A Little Poetic Justice

For My Naysayers

People have a hard time looking beyond the Wheelchair.

Basing their assumptions on what’s visually there, but I know better.

I know who I am and I know my capabilities.

It’s clear to me that my capabilities extend beyond your mental capacity simply because I know better.

To you, my chair is a hindrance that can’t be life-giving

But in all actuality, my chair is the reason I’m living.

To you, my not being able to use my left hand is a huge disadvantage

But in all reality, it’s just a bit of a challenge

I know better.

I’m not fit to be a decent mother, “you’re in over your head”

After my first, If I dare have another child, “you’re crazy!” They said.

“You can’t do this, you can’t do that, send them to daycare get a nanny”

But at the same time if I ask for help I’m lazy and it’s uncanny?

Confusion sets in, I’m not here to please everyone

I won’t listen to naysayers, it’s over and done.

You can keep your thoughts and opinions, I’m my own pacesetter

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, …because I know better.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So to those who keep telling me what I can and can’t do, to those who believe they can set limits for other people, to those who JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

STOP IT!

Stop making assumptions about others based on something that you couldn’t even fathom understanding. See because everyone has their own set of challenges and with life comes life adjustments and that's the same for everyone regardless of their lifestyle.

If you google the word Ableism it says, Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability.

When I hear these things from people in my life it's not a nice feeling. Yes, I do encounter a different set of challenges than able-bodied people and there are certain things that I just cannot do but that's not for anyone to say but me.

If you’re truly concerned about my well-being and how I’m able to do things then ask me about it. because educating yourself is always better than making assumptions.

Be nice to people.