Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

(Photo credit: Jari Leivo)

A few months ago, I watched from my home office window as a couple of crows built a nest in the spruce tree. The eggs have since hatched and the babies are growing. Today must have been flying lessons. I looked out as the crows were squawking yet again. A well-intending woman was chasing after a fledgling on the ground, with two angry bird parents circling above her, reminiscence of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. She carefully scooped up the baby and placed him on a lower spruce branch

Although the woman meant well, she was trying to help in a situation that didn’t require help; a situation I can relate to, well. Having a physical disability and being in a wheelchair leads people to assume I need help, even when none was solicited. Strangers have kindly assisted me, even after I cheerily responded, “No, thanks,” to their offer. I am then left feeling obliged to be appreciative for help rendered.

At times assistance is greatly appreciated. At other times, despite being slow or not being graceful, help really isn’t required and, sometimes, can be no help at all. When in doubt, simply ask if I would like help. Then respect my response, please.

There is one way you can help me at the moment. I will be sincerely appreciative if you would vote for me daily so that I might be paid to blog for a year. Thanks!

As for the baby crow, it’s probably best to leave it alone, unless it is obviously injured or in danger.

On My Christening Day

On a personal note, I would like to acknowledge one of my loyal readers, my Mom. She is a fairly new computer user, having sworn she would never have a need for one. She has taught herself how to surf the web and to send email. I’m so proud of her!

When I was on my “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days” virtual book tour, she came along to every stop, making the experience extra special for me. She frequently goes back through previous posts to see if there are any new comments. (I still need to find and install the ‘Recent Posts’ and ‘Recent Comments’ plugins.) She understands what I am talking about when I mention words like blogging, podcasting and Technorati ranking. How cool is that!

Mom recently sold her house in Alberta and is moving to a destination still to be determined; it may be Prince Edward Island, it could be Saskatchewan or it might be somewhere else. She is spending some time camping in her fifth wheel trailer before deciding where she is headed to next. Meanwhile I’ll miss being connected in this way. Besides, who will point out the typos in my blog posts?

To you, Mom, on beginning the next the chapter in your life’s journey. May it be a safe yet fulfilling one!

I hope you are back online in time to join me for my “Summer Sojourn” virtual book tour!

(Photo credit: John Evans)

A young millionairess is caught speeding at night with her headlights turned off and with a suspended driver’s license. According to the media, she does not know her license has been suspended because she doesn’t read her own mail and she doesn’t read everything she signs. She blames her manager for her predicament. This woman is physically capable, but is she independent?

A long list of abilities does not equate to independence. An individual with a severe disability, requiring assistance with daily tasks, can be more independent than a more capable individual. Independence is a state of mind rather than a state of physical ability.

Developing independence is a process, a journey, that begins at an early age; most notably, during the terrible twos with the stubborn word “NO!” Occasionally that journey is hampered or blocked for various reasons. Here are a few ways to revive that journey, regardless of capabilities, financial status or other situation.

1. Be responsible and take responsibility. Being accountable for your actions and owning up when you have made a mistake or a poor judgement are critical in declaring your independence.
2. Make your own decisions. Soliciting advice and insights from others may be helpful when facing a decision, but, in the end, it comes down to you. It’s your life, your decision.
3. Be willing to try. You may pleasantly surprise yourself (and others) with what you can do yourself.
4. Use capabilities to full potential. Not fully using what you do have may mean you are unnecessarily depending on others for something you could competently do yourself.
5. Communicate what you need. No man is an island…we all need to rely on others in some way. However, by communicating your needs and how you need them, rather than depending on others to guess or fumble along, you take further responsibility for yourself
6. Use resources appropriately. As mentioned in #5, we all need assistance from time to time, but utilize the assistance or resource for its intended purpose. Seeking legal advice from your manager or overextending your stay on your friend’s couch doesn’t foster self-reliance.

Are there other ways for developing one’s independence? Add your thoughts in a comment below.

On today’s show, Oprah kicked off her O Girl, O Beautiful Revolution to celebrate a girl’s beauty regardless of her physical attributes. Similarly, “Every girl deserves to feel beautiful just the way she is,” is the slogan for Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty, which includes women of all colours with jiggly bits. These initiatives aim to embrace a broader, healthier view of beauty and to boost self-esteem. Interestingly, neither initiative included girls and women with obvious disabilities. Are we not beautiful?

Our society equates the ability to walk with valued and beauty. A questionable apartment manager once commented to me, “Too bad you can’t walk, you’re pretty.” For that moment, I was thankful I didn’t rely on biped mobility.

Like African-Americans and –Canadians who lighten their skin colour or relax their hair and individuals of Asian descendant who resort to plastic surgery in order to feel beautiful according to Western society’s standard of beauty, people with physical disabilities are often treated or fixed, or wait for a cure, to be more normal, more acceptable, and, thus, more valued.

These real-life beauty campaigns are encouraging and are definitely a needed step in the right direction. But, if we are going to celebrate the beauty of diversity, let’s make the celebration truly inclusive.

Dove, if you need a real life, fiery red-head woman, I am available!

Blogging is fulfilling my childhood dream of having a regular column in which to share personal experiences of living with a disability so that readers may come to know me, the person, and to realize that I am more than my cerebral palsy. My goal is to alleviate people’s fears of those with disabilities in a non-confrontational and humorous way. Unlike writing a column in a local newspaper, blogging has allowed me to touch people from around the world. My dream would be even sweeter if I could find a way to be paid for blogging.

Charles Jolley has launched a social sponsorship experiment Blog for a Year. The aim is to find out what would happen if patrons from all over the world could come together to give one deserving writer the boost he or she needs to launch a professional career as a blogger. Blog for a Year awards one winner a year-long contract to blog full time on a blog of his or her own choosing. The award is funded by donations from participants and sponsors. The competition ends when the Blogger Fund reaches $160,000 or on January 1, 2008, whichever comes first. In either case, when the competition ends, the person with the most votes will be offered the job.

The winner will be paid $80,000 (or half of the Blogger Fund) in even bi-weekly installments, like a regular paycheque. Personally, $80,000US would keep me blogging for two or three years! The fund is currently $1350; enough to buy a bagful of pre-cut fruits and veggies bi-weekly for one year, which would save a few fingers!)

At this point, I would like to request your support in votes, please. And you can vote every day until New Year’s Day, 2008. I am several thousand votes behind the front runner, but, with your support and help in spreading the word, I am confident I have a fair chance in being offered this job.

Thanks for your support!