Not My First Rodeo

I’ll admit that when it comes to living with a disability, every day seems to have its share of struggles. Just getting dressed can be a major undertaking, let alone making meals, driving to the grocery store, and doing the million other chores that need to get done. But you do them, and you live life while you’re doing it. That’s what it’s’ all about.  

My sister often tells me I’m stubborn as a mule. Each time she says it I respond with, “I’m not stubborn; I’m independent.” What she sees as a stubborn streak is me simply choosing to do things for myself rather than asking someone to do them for me. I’ll ask for help when I need it, but if I can do it on my own, I will. I think that behavior is born of the fear that if I don’t do something for myself, it won’t be long before I won’t be able to do it at all.

So maybe that does make me stubborn as a mule. I’m stubborn enough to want to take care of myself. I’m stubborn enough to put the extra effort into doing more in order to get things done right. I’ll accept help when I need it, but I don’t want anyone’s pity!  

My disability isn’t just going to go away. For the rest of my life, this is my reality. I’m facing three more joint replacement surgeries, and I’ll have to be stubborn to face them and get through them. But it’s not my first rodeo. I’ve been here before and survived. I’ll get by another day and then another, and when the time comes that I can’t do something, then I’ll ask for help. But for now, I’m just stubborn enough to want to be independent!