzy spells and falls.  A cane can mean the difference between falling onto a hard surface and breaking a bone or using the cane to steady yourself.

Ability to press your body weight is a traditional measure of physical fitness.  This lady has that totally covered I’d say.

Stranger: do you mind me asking why you use a cane? You're so young!