Dribbling (and other) Lessons with Mr. D

        This past weekend, my dad and I decided to go practice basic basketball and volleyball skills. Unfortunately, the first place we looked, a playground, was locked up. The second place, a school had some kind of event going on. The third school was locked up. I was ready to give up, but my dad decided to drive to just one more school. He remembered that they had a nice area to play sports. As it happened, this school was open.
         As my dad and I got my wheelchair set up, we noticed a man, probably in his 30s, wandering around on the campus. We didn't really pay much attention to him, though. I just assumed he was a worker at the school. So, my dad and I started practicing volleyball. The man ignored us at first. As I got tired, however, my serves started going every which way. The man started catching the ball  and bringing it back to me. After a while, he even offered me some advice on how to serve properly. Now, normally I would be pretty creeped out by some random man coming and joining my game uninvited, but for some reason, he really didn't bother me.
           Soon, I was too tired to continue playing volleyball. I asked my dad to show me how to dribble a basketball, because I figured that would be an easier skill to pick up. Boy, was I wrong! When I tried to dribble, I absolutely could not control the ball. The man, who had by now introduced himself (I'm just going to call him Mr. D), showed me the proper technique. He patiently showed it to me again...and again...and again, until I finally got it. As we were talking, I noticed that his clothes looked pretty dingy. I wasn't sure if this meant he had been working all day or what. He also made some reference to "being raised in a bar room," which sounded like a very sad existence. I started to feel sorry for Mr. D. He seemed really  lonely.
       After spending just under an hour practicing with Mr. D, I started to feel absolutely exhausted. I knew it was  time to go home, which made me feel sad. I really enjoyed hanging out with Mr. D. Before we left, Mr. D said, "Can I ask you an honest question?" I was pretty nervous, wondering what he wanted from us. Then he said, " I'm trying to find a hotel to stay in for the night, but I need twelve more dollars. Can you help me?" And that's when it finally dawned on me. The reason he seemed so lonely and rundown was because he is homeless ( unfortunately, my dad and I only had two dollars to offer him)! I had  learned how to dribble from a homeless man!
            It was quite a shock. Realizing that I had had my first truly meaningful interaction with a homeless person was, for lack of a better expression, pretty darn cool. Now, I've given out meal tickets and prepared meals at a homeless shelter. I have given money to a homeless person. But these experiences didn't give me nearly the same amount of joy as just hanging out and playing sports with Mr. D. I think what made this experience so different was  that I was actually interacting with Mr. D, learning about him, and learning from him, instead of just handing him food or money and saying "have a nice day!" What was so great about it was that we were acting as equals. This was an awesome, eye-opening experience I will never forget.
       He was so friendly, and playing sports with me seemed to really cheer him up. I actually heard him brag about me, saying that I was "pretty good" at basketball, when he was speaking to someone else. That made me feel really good, knowing that I had made an impression on him. The woman he was speaking to didn't seem to believe his story, but I smiled and waved at Mr. D as I wheeled past, to show the woman that Mr. D was telling the truth; he really did teach a girl in a wheelchair how to dribble a basketball properly. I was glad to be able to help him, since he had helped me.
               Have you ever felt that there is an attitude about homeless people where it's "us (people with homes) versus them (the homeless)?" I feel that people often act that way. In this case, there was no "us versus him;" it was just us, just a small group of new friends laughing and playing sports and having an actual conversation. I hope that when I interact with the homeless in the future, I maintain an attitude of "Us" rather than "us versus them." I hope I get the opportunity to learn more about the lives and personalities of the homeless people I encounter. Homeless people are humans, just like everyone else, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Readers, I challenge you to do something to help the homeless; work at a soup kitchen or shelter, or just give someone on the street a few dollars. When you do, try to maintain a caring attitude that maintains the dignity of the person you are helping. You will be amazed at how good it makes you feel.
      

Life is beautiful no matter what!

        So often, women abort, or are encouraged to abort, a baby who will have a mental or physical disability. This is a terrible problem in our society! As it says in my profile, I have a disability called spina bifida. I walk with crutches, and use a wheelchair for excessively long distances. Some people assume that because I have a disability, my life isn't worth living. I intend to show these people that every human has the right to life! Not only the right to life, but the right to thrive.
    Yes, living with a disability can be challenging, but that does not mean that life is not worth living. My life is not perfect (and whose life is?), but it is beautiful. I deal with physical pain,  limitations on my mobility, and some limitations on my independence, but these pains and limitations won't necessarily last forever. I have SO much to live for, despite my challenges. I have a loving family, awesome friends, and more strengths and abilities than any doctor could have predicted. I am an honors student, and have been since middle school. I draw, sing (both solo and with a jazz band), swim, play piano and guitar, and write (obviously). I go on dates. I even play sports! Yes, you read that right. I play sports! Wheelchair basketball and volleyball, to be specific. I will soon learn how to drive and I will be going to college soon.  Doctors predicted I would never walk, never talk, and be a "vegetable" by age 5. Well, I've proven them wrong on all counts.
         Honestly, my disability is such a small part of me. I have never seen my disability, or anyone else's disability, as a reason to say, "your life is not worth living." There is so much more to me than a pair of crutches and plastic leg braces. I am a kind, intelligent person with a good sense of humor. Our society must learn to look past differences and limitations, and try to see the person instead of the disability. The person is what matters. I do not wish to be known for my disability, rather, I would like to be known for my strength, my kindness, or my sense of humor. Heck, I'd rather be known for just about anything besides my disability.
              My story is one of many success stories. People with disabilities can and will thrive in our society if given the chance. What gives us the right to decide if a baby's disability will prevent them from living a "normal" life or a happy life? We don't have that right. Period. Every single person on Earth will face challenges; people with disabilities just happen to have more obvious ones. This doesn't mean that our challenges are insurmountable or that we can't ever have a good life!
           I hope one day society will view people with disabilities in a different light. I hope that one day people will realize that people with disabilities are capable of being functional, thriving, happy members of society! I offer each of my readers two challenges today: when you see someone with a disability, don't stare at them or treat them any differently than you would treat a person without a disability. Remember that they are truly no different than you are. Secondly, never forget: All life is sacred.