In this season of shopping for gifts, finishing up classes or projects at work , and traveling or preparing to be with family , there can be a lot of stress on everyone's shoulders. But consider for a minute the additional stresses that can come, especially in this time of year.
I experienced two particular things today that you might not think about if you don't have a disability. The first was the difficulty of traveling around town in winters weather. We so often plow and salt roads, but we too easily forget to care for sidewalks the same way. Last week I found myself complaining (silently to God really) that the sidewalks weren't plowed, as I got quite the upper body workout pulling a suitcase through a foot of snow just to get to a bus stop a mile down the road. This weekend, my complaints changed.
Today, the sidewalks were plowed. When I returned to the city last night after traveling across the state, I was so excited to see the plowed areas. However, I didn't notice that they were still difficult for traveling until the next morning. I got up early to head downtown for some errands. I walked briskly across the parking lot, and bam. I found myself flat on my back in the middle of the street that I was crossing to get to the sidewalk. I was in pain, but I got up and kept walking. I sort of I've skated through the next parking lot and trudged through the two foot snowdrifts to the main road with plowed sidewalks. Bam. Flat on my back again. This time, I got up, but I turned back for my apartment.
Should I call a cab? No, that's so expensive. Should I just stay home today? No, I really need to get stuff done before Christmas. These were my thoughts as I considered what my options could be for traveling around town. I finally decided to wait an hour, since I knew I had already missed the bus with my icy delays. I decided to try walking to the bus again, only because it was cheaper.
This time, I was armed. I took some of the salt that my landlord keeps inside our apartment building. I sprinkled salt when I felt like I was skating. I took twice the normal time to walk to the bus. This time, I fell twice more, much harder than before. But I did arrive to do my errands.
The second struggle was actually when I had transportation. I took the bus for people with disabilities to Meijer so that I could buy a few additional Christmas gifts. I waited in the half hour checkout line just like everyone else. However, I was going to miss my ride back to my apartment because of this long line. I stood there trying to decide if I should abandon my shopping cart just to make my ride. Then I thought of the two full hours it took me just to locate the. 15 items in a crowded and overstocked store. I chose to stay in line, knowing that I would be in jeopardy of losing my access to the transportation service by not showing up for my ride. It ended up working out that the driver was waiting for me anyway, but the principle is the same. When someone has access to a car, they have access to choice about when and where to go. Without that livery , there is great limitation.
Consider the natural stresses of this season. Then add a few bruises, an aching back, extra time, and lack of choice. It's amazing how inaccessible our holiday routines can be for some people. Then I think about people with even bigger struggles than me. What about the woman in a wheelchair who literally can't power through the snow? What about the man using a walker who would be far more than sore the next morning after falling on ice? What about the people who are too scared, too weak, or too uneducated to just keep trying for independence no matter how hard it might be today?
Food for thought. In this season, when things seem overwhelming to you, stop for a moment. When you burn the sugar cookies, wait in endless checkout lines, scrape off your windshield, or fight with tangled Christmas lights, remember that there are challenges for everyone. Consider the struggles of others. That may be the best gift you can give someone this Christmas.
Sing as one,
Sjc
No comments:
Post a Comment