Don't Let Limitations Get You Down

A woman suffering from post polio syndrome complained, "I am so depressed! I can't do the things I used to do and I feel like I am always behind when it comes to taking care of my affairs."

If you have a health condition or a physical disability, there may be some things you simply can not do. A blind person can not drive, or read print. A person in a wheelchair can not climb the stairs or reach the top shelf in the grocery store. You may have difficulty in taking care of yourself and managing your affairs. But if you get down on yourself you may need a two edged sword to fight such depression.

First, take the pressure off. Be realistic. Tone down your expectations and give yourself permission to hire the help you need. Second, do not dwell on what you can not do but focus on things that you can do. Ask yourself, "What is my area of expertise? What can I do that is exceptional?"

I know a totally blind man who built his own ham radio and computer. Another blind man was a cabinet maker and enjoyed driving his neighbors crazy by going out to his shop at midnight and running his power tools with no lights on. He still had all his fingers! I know a disabled policeman who made a fortune trading baseball cards on the Internet and a wheelchair bound woman who made good money selling Avon.

One of the most interesting places to find exceptional people is in the nursing home. In one nursing home I found a woman who learned how to play hymns on the harmonica, a man who was recording his childhood experiences growing up in a traveling circus, and a woman who stated "I have a ministry of smiles. Whenever I meet people in the hall or in the dining room, I call them by name and smile as I greet them." Of all the residents living there, these three were the only ones who still had a twinkle in their eyes.

Being disabled requires becoming differently abled. You may be dependent on others to take care of some of your needs. There is no shame in asking for help if necessary. But if you want to put the twinkle back in your eyes, find something positive that you can do. Be exceptional.

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