Being Disabled:Perks and funny incidences

Being disabled certainly comes with  a few benefits. Its also means that there will be some things that are going to happen to you that you can't help but laugh at.   I have quite a few inside jokes about my disability that I keep to myself, or I share with close friends.  Being a little diffrent is hard sometimes, but there is a funny side to quite a few of the tough things I go through.  Sometimes me, my family, my close friends, and other people with disabilities are the only ones who know what I am talking about when I talk about something funny about being disabled.  However, today I`m going to try and explain some  of those things to you and also some of the  little perks I have or have gotten, being disabled.  Maybe this blog will help you get a little closer to the disabled people you know. Mostly though, I just hope this blog just makes you laugh and smile, and realize that disabled people can have pretty happy lives.  Alright, lets get this comedy show on the road!

1. Lefty- Having Cerebral Palsy, sometimes you have a lot of spastisity, which means you have really tight muscles.  My legs and my left hand are all really tight, especially my hand,``Lefty".  It`s always moving and it never listens to me.   I call it my boy hand, because it`s like having an annoying little brother that always does the opposite of what you tell them.  I don't have a  brother, but I`m sure those of you that do can understand what I`m talking about.  I`m always worried about how `Lefty``   will annoy me, or someone else, especially.  I`ll be sitting beside someone, and`Lefty will hit them or something.  I get so embarrassed.  Someone gets this tap on the shoulder by a stranger and they look at me like I`m some sort of creep or something.  Then I`ll have say, `Oh god, I`m so sorry.  That wasn`t meant intentionally.  Are you okay?``  It can get very irritating.  I had to switch desks with someone in my socials class at school so they wouldn't get hit by my hand.  Oh man.  It just goes on and on.  Sometimes when I screw up at home,  I`ll say, "It wasn`t me.  It was lefty." Then my smart sister will say "Kate, lefty is attached to you" Oh, man.  Oh well, I`ll just have to put up with Lefty forever I guess.  He is my little brother after all.

2.   FREE PARKING!- Someone with mobiility issues or someone who is in a wheelchair can get a parking pass so they can park in the handicapped parking, whitch is a little closer to their destination.   This can give you a little handicap sticker that lets you park in special parking stalls.  My family loves that!!  We`ll be in a parking lot and it will be packed.  We can`t find a parking spot anywhere.  Then we see a handicapped parking spot.  By then, my mom is so excited she has me in the car.  She always "Thank you Kate!"  So there we go.  We got a parking spot, we had a great time at wherever we were, and we didn`t get in trouble.  Everyone`s happy!  Thank you handicap sticker!

3. Airports- My family has travelled on a plane a few times, and when we have, we have got great service for me. They had a wheelchairs coming on and off the plane.  We had someone with us the whole time.  It was awesome.  We`d come off the plane and there would be a wheelchair waiting on the aircraft with someone to push it!  Talk about royal treatment.  My goodness!  Last time they did that, there was a lineup of people getting off the plane, and they all made way for me to go through first.  I went through high fiving everyone, saying "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you very much!"  Going through security can be tough sometimes though.  They have to check for bombs in my braces and my wheelchair.  It`s like, c`mon, how can there be a bomb in my wheelchair.  Really?  All in all airport service for my family and I is fantastic.  Thank you West jet for making everything go smoothly.

4.  Lineups- When my family and I were in Disneyland, the lineups were huge.  However, every time, the security guard would come up and whisk us up the line.  It was great!  Except, so much for teaching me to be patient as a child, and to let others go first!  Geez!   We went to see Cinderella one day and there was a line up.  It was pretty long, not bad though.  Anyway, this little girl comes up to Cinderella.  Cinderella peaks around the corner and sees me.  She said to the little girl "Excuse me" and then pointed at me and said "Come here sweetheart"  It's true!  Word for word.  It was a little embarrassing but it was worth it.  Cinderella was my favorite Disney princess from then on! 

5. Little children- I mentioned before that sometimes it makes me feel bad when little children stare at me and get a little scared of me.  I like little kids.  I don't want to scare them.  I want to make friends with them.  However, sometimes kids get these funny, curious looks on their faces when the see me.  They look at my wheelchair and think "What is that toy she's driving?  It looks kind of like my stroller except bigger.  I wonder if I could get my hands on the controls and drive it!  That'd be fun! "  Sometimes they get these little smirks on their faces.  It's quite cute.  Little kids are the  best!

6.  Surprising people-  Now that I use my wheelchair quite a bit more than i used too, a lot of people that don't know me or don't know me very well think I can't walk at all.  I can though.  Sometimes when I walk, I surprise people.  They look at me all awestruck.  I look at them and say "Whats wrong?!"  "You can walk!"   "I know, isn't it awesome!"  It's like they have just witnessed a Christmas miracle, just like Tiny Tim in the Christmas Carol.  It makes me feel great.  It's just another time that I can show people what I'm made of!

7. C.P stands for Crazy Person-  I made this up a little while ago.   I think it fits me.  I can be a little crazy sometimes, as you probably tell from this blog.

8.  Complaining about exercising-  I've had to do exercises and have had to have a physio stretch me every since I was little.  I used to tease them about how hard they made me work.  "This is torture!  These exercises are killing me"  No, the people I work with are very nice.  They only make me exercises because it's good for me.  It's fun to fake complain sometimes though.

9.  Being a speed demon in the school hallways-  High school hallways are busy places.  It's hard to get through the crowd.  However, with my wheelchair, I can zip past everyone like a speed demon.  I heard once that people try to get behind me so they get a smooth ride to class.  it's like I'm a taxi driver.  "Next stop, math class, all aboard!!" 

10.  Giving kids Wheelchair rides- I don't do this very much anymore, but in my manual chair I used to give the other kids wheelchair rides.  I used to get mad because they thought it was so much, and it's not fun all the time being in a wheelchair.  Now, though, I can see where they might think its fun.  Sometimes I let kids drive my electric on now.  Maybe I should start charging them! 

|I love sharing these jokes with everybody.  Being in a wheelchair does have a positive side, and a few funny jokes that go along with it!  I hope i made you laugh.  I also hope to have many more funny adventures and write all about them!

Being Disabled: How to really get to know a disabled person

Hello again!  I haven't written in a few days!  Wow!  ha ha.  Just kidding!  I've decided to take a little break from writing, because I thought I was going a bit blog crazy!  Right now, I'm just wrapping up with school, sort of, and trying to get outside a bit, because it's gotten so nice out!  My wheelchair needs a new battery, so it's a little hard for me to get out myself! The battery comes on Tuesday, so that will be nice.  Anyway, today, I thought I'd talk about some things that people should know about people with disabilities.  Sometimes, with somebody who is disabled, people base things a little too much on their wheelchair or their differences, instead of getting to know what they are like as a person.  I have a lot of really close friends in town that are awesome and who I  love being around, but there is the odd time where someone will do or say something that they could  maybe they could have done  a little differently.  For this blog, I'm going to mention ten thing's either that disabled people really want in a friend, or  some things people do or say to disabled people that they don't like very much.  I'm going to mention a lot of things that people do or say to me, which are most of the time super sweet and awesome by the way, but I will also t advocate for some other disabilities as well.  Now, I'm not and expert on all disabilities, but judging by what I've heard from some of my disabled friends , I will try to put some of what they've told me into account!  Again, I hope you learn something!  Here we go!

1.  Let them be the teacher-   A big thing I've had to deal with, having  a disability is people not knowing how much I CAN do! People kind of like to do everything for me sometimes.  I think with anyone who notices somebody who's struggling, their automatic instint is "Oh, he/she is really struggling, I should help."  However sometimes you have to wait and see what the outcome is.  I love be independent.  I even like to show off a bit, and show people what I can do.  I need to practise asking for help a little bit more, insteasd of people just jumping in and doing things for me.  I getting better but, I am still practising. Time is a big issue for me.  I have to learn to be aware of that.  I have to ask myself constantly, "Is it more important for me to do this myself, or to ask for help and keep up with everybody else.   People with disabilities are not helpless.  You'll be amazed at what they can do.  Another thing is that sometimes doctors, or aids, or anybody that works with disabled people think they know everything about disabilities.  The only person that knows everything there is to know about a disabled person is the disabled person themself, and maybe their parents.  They are the only ones that know what  their goals are, and what there needs are too.   When you meet anybody, not just a disabled person, don't set the bar to high or to low.  Start in the middle, and let them surprise you.  Most of the time, you'll be delighted at what you will find!

2.  Don't feel too sorry for us-  I used to hate it when people felt sorry for me, but to be honest, I don't really know why I got so mad.  I had no reason why they shouldn't feel sorry for me, it just made me mad. I even felt sorry for myself a little bit too.    As I got older, I've realized the reason why I didn't want sympathy.  I have a wonderful life.  I have a wonderful family, wonderful friends, and get to do  some pretty awesome things. I'm in no pain. I am healthy.  I have come to terms with my disability.  I don't know who I would be without it, like I mentioned before.  Some days are  tough, but I don't think I would change them.  When I get over my troubles, it's one of the things that make me the most happiest because I have accomplished something new.   Even, feeling too sorry for the most chronically ill or disabled person,  doesn't help, I don't thin.  The more positive things they have in their life, the more positive things that are said to them, and the more encouragement you give them to push on and to not give up, the longer they'll keep going. However bad one person has it, someone always has it ten times worse.  I must admit,  it is nice to get a good hug or  pat on the back sometimes, but don't over do it.  It doesn't help anybody.  We all have battles to overcome, and we will overcome them.  Where there is a will, there is a way!

3-  Everyone always has something to say-    This is more for disabled people who are non-verbal.  Don't ignore them.  Don't just talk to their parents or their caregivers.  Talk to THEM!  Most of the time they either know sign language or can answer things with a big smile for yes or drop their head down for no.  At least that's what I've learned from the non-verbal people I've been around.  I don't want to put words in anybody mouth, but I'm just saying, don't forget to talk to them too.  Even if you just tell them a story or something, that's great!  Sometimes, you have to learn to read in between the lines.  It's like reading  a really wonderful book but it has lots of meanings that you have to dig way down deep and find.  It's like going  to English class!  Even when I talk to people, sometimes my words come out the wrong way, or they don't come out at all!  I like it when people care enough about what I have to say to stick around a couple of minutes to let me say it.  Let me say it, don't guess what it is.  People need conversation skills, and talking to a non-verbal disabled person counts as one of those skills.  No matter how fluent people speak, always make time to find out what they're saying.   It will only make your relationship with that person go further and further.

4.  Don't take things so seriously-  A lot of  people with disabilities have great sense of humours and love to laugh.  I knowI like to joke around  about my disability.  I even like to  be teased a bit.  Not mean teasing, but fun teasing.  When I find the little funny things about being disabled, it makes things a little easier.  When you tease someone, lovingly of course, it shows that you are trying to get to get to know the person and really want to be their friend.  Grace and I tease each other constantly and were best friends.  It's great to laugh.  Laughter is what gets us through the tough times.  Keep laughing! It will make everyone feel good!

5.  Have Patience-  For disabled  people, sometimes they can do certain things, it just takes them a while to do them.  I know I can be a little slower at certain things.  It gets frustrating sometimes.  It gets even more frustrating when someones watching me.  I worry that they will just take over if I take too long. At school, my friend Paige always says "Is it alright if I help you now."  She waits for a while to see if I can do it, and then asks if I need help.  She doesn't want me to miss out on whats coming next, but she knows it's important to me that I do things myself makes sure she asks if it is ok or her to hepl me. She doesn't just jump right in.  I like that.  Disabled people need others to have a little bit of extra patience with them, weather its with helping them, listening to them, or letting them do things themselves.  Good things come to those who wait.  If you wait these things out, you might be just as happy as the person trying to do it to see the results.

6.  People know what they know-  This one is for people with learning challenges.   Just because they can't keep up academically, doesn't mean they don't know things.  They know different thinsg.  They probably know a lot of little meanings in life that others don't quite catch.   Don't think they know any less than we do.  Sometimes it just takes extra time for them to learn it, or they have to learn it in a different way  Whenever I spend time with someone with  a learning disability, I'm always very thrilled at what I  find out about them, and what they can do.  People with learning disabilities can be quite amazing and inspiring too.  Give them a chance.  You will be glad you did, I'm sure!

7. Don't be shy-  This one goes to all the kidsout there.  I know when you see a wheelchair in the mall or something, they might look kind of scary.  I'd be scared to if I was three feet tall and standing next to a machine that could run over my toes.  I know the way they do things might be a little different, but most of them are really cool people, and just want to make friends with you.  Parents, next time you are with your children outside and you see someone in a wheelchair, don't tell your kids not to stare and just keep walking.  Try and see if you can go over and say hi.  In town here, one mom did that with her little girl and it made me feel great.  It made me feel like the mom wanted her daughter to now that their are wheelchairs out there but the people in them do have feelings and want to make friends with as many people as possible.  Thank you for that!  Adults need  to get to know disabled people too.  I think the more variety of people we meet the better more inclusive this world is, which makes this world a better place for everybody.

8.  There is no such thing as normal-  As a kid, I always wished I was "normal."  Again, as I got older, with help from friends and family I realized something.  What is normal?  Nothing is.  Everything and everyone is unique.  Everyone has troubles.  No one looks exactly the same, well except maybe twins,but that's not the point.  The point is that everyone has different troubles, different sorrows, different joys and diffrent outlooks on life.  EVERY ONE'S DIFFERENT!  That's a good thing though.  If everyone was the same, we'd live in a world full of robots.  I believe there would no such thing as compassion, empathy, and a lot of other good things that make the world go 'round.  Dare to be different and stand out.  Even if you think people will make fun of you.  In the end,they will see how strong and happy you are standing out, and they will join you.  You should commend disabled people for being different, and sending out the message to stand out and inspire!

9.  NEVER TAKE ANYONE FOR GRANTED-  I mentioned this before in the last blog I wrote about all the lessons I've learned.  You shouldn't take people for granted.  I think I mentioned, it's the worst feeling in the entire world, in my opinion.  I like to try and help people and make them smile.  I hate feeling like no one needs me.  Don't take a disabled person for granted.  Not even the most severe disabled person.  They can always inspire you.  People with disability's are special.  They want to be loved and appreciated as much as any other person, and so they should be.  The biggest thing they can give you, I think, is inspiration, and lots of love and happiness.   Don't forget us.  One day we might do something big for you, and you will be glad we were there.

10. Let disabled people teach you things-     Disabled people have a lot to try and teach the world: Patience, courage, determination, lots of things.  If you step back and watch them, not only will they learn something, you might learn something too.  Sometimes the richest people learn the most from the poorest.  They make people look back on their own lives and what they do to be a little bit more compashionate and thankful for what they have.   I always hope I have taught people something through my years.  This blog helps.  Let as much knowledge sink in as possible.  Take time to get to know them and you will learn some of lifes greatest lessons through them. It will be amazing!!

People have come very far with the acceptance of disabled people, but we can always go furthur.  As world gets more and more inclusive, the better off we all are, I think.  Thee are sme ways that the word can reach out disabled people, not just on the accesibility level, but on a more social level as well.  Get to know disabled people, they derve it, and so do you.  In your mind the impossible might turn into the possible, the bad might turn into the good, and the sorrows might tun into joys.  You'll just have to see what these people bring to the world as they go through life, one step at a time. 

Being Disabled: Mile Stones

There has been a lot of small milestones that I've had throughout my years. Forbpeople with disabilities, sometimes the small things that they acomlish bring them the biggest joys. I know I've done a lot of blogs lately, especially "top ten" blogs, but I just can't get ideas for them out of my head! For this blog,here are the top ten milestone I've hadt to overcome that have gotten me to where I am today! 1. Learning to Walk: I've always been able to walk. When I was little I was carried around and in a wheelchiar a little more than I am now. I was always keen on walking though, and when I was six years old I took 100 steps. Thatn was a big goal for me that year. I was very excited about walking and wanted to do it more and more everyday. When I walk, I feel like a toddler because of how fast I like to moter and how excited I still get when I walk by myself. I'm supposed to take it slow, stand up straight and have good posture. I just like to go! Even though Iuse a electric wheechair quite a bit more than I used to, I still love to walk.I willnever give up on my moblity. My boots were always made for walkin'. 2.Getting an electric wheelchair-Everyone worried that when I got my wheelchair in Grade seven it would hold me back from walking. It hasn't. like I said I still love to walk, but my new wheelchair opened up a whole new world for me. It has been amazing! I was so excited in grade seven, to get it. I was couting down the minutes until it was delivered. That was a big day. I remember I was sitting in my clssrom just waiting for it to come. The Lions club, an organization that helps with grants to give to people that need certain things, came on that day. It was an exciting day. I even got the book "Zoom" by Robert Munch. Its about a girl in a wheelchair who wants a new one that goes really fast. I thought it was very fitting for me. Ever since I've gotten my chair, I am able to do so many more things. Back in grade seven all my friends loved to play tag, and I would get upset because all my friends loved to play tag together and I couldn't join in, but when I got my chair I could! My chair has done a lot for me. It keeps me up to speed in highschool. I can wheel home from school now, which, still I get quite amazed at. I love being so independent wheeling home and having my own little routine that I can do by myself. Now that it's spring, and the weather is nice out, I can wheel home. Our family got a grant for a wheelchair accessible van, so now I can take the chair to camp and anywhere I want to go! It's quite amazing how much my chair has opened up a whole new world for me. My increase of mobility means that anything is possible and I can go anywhere I want to make my dreams come true. 3. Skiing- I've bloogged about skiing quite a bit, I know. It has become a big part of my winters now. I never thught I would be able to ski. Then in grade seven, I went up with my school's ski program. Katrien had just gotten off maternity leave and tht's when we found out she had done her CADS course and that she could take me up in a sitski on the hill. Skiing has been my favorite sport ever since then. Every year I get better. I can use both outrigger now and am able to initiate most of my turns myself. I hope to be skiing for a long time into the future. It's something I thought I would never be able to do. The volunteeers at the CADS program made that possible for me and other children in the valley! Thankyou CADS VOLUNTEERS! 4. Being more independent around the house- I have my own liitle routine now aroud the house. I get up and dressed myself and make my own breakfast in the morning. After school, when my parents work, I am able to wheel home in my chair, get in the house, make myself a snack and be by myself for quite a while. My friend Paige made me a special cutting board that holds the bread in place so it's easier for me to spread something on it. My left hand can't hold bread doown as well as my right so I have guards that keep it in place. Making a simple meal like toast feels great! i dont have to wait for someone to make it for me. If I feel like toast, I can just get it myself! I can do my own laundry now whitch helps out my mom a a lot. Doing these things by myself makes me feels less nervous about living on my own one day! It makes me feel like I can do it no problem, even though I still got a while to go before I move out! I get excited about doing these small chores! I know what your thinking. who would get excited about doing laundry? I know it sounds weird, but for me, anything I can do either to help out somebody or to add one more thing to my checklist of things I can do, it means a lot! 5. Getting stronger- The past couple of years, I've been noticing that I'm getting a lot stronger than I used to be. In gym class, Paige and I have been working on using my core muscles and standing up a bit straighter. I have to practice getting up using my legs,not my back. My physiotharist is always worried about my posture and me arching and hurting my back! I kind of feel like I'm taking princess lessons sometimes with how straight I have to walk and stuff like that, but I know the people that teach me this are only doing the best they can to help me and I am only doing it to get better at walking as well so it all works out! There have been some things I do some days that didn't think I could do. I'll lift something and think "Wow, I didn't think I could lift that" It feels terrific. I feel like I'm getting stronger everyday. 6. Speech- I do have a bit of a speech impediment due to Cerebral Palsy. Sometimes my words don't come out right, or I stutter because I'm nervous because they sound wrong, or they don't come out at all. I feel like as I grow, it gets a bit easier to talk to people. I think a lot of teenagers can relate to that. Havin a conversation is definetly a skill that everybody needs to be able to do. When we're little kids, we're often kind of shy and don't want to talk to older people as much, but as we grow and mature, it gets easier. I talk on the phone a lot now and somethimes when we go to a store or something,my mom will have me talk to a worker there to practise. I love getting to know people and being social so I want to be able to have good conversations. I think the more things I get to do and the more people I, the better it will get at it. 7. Being more independent at school- In highschool you learn how to be an adult and how to do more things for yourself. I'm slowly getting there. There are little things I do by myself in schhol now like being all by myself in Social Studies. I usually have an aid with me in that class to help with notes and getting set up for class, but in Socials this year I'm all by myself. It feels awesome. I have a great teacher that helps me get set up sometimes,and a new friend that I ask questions to if I didn't understand something the teacher said or something. I can take notes myself. I keep up alright. Being all by myself in a class feels amazing. I can practise making my own decisions about what I need to do for myself in that class. It feels like I'm getting ready for college or university. I've kept up in class pretty well. I'm just above adverage! Everything's going great! 8. Excersinsing at home- When I was little, I didn't like doing my excersices at home. I'd always come back after summer break and have really tight and not as strong as I was in the spring. NoW that I am older, I have kind of taken the initiate to do some myself. Paige bought me an excercise ball for Christmas one year so I could work on that sometimes. I also have a standing board board to stretch out my hamstrings. I have a summer program that I do with a friend Patti Cowles. We make sure and do Excersinsing a bit so I stay strong during summer holidays. It's great how strong I can get and when I can do it myself, it's even better! 9. All the trips I go on- I've been going to a lot of places and doing a lot diffrent actives recently. Each new activity is a new learning experience. They're all about exploring diffrent things and finding out where you want to be in the future. I do a lot of these trips with Grace, so they've all helped us grow as friends. These trips also help me grow stronger with my family as well. Every trip I learn new things and accomplish something new. they are all so worth it and I will remember them forever. Thankyou to all the people that make these trips possible for me. Theyall have been amazing! 10. Acceptance- The biggest milestone I've had to overcome is accepting that I have a dissability. likevIve mentioned, whe I was younger, my dissability used to be my biggest enemy. Now I find that it is my biggest teacher. there are lots of advantages to being a little diffrent. you see thing way. you meet so many amazing people and do so many amazing things. I'm not saying that having a dissability is the way to go. It's not everybody's life. it's not an easy life. it's my life and I love living it! So, yes, I've have had a few extra obstacles to overcome, but they have all made me stronger. The obstacles will never stop, but I'll get stronger. I love getting so excited about the little moments in life where I finnally figure out I can do something that all of you guys can do too. I'll keep on trucking' and conquering more and more obstacles everyday. I want to be just like all of you. One small step for mankind,one big step for Kate gibbs!

Being Disabled: Lessons to learn and lessons to teach

Having a disability, you learn a lot. You learn a lot about yourself, others, and some of life's biggest lessons. When you have some big challenges, you see the world  a little differently.  I used to hate having cerebral Palsy, but  a little while ago I  realized that my disability is my biggest teacher.  I don't know would be the same person if I didn't have my disability.  One of the best things about having a disability is inspiring people to have a different outlook on life.  I don't get the chance to teach people a lot of things very often, so with my blog I get a chance to put my opionos about certain things out there.   Hopefully, this blog will be a success!  Here goes nothin'

1.  Smile... A lot- This is a lesson I both love to teach people but also still have to learn myself.  People should always keep smiling!  We have so much to be happy about.  There are a lot of people who are much less fortunate than we are so we should always be thankful for what we have.  I  love it when I'm going down the hallway at school and all of a sudden, I remember to smile, and then someone else smiles at me. I made them smile and they made me smile.  It feels wonderful!   No one like it when your grumpy, so you might as well be happy.  So what are you waiting for... smile already! 

2.  Have a sense of humour-  I love to laugh.  Sometimes I laugh and no one knows what I'm laughing about. Life can be very funny sometimes, especially when you have a disability.  I have funny things that happen to me because of my disability that no one will understand but me sometimes.  That can be fun!  Everybody should always keep laughing!  It makes everything worth it!

3.  Keep on the Sunny side-  It's never good to be down in the dumps for too long.  I get sad every once in a while, and when I do, I try to reason with my self.  I try to weigh out the pros and cons.  Its hard to do and I constantly either have to remind myself to do it or someone else reminds me.  There are so many positive things about life, but too often we tend to focus on the negative.  We should enjoy every day.  Life is too short to stay in the rain for too long.

4.  Don't sweat the little stuff-   I learned this  on from my mom.  Sometimes, little things in life can drive us crazy!  We shouldn't focus on those as much as we do!  If you dwell on the little negative things in life, you could miss out on something that is really big and that would be a bummer.  You should never miss out on something in life just because your dwelling on something else.  It's just not worth it!

5.  Live today and then tomorrow-  We often tend to worry about everything that's coming up in the future.  We think of all the things we have to do in the week and it stresses us out!  While we worry about what we have to do this week, we might forget something small we needed  to do today.  Also,  we look back on something that  happened to us that was great, and it completely passed us by.  I hate it when that happens to me.  I remember something really fun I did, and then I remember what happened that day and get so mad at myself.  I would give anything to go back and do it over again just so I could be in the moment.  Live every day like it might be your last, because one day it will be

6.  NEVER take anyone for granted-  This is the worst feeling in the world, being taken for granted.  It feels like your useless and nobody wants you.  I have so many amazing people in my life, sometimes its hard to remember each and every one of them.  Just when someone compliments me or smiles at me, it just makes me feel awesome!  All the things i get to do all come down to people.  I have so much to be thankful for, and i try to let people know. I donut know about you but it sure makes me feel better when someone tells me that they like being with me or I've made their day or something.  It makes everything better!

7. You got somethin' to say..say it-   I hate it when there is something in my head that's funny or a compliment and its either not the right time to say it or when I want to compliment someone but I'm too shy.  I think why didn't i do or say that.  It would have been awesome.  I.    I want to get to know someone better by asking them.  .  I like getting to know people and I have all these questions about them in my head and I don't get them out.  When I'm upset to,I  sometimes  hold it inside.  Then I think to myself "Darn!  If I let that person know it would have made me feel so much better!  Always say whats on your mind, especially if your with me...Ill always want to know!

8.  How ever bad you have it...someone always has it ten times worse-  This is a lesson that i have learned fast.  Meeting a lot of people with different disabilities.  It keeps me humble for sure.  So many people are suffering out there.  You shouldn't complain about your life too too much.. because sometimes the person sitting right beside you would do anything to have the life you have! 

9.  Good things come to those who wait-  Having Cerebral Palsy has taught me a lot of patience.  I struggle everyday things that normally people don't even have to think twice about.  One thing is spreading butter on toast.  I cant hold the bread still so I have to use a special board.  It still takes a while sometimes.  It can get quite frustrating!  Spreading toast is simple.  Why cant I do it as fast and as easily as others can do.  However, if I have enough patience i finish making my toast.  I swear, it always tastes at least ten times better when i know i got it ready all by myself.  The longer you wait for something to happen, the bigger the outcome may be. 

10.  Never Give Up-  One thing I know about me is that I don't give up.  You shouldn't give up.  If you do you could miss out on a big celebration.  If I do something i like to see it through.   I wish I could inspire more people to do this.  I don't like watching people just stop trying.  The only way your going to get somewhere is if you keep fighting.  The harder it gets, the harder you fight.  Please don't give up!  You could miss out on something amazing!  I feel so much better when I've conquered something.  When you give up, you let so many others down, especially those who are fighting something bigger.  I like to inspire people to think I can do it than they can do it.  You can do anything if you work hard and really set your mind and heart to it.  So the next time you think you will never be able to do something, your not good enough, or it's to hard... JUST DO IT!


So, I hope you have learned something, at least one thing.. Please!  Ha Ha.  Today I think I would like to end off with a quote.  "Believe in yourself, no matter what you choose.  Keep a winning attitude and you can never lose"  Thank you!

My Fantasy Adventures List

Lately I have been kind of stressing about leaving highschool. I've been a bit afriaid of the unknown. All throughout childhood your kind of told what to do and what's right and wwhat's wrong. Then when you grow up, hopefully you will be able to think for yourself. I am not the best decision maker. I kind of just follow along with all the basic rules. I'm worried that when I get out of highschool and into the real world, I won't have anybody to listen to and I wont kno what to do with myself. That, and I am not fond of the idea of growing up. I admire little kids because of their innocence and their childlike wonder. It's harder to keep up that childlike wonder when you get older, with everything thst goes on in life, even though, we shouldf all try. owver, no matter how hard we try, we can't stop getting older. it's enevitable. Anyway, today, instead of dwelling on what is going to happen with me in the future, I decided to look on the positive side today Today I would like to have a bit of fun and write about all the stuff I would like to be able to do to make the pefect future for me. I'm going to write down ten things I would really like to do either before or after I graduate highschool. Now, some of these ideas may not be that reallistic or crazy but I care. I just want to put them out there. I think writing more then ten thing is going on to long. It feels like your rambling. Ten's a good number. I'll stick with ten! Hope you like my ideas! 1. Rowing- I think I mentioned before in my Rick Hansen Relay blog about my friend Dave Penner who was there with his wife, prensenting a adaptive row boat. They want to start an adaptive rowing program. I think I mentioned what special adaptations the boat has on the Rick Hansen Relay blog I did. Dave and his wife are realty enthusiastic to get me out there in the water with them in the boat. I'll have to wake up quite early but that won't bother me because I will be excited for a fun filled day on the water. Dave and his wife are really excited to test this out, and I am too. I am always up for trying new things. 2. Travel all over Europe- My dad is from England. He moved here about thirty years ago, I think. He has family there, so when I was two years old my family and I went on a trip to visit them. I don't remember any of it. I would love to go back there to see my Dads family, and where he grew up. I would also like to go there just to tour around and see the history of it. I love the looks of England in pictues and movies. I love the english accent, and the history of england, so I think it would be a really fun place for me to visit. I'd love to go all around Europe . I think that would be amazing. I know, it would be very expesive, but it would be my dream destination if I ever did go sightseeing. Hopefull I will get up to England again atleast. That would be awesome! 3. Wheelchair Curling-- When I was in Vancouver doing some reporting for the 2010 Paralympics, one of the sports I covered was wheelchair curling. That was probably my favorite sport to watch. I really liked the legistics of it. My Parents and I thought it was a game that I could maybe play in the future. You bring a manual wheelchair on the rink. They have special grippers for the ice. Your in a team, and the the person behind you holds your wheelchair steady while it's your turn. You push the rock down the rink with a pole that you hold and it attaches to the handle of the rock. Able bodied people bend down to throw it, so this way it makes it possible for a person sitting in a wheelchair who can't bend down that far. This year, there is talk about starting a wheelchair curling program in our local curling rink as part of the Special Olympic Program. I think I should get involved in as many adaptive sports as possible. I love to stay active, and the more things I can do, the better. 4. Visit Flanders Fields- I am very interested in history, especially Workd War 1 and 2, even more so, the holocaust. In the third grade, we had to recite In Flanders Fields for the school on a Rememmbrace day Assembly. As the oldest grade in the Primary school, we were in charge of Remmebrace day. Ever since I've heard that poem, I've been wondering what Flanders fields is like. I've seen pictures and it looks like a beautiful spot. I know it sounds strange, but I've always been intrestested in going to a memorial place like that, just to see what it's like. I think I would appreciate it. It would be nice to pay the soliders some more repect too. For all that they have sacrificed to make the world we live in a better place, they deserve it. 5. Horseback Riding- I have riden a horse before but I got preety scared. I really want to try again. Horseback riding is a really good strech for your hamstings, which is great for peope with Cerebral Palsy, because often their hamstringss are really tight. There are people that teach horseback riding to the disabled. They walk right beside the horse to make sure you keep up there all right. I think I would like to ride a horse, so I want to try again. Also, I don't like leaving things off where I didn't do so well. I want to try and make up for the time I got so scared. You should never give up! 6. Visit Ronald Macdonald House- When I go into calgary for appointments at the Childrens hospital, we always drive by the Ronald Macdonald House. It's a place where sick kids and their families stay if they are going to be in the hospital for a long time. I've always been curious what that place was like. I sometimes wonder how kids with cancer or sick kids in the hospital live there lives and what they have to do in order to stay as healthy as they can. My trips to the Childrens hospital are getting fewer and fewer as I get older, thankfully. A lot of people have helped me out throughout my years, so if I could give back to another child in need, that would be great! 7. Take singing lessons- I love music! If there was one talent I really wish I had, it would be singing. I dont want to be a famous singer or anything, I just want to have a nice voice. I want to be able to sing along with the radio with friends or sing lullabys to my kids if I become a parent. There is local choir in town called the Valley Voices. I think it would be a lot of fun to be able to sing with them. Music is a wonderful thing. Songs tell can tell great stories with great messages, and dancing can be a great thing to do with friends to just forget about all your troubles and just dance! I would love to be as musical as I can be! 8. Write another book- When I was in grade 7, Grace and I got a chance to co-publish a book. We got inspired by and author, Bonita Forsyth to write a childrens book. It was a lot of work but it was worth it! When it was ready and printed into a book, one year later,we got to go to Kimberly to present it to a bunch of school children! When i got back home, I presented it to a few classes in my towns middle school. The whole process was a lot of work but a lot of fun! Ever since we finished, people have been asking us if we will ever write another book. I get different story ideas in my head all the time. One day I would like to write a children's book called "Just like Me" It would be about a liile girl who goes to school and sees another little girl in a wheelchair. She wants to be her friend but is a liitle shy because she hasn'rt met anyone in a whhelchir befoe. Throughoyt the book, she realizes that the girl in the wheelchair is just like her, just with some diffrent challenges. I think it would be good to get the message out there for liitle children, to show them that disabled kids are just like anybody else. The only thing is I think the book would have more pictures than words. I would need an illustrator. I wonder if Grace would be interested??? 9. Have a chat with Rick Hansen- I have met Rick Hansen personally once before, briefly. We were coming out of the paralymic opening ceremonies, and there he was , rolling right past us. I got to say hi to him briefly and get my picture taken with him. He was such a nice, down to earth guy. I think now, with the relay, and getting a bit more involved with him, he has become more and more of and inspiration to ne. He doing a lot to try and make a difference in a lot of people's lives. If I got to have a chat with one of my biggest heros again, that would be amazing. 10. Keep Blogging- I have loved doing this blog. I love writing the stories, and then later checking to see how many people have read it! Thankyou to all of you that have! I actually started this a while ago then stopped doing it, and then Grace inspired me to keep it going. I'm not very good at sticking to these thhings for a long, long time, but I will try. I don't know what is in store for me. Like I said, that makes me very nervous! I'm just going to take it day by day and see where life leads me. Big things are happrning! I want to blog all about them. You will just have to wait and see what they are... and so will I!