For the past few weeks my perspective on the world has all come from sitting in a wheelchair. Before I continue, I want to thank whomever invented this marvelous vehicle, because for me it has been my ticket to tremendous independence and freedom in my own little world. I have not yet been cleared for car travel, so each day my wheelchair is my only means of transport. With the help of these 4 wheels, I can easily navigate all of my physical space, which at this point includes an open area for a small but lovely living room/kitchen/dining combo along with a large screened porch and patio. (I have stayed out of the bedrooms as they are too difficult for me to navigate.) My sleeping space is a hospital bed in the corner of the porch and I created an outdoor shower by using a garden hose tucked into to my landscaping.
To some it may sound quite primitive, but this simplicity has many rewards. My daily highlight is that by sleeping on the screen porch I can fall asleep counting the stars and wake up each morning to a symphony from my feathered friends. All and all, I live in just a few hundred square feet, and rejoice in the simple magic of each day.
For someone like me, who could never really sit still or stay in one geographical place, it would appear to be a serious challenge to be confined to this small space. Surprisingly, this is not the case. Rather, the past few weeks have allowed me to experience the amazing rewards that stem from being fully present in the moment. It is noteworthy how when I keep 100% of my focus on the here and now, and on how grateful I am for life itself, my resulting joy is unparalleled. It has been interesting to discover that the only time that I got frustrated with my situation was when my mind drifted into the future and I thought about all the things that supposedly I will not be able to do this summer.
This movement from the NOW, brought on a cascade of negative thoughts which fortunately I could quickly recover from.
My lesson was clear. It is in my best interest to ONLY focus on the present moment , and to have gratitude for everything that is in my now. With this attitude, I found that each day has been filled with a previously unknown level of satisfaction and contentment. There are even certain moments my feelings of gratitude are so overwelminjg that they start to border on bliss. Finally, after a lifetime of being “on the go”, I am consistently happy in my present moment as I journey through my simple day.
There is one other discovery that I want to share, and that is the fact the the sincere love, joy, laughter, and heartfelt connections between Family and Friends is exactly the same from a wheelchair as from any other position. Real love does not differentiate whether you can walk, run or sit… for its magical powers transcend the entire physical realm.