BEING “BABIED”–SOMETIMES HELP IS NICE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I LEARN BY STRUGGLING. IT’S BEST 2 ASK IF I NEED HELP, NOT ASSUME.
ON 1 HAND, , I MAY NEVER BE AWARE THAT I’M CAPAPABLE OF A TASK IF I NEVER DO IT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I MAY ALWAYS STRUGGLE 2 DO SOMETHING NORMALLY, & THOUGH I CAN DO IT EVEN ON A “BAD” DAY, IT MAY BE A WELCOME BREAK. SO ASK IF I NEED HELP, INSTEAD OF ASSUMING THAT I DON’T NEED HELP!
–THE BIGGEST COURTESY IS TO NOT AVOID A PERSON WHO IS DIFFERENT. IT IS A LITTLE AWKWARD AT FIRST, BUT THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL NEVER FEEL COMFORTABLE UNTIL THEY JUST LEAVE THEIR COMFORT ZONE.
–DO NOT EVER STAND IN FRONT OF A WHEELCHAIR, & IF U ARE TALL, DON’T EVEN SIT IN FRONT OF A WHEELCHAIR.
–DON’T APPROACH PEOPLE WITH AN OBVIOUS DISABILITY IN PUBLIC TO SATISFY YOUR CURIOSITY ABOUT WHY A PERSON IS IN A WHEEL CHAIR, BLIND, DEAF, OR WHATEVER. HOW IS THAT HELPFUL TO ASK SOMEONE SOMETHING SO SENSATIVE IN A PUBLIC PLACE, OR FROM A STRANGER?
–DO NOT STARE AT EITHER, LIKE THEY ARE A CIRCUS FREAK, EITHER! (THOUGH 4 ME, I UNDERSTAND WHEN A CHILD DOES! ABOUT AGE 9, IT IS VERY COMMON!)
–BE COURTEOUS & THOUGHTFUL–OPEN DOORS, ETC.
–DON’T “BABY TALK,” TALK SLOW, OR TALK LOUD.
–4 ME, IT IS A COMMON MISTAKE 2 SIGN 2 ME–ASL IS SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND ME, NOT SO THEY CAN SIGN TO ME-IT IS A COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING! I’M ACTUALLY SUPER SLOW AT READING ASL, BECUZ I NEVER READ IT, & HAVING DOUBLE VISION DOESN’T HELP ME!
–BE PATIENT—DISABLED R SLOW & OFTEN MAKE MISTAKES.
–DO NOT ASSUME THEY CAN NOT PARTICIPATE IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DISABILITY.
–ASK BEFORE HELPING.
–DO NOT PARK “MOMENTARILY” IN HANDICAPPED SPOTS- TONS DO THIS.
— A PERSONAL COMPLAINT: I’M OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS THEN PEOPLE RUN 2 MARK, MEANING WELL & BEING NICE, BUT I END UP DEALING W/THE MISCONCEPTION & APPEARING 2 HAVE “CRIED WOLF.” 4 EX., I CAN BE ASKED IF I’M COLD. MOST ANYTIME, IF I FEEL A CHILL — WHICH IS THE MAJORITY, I SIGN ‘SORT-OF’ OR NOD ‘YES.’ THIS DOES NOT MEAN I WANT A COAT! FOLLOW UP BY ASKING IF I WANT A COAT, SINCE I’M COLD MY KIDS HAVE LEARNED THE ART OF ASKING ME THE RT. ?S & NOT ASSUMING EVEN THE “OBVIOUS”! IN THE ABOVE EX., WHEN I WANTED A COAT, I GOT 1, BUT B4 ASKING 4 ANYTHING, ASK ME IF I WANT IT!
PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY VERY CONSIDERATE. IF THEY C A NEED, THEY DO IT (LIKE IF I’M HEADED TOWARDS A DOOR, THEY OPEN IT). IT’S ALL NICE. EVEN STRANGERS ARE HELPFUL!
BUT I SEEM 2 BE IN A “TODDLER STAGE,”I SWEAR I HAVE HAD A SORT OF “REBIRTH”, & IN THE BEGINNING, WHEN I COULDN’T EVEN HOLD UP MU OWN HEAD, I WAS A HELPLESS “NEWBORN”), & OFTEN SAY, “I WANT 2 DO IT!” RECENTLY, MY DAUGHTER WAS TRYING 2 REACH SOMETHING, & THE WAY SHE WANTED 2 DO IT WASN’T SAFE, SO, SINCE MY CAREGIVER WAS THERE, I OFFERED HER HELP (NORMALLY, I LET KIDS STAND ON ME, IN ORDER 2 REACH, BUT THIS WAS SOMEWHERE I COULDN’T GO.)
SHE WAS VERY OFFENDED, & POINTED OUT HOW SHE FELT “GROWN UP” WHEN SHE DID STUFF HERSELF. VERY OBSERVANT! I, 2, FEEL THAT SAME SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, & FEEL MORE LIKE A CAPABLE ADULT!
ON THANKSGIVING, A SISTER-IN-LAW OFFERED 2 FEED ME PIE. I WAS GRATEFUL 4 HER WILLINGNESS, BUT I WANTED 2 TRY. IF I FAILED, I KNEW I COULD ASK 4 HER HELP. MY 1ST TRY FAILED, BUT THE 2ND TRY WORKED, AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHAT I DID WRONG!
THE BEST AT THANKSGIVING WAS THAT IF I WANTED A FINGER FOOD, I DIDN’T NEED 2 ASK 4 IT, OR BE FED IT—I SIMPLY RAISED MY CHAIR 2 COUNTER HEIGHT, REACHED & GRABBED IT, & FED MYSELF IT ALL THINGS I WAS TOLD I’D NEVER DO AGAIN! I FELT SUCH UTTER JOY & GRATITUDE! EVERYTIME I WAS SEEN, I GIGGLED 4 JOY! I WAS SO HAPPY!
CHANGE OF SUBJECT:
1. THE SCRAPBOOK PAGES R UPDATED
2. A NEW BOOK WAS ADDED 2 THE RECOMMENDATIONS LIST
3. A FAQ SECTION WAS CREATED BY MOVING THE “SEARCH” SECTION OUT AND ADDING A SEARCH BAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE.
THIS WAS ADDED BECUZ I SAW A NEED: WHEN I HAD MY STROKE, FAMILY HAD 2 SCOUR THE INTERNET 2 LEARN ABOUT MY CONDITION, & I STILL GET QUESTIONS EITHER ABOUT MY DISABILITY, OR ABOUT BEING DISABLED. SO, I’M ADDING A SECTION ON MY WEBSITE 4″ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ),” FEEL FREE 2 SEND ME A QUESTION (MY EMAIL IS ON THE “CONTACT ME” PAGE).
THE FAQ SECTION OPERATES BASED ON THE CATEGORY THAT I LABEL MY POST WITH. SO, WHEN U CLICK “FAQ” ONLY POSTS LABELED WITH THE CATEGORY “FAQ” WILL SHOW UP – NONE OF MY OTHER POSTS. SO REGULAR READERS WILL NOT MISS MY POSTS 2 THE FAQ SECTION. HOWEVER, I MAY ANSWER SOME THINGS BY COPYING & PASTING, SO SOME THINGS MAY BE FAMILIAR 2 U! I WILL TRY 2 ANSWER AT LEAST 1 QUESTION WEEKLY…
testing
IN OCT. 2010, THE LDS PROPHET, PRES. MONSON SAID, “My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.”
I RECENTLY TOLD THE TEENAGE GIRLS AT CHURCH THAT SHORTLY AFTER REGAINING THE ABILITY TO JOURNAL ON MY COMPUTER, MY FIRST FEW ENTRIES WERE MOSTLY NEGATIVE AND FOCUSED ON WHAT I COULD NOT DO AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MADE MY LIFE SO TERRIBLE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THOSE ENTRIES WERE NOT EXAMPLES OF OPTIMISM AND GRATITUDE. AFTER LETTING MY HUSBAND READ THESE JOURNAL ENTRIES, HE SUGGESTED SOMETHING I HAVE MENTIONED B4: THAT I COMPILE A LIST OF THE THINGS I WAS GRATEFUL FOR. WHEN ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT I HAD WAS TAKEN AWAY, IT WAS HARD TO THINK THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.
IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE FOR ME. IT WAS SO HARD TO THINK OF THE GOOD, AND NOT ABOUT THE BAD. I HAD TO START SMALL. VERY SMALL. AT FIRST IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO THINK ONLY ABOUT THE GOOD, AND DIS-REGARD THE NEGATIVE. HOWEVER, I RECOGNIZED THE BLESSINGS OF THE LDS PRIESTHOOD AND A LOVING FAMILY. ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS THAT WAS NOT AFFECTED WAS MY HEARING, SO I WAS BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO STILL ENJOY LISTENING TO MUSIC AND HEARING MY CHILDREN SING. I WAS WRITING THIS LIST ON MY OWN, SO I RECOGNIZED THAT I HAD REGAINED INDEPENDENCE THAT I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEVER REGAIN. I GET GREAT PARKING NOW. I FEEL LIKE A QUEEN SINCE PEOPLE DO ALL THE MUNDANE TASKS FOR ME- LIKE FEEDING ME. IF I GET RUNS IN THE BACK OF MY NYLONS, PEOPLE CANNOT TELL SINCE THE WHEELCHAIR HIDES IT. I WAS GRATEFUL THAT I COULD USE SIGN LANGUAGE AND NOT HAVE TO BLINK TO COMMUNICATE ANYMORE (BUT I WAS THANKFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE BY BLINKING WHEN THAT WAS MY ONLY OPTION). I COULD STILL HELP MY KIDS WITH HOMEWORK. I GIVE THE BEST HUGS WHEN SOPHIA GETS HURT. PEOPLE TELL ME COOL SECRETS BECAUSE THEY THINK I WILL NOT AND CANNOT TELL ANYONE. I WAS GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE.
MY LIST GREW AS I BECAME MORE AWARE OF THE MANY, MANY BLESSINGS THAT EVEN A PERSON IN MY SITUATION HAD, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT I EASILY WROTE ABOUT 20 BLESSINGS THE FIRST ATTEMPT. IN TIME, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING I HATED, I SEARCHED FOR WHY THAT WAS A BLESSING, AND ADDED THAT 2 MY LIST. IT HAS BEEN 4 YEARS SINCE I FIRST BEGAN THIS LIST, AND I ADD TO IT ON A REGULAR BASIS. IN MAKING MY LIST, I HAVE LEARNED TO LOOK A DIFFERENT WAY ON MANY THINGS THAT MAKE MY SITUATION DIFFICULT. THINKING THIS WAY HELPS ME COPE BETTER WITH MY SITUATION, AND TO HELP ME SEE GOD’S HAND IN EVERYTHING I DO. JUST LIKE MY LIST, IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THE SAME WITH YOUR FAMILIES, AND CLING TO THE THINGS YOU APPRECIATE AND LOVE ABOUT EACH FAMILY MEMBER.
SPEAKING OF GRATITUDE, & IN THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING, I’M CURRENTLY THANKFUL 4 MY POWER WHEELCHAIR & MY VOICE. LAST WEEK MY WHEELCHAIR BROKE AGAIN (IT’S OLD), & THOUGH I’M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL 4 THIS EXTRA POWERCHAIR, I MISS MY “REGULAR” POWERCHAIR, & WILL BE GLAD 2 GET IT BACK 2DAY, AFTER BEING W/O IT FOR 6 DAYS!!
I ALSO LOST MY VOICE. (SOUNDS FUNNY COMING FROM ME, BUT I LOST WHAT LITTLE I’D REGAINED, & COULDN’T EVEN SAY MY KIDS NAMES.) IT WAS LIKE THE BEGINNING, IN 2004…I 4GOT HOW NICE IT IS 2 HAVE RE-GAINED EVEN A TINY BIT OF VOICE.
MOST RECENTLY, I AM THANKFUL BECAUSE I CAN MOVE MY BELLY VOLUNTARILY. IT IS ONLY A LITTLE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING. IF IT GETS STRONGER, I MAY BE ABLE TO BREATHE VOLUNTARILY. THEN I COULD FORCE AIR THROUGH MY VOCAL CORDS AND I COULD REGAIN THE ABILITY TO TALK. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS SMALL MOVEMENT AND ALL OTHERS THAT WILL COME MY WAY.
I PREVIOUSLY JOURNALLED THESE:
• 11/7 WAS A “TALKING DAY” (I HAVE DAYS WHERE IT’S EASIER 2 TALK), & WITH WORDS, & NO SIGNING, I ASKED MY GIRLS,“WHAT R U DOING?” 1 OF THE GIRLS REPEATED MY QUESTION, 2 BE SURE I WAS UNDERSTOOD, & AFTER NODDING YES, SHE ANSWERED. I THEN POINTED & ASKED, “WHAT IS THAT?,” & THE OTHER GIRL REPEATED MY QUESTION, 2 BE SURE I WAS UNDERSTOOD AGAIN, & AFTER NODDING YES, SHE ANSWERED.
• ABOUT 2 WEEKS PREVIOUS 2 THAT, I TOLD MY MUSIC THERAPIST, “NO PIANO,” AS I POINTED AT MY PIANO, & SHOOK MY HEAD. SHE TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD ME! I WAS THRILLED! IT’S 1 THING 4 MY FAMILY 2 UNDERSTAND ME, OR A SPEECH THERAPIST, BUT IT’S ANOTHER 2 HAVE “USEFUL” CONVERSATION.
• 11/9 WAS ALSO EXCITING. THE GIRLS CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL, BUT I ONLY SAW SOPH. NORMALLY, I HAVE 2 DROP WHAT I’M DOING, SO I CAN SIGN, “WHERE IS JESSICA?”, OR I KEEP WORKING & WONDERING! I CAN’T RECALL THE LAST TIME I KEPT WORKING, & SIMULTANEOUSLY ASKED A QUESTION, BUT EVERY NOW & THEN I TRY IT, JUST 4 FUN! ONLY THIS TIME, SOPH UNDERSTOOD ME, & ANSWERED! GRANTED, IT’S VERY POSSIBLE THAT SHE ONLY FIGURED OUT MY WORDS, DUE 2 THE CONTEXT, BUT IT FELT GOOD!
WHEN I 1ST LOST THE ABILITY TO SPEAK, I BEGAN BY BLINKING IN ORDER TO SPELL WORDS, THEN “GRADUATED” TO FINGER-SPELLING WORDS, & I CAN NOW SIGN SOME WORDS. THE FIRST SIGN WORD I LEARNED, WAS FOR THE WORD “THANK YOU.” I WAS THRILLED! IT FELT SO GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SAY “THANK YOU,” WHENEVER SOMEONE HELPED ME! I BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO LEARN GRATITUDE, WE NEED TO SAY, “THANK YOU.” LUCKILY, WHEN I LOST MY VOICE THIS TIME, I COULD STILL MOVE & SIGN “THANK YOU.”
HOWEVER, I FINALLY GOT MY VOICE BACK A LITTLE YESTERDAY, & CAN SAY MORE AGAIN. I WAS DELIGHTED THAT WHEN ZACH ASKED ME AFTER DINNER WHERE DAD WENT, I WAS ABLE 2 SAY “MAILBOX” CLEARLY, & BE UNDERSTOOD! EVEN ZACH WAS IMPRESSED!
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I KNOW I WILL!
JENNY LYNN'S NEWS 