To those wondering why they should scrabble to "fix [their] broken bodies," when their fellow humans go hungry:
It's a mistake, whether you believe in something beyond this mortal coil or not, to assume that what we do here isn't worthwhile. Should we feed our fellow man? Yes. Should we strive to repair what's broken in our lives? Yes, when there IS something that is broken. Should we strive to improve the quality of our individual lives, knowing there are others out there who have different, but no less important, needs? That's not an easy question to answer -- but I've met many a person who gave of themselves without any thought to their own happiness.
W. Owen Dugmore, who teaches Psychology at Central Washington University, had an interesting way of describing this concept. "Fill your own cookie jar first," he used to say. In more concrete terms, this means giving yourself credit for what you've done, what you're worth and who you are, before you expend energy making sure that others who are neglected also get that recognition. Anyone who has passed a course in First Aid (as I have) will recognize a corollary here: Don't put yourself in danger of injury by trying to be the hero -- those you are trying to help may lose the chance they have with your injury.
To those who would forego their own self-actualization and the improvement of their quality of life for the sake of others, I only ask this: Don't let bitterness make a home in your heart over any decision -- for the hurt you cause yourself will only negate the good your selflessness hopes to achieve. As long as you can live with your choices, in hope and happiness, you will always have a supporter in me.
I myself am struggling with whether or not to mention CP on graduate school applications as an "obstacle" in my life. I have a AD/HD friend who has truly had to overcome a cognitive obstacle in his life by turning it to his advantage, and he thinks my CP is the same way. I'm with Kat when she says she's frustrated that other people consider her disabled. I'm better for having experienced CP, and my life has been more than a little privileged by the adoptive parents I've been blessed with; a luxury so few children of this day and time get to share.
Thoughts welcomed,
Scott Sands
5604 S. 297th St.
Auburn WA 98001
----Original Message Follows----
From: "K. Salkin" <
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Reply-To: "K. Salkin" <
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To:
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Subject: Re: politics - a bit of a rant
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 10:31:46 -0400
Oh, I've no doubt I'd be a completely different person with a completely
different life. However, I am who I am, and that's reality. My disability
has always been a part of me, although I don't let it define me. I don't
see myself as a disabled person, although others see me a such. That has
led to a lot of frustration on both sides.
Kat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Sands" <
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.c-palsy
To: <
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Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: politics - a bit of a rant
> I often wonder myself if I hadn't
> been affected (however mildly) by CP whether I'd be the same person I am
> today -- I'm not, and I'm glad for it.
>
> Scott
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cleveland, Kyle E. <
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> To: <
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> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 6:28 AM
> Subject: Re: politics - a bit of a rant
>
>
> > Kat, et al,
> >
> > Bush's mainline Protestant church, both on the national scale and his
> "home"
> > congregation are quite wealthy. Hence, he would tend to have a "white
> bread
> > and Velveeta" world view.
> >
> > I think his international policies are pretty darn good--and that's
what's
> > floating his political boat right now. Domestically and economically, I
> > find his policies lacking. Let's face it, though, in our narcissistic
> > society, if you don't feel the pain personally, it just doesn't exist.
> >
> > -KYle
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: K. Salkin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 9:05 AM
> > To:
[log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: politics - a bit of a rant
> >
> > There are no easy answers to the problems facing our county today, but
I
> > don't think Bush and his cronies are pushing things in the right
direction
> > as far as the economy is concerned. I do know that my synagogue is
> feeling
> > overwhelmed with requests for help (we are a member of the local
> charitable
> > organisation to help the poor and homeless) because the level of
donations
> > from individuals have gone down due to the high number of layoffs here.
> So
> > much for Bush and his push to have religious organisations take on the
> > burden of government social welfare programs.
> >
> > I honestly feel Bush doesn't have a clue what life is like for the
> average
> > white American, much less for blacks, women, or disabled Americans. I
> > certainly don't see him as particularly sympathetic to minorities.
> >
> > Kat
> >