Being Disabled May Suck But Life Isn't Over Yet

Finding love, work and identity while coping with a disability can be difficult but it is not impossible. When you become disabled your life and your lifestyle change but you keep living. Being disabled does not mean that life comes to a stop and nor does it mean that you stop having goals to reach.

Disability whether it is in a mental or physical form simply changes how a person will acquire their goals. A disabled person has the same wants and needs as everyone else in society. They want to have a sufficient enough income to be able to enjoy their life. They want friends to laugh and play with and someone to love. They want to be a viable member of their community and they want the respect of those that they interact with. These are simply basic human needs and being disabled does not make these necessities of life go away. It simply alters how we will be able to acquire them.

Each person is special and in their own right has something of value that they are able to offer to others. Disability can change a person and sometimes it can take awhile to figure out what happened, who we have become, and what our new capabilities are. The majority of us do adjust. We learn our capabilities and we grow strong within that knowledge. When you are disabled it is your knowledge, experience, creativity, kindness, time, or even your ability to be patient that are personal qualities which can be used to help you find new sources  of love, work, and perhaps even a personal identity for yourself.

Everyone has something they are able to give. You just have to discover what your unique talents are and then find a means for you to make these desirable qualities work in your favour. Take the time to discover the resources for disabled persons that are available within your community or at the State, Provincial, or Federal Government level. Most communities offer special educational, social, and work related opportunities for the disabled. These programs can open doors that you may not even know exist. They will also allow you to communicate with other individuals in the same position as yourself. By joining in with a community of your peers you will be able to learn from their experiences and they in return can learn from yours.

Be honest in your assessment of your disability. Acknowledge handicaps but also know your areas of strength. This will enable you to find areas of employment or social activity in which you are most likely to be successful. You may not be able to participate or contribute as often or to the degree that others may be able to but you will be able to contribute to the best of your abilities. Instead of working a full time eight hour a day job you may only work a sedentary job for a four hour shift once a week. Perhaps you will acquire a part time home based job or you will learn to work on the internet.

Your disability may prevent you from ever being able to work a full time job but it should not stop you from being able to contribute something somewhere. Subsidizing a small disability pension with a part time income can be the difference between just existing and really truly living. Those extra pennies can help you to get out there to enjoy life and meet new people. Even if you cannot work you may be able to volunteer to help others. It is very socially satisfying to give back to your community. 

You are the one who is best able to judge your talents. If you are at a loss of where to begin then seek counselling in this area. Your local college are health facility are generally willing to provide you with the knowledge and resources to help you head in the right direction. There is always a resource somewhere that can provide you with the answers that you are looking for. It is up to you to reach out and find that help. Don’t just sit at home if you desire more from life. Being disabled should not close doors it should just open new ones. Search out the resources available to you in your community. Join social groups or clubs so that you do not shut yourself off from that very necessary social interaction that is so required by us all. 

Whether your disability is from injury, arthritis, autoimmune illness, or age related it is likely unique to you and you are the best one to judge your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest with yourself and find areas where you are most likely to succeed. Then participate in these. It may take some trial and error to discover your niche areas but with a little time and patience, you will. When I first became ill I thought that it was the worst thing that could ever happen to me and that I was doomed to die alone. Instead here I am. It is over 30 years now since I first became ill, I am married to a wonderful man and I am still here to write this article to you. I love my life, it has been an amazing adventure.

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