We live in an extremely noisy world where we’re constantly bombarded with information. Whether through constant news cycles, social media, or paying attention to our “smart” devices, we have a continuous stream of information coming at us. The easiest thing for many people to do is to read, react, and respond to this information, often negatively.
I’m guilty of this myself.
A big part of that is because of my physical disability and how it affects my voice. I have a much easier time typing than I do speaking. Well, perhaps easier isn’t the right word. Some days, I have difficulty typing due to my hands being tired or not being positioned right.
For those wondering how I type, I use an on-screen keyboard, an Apple Magic Trackpad, and two of my chair controllers to move the mouse. If my hands are tired, sitting in my chair differently than I usually do, or my hands are in different positions, typing becomes easier.
The good news is that I’m in the process of overhauling my chair controllers, which will allow me to have an easier time with typing. The bad news is that it will be connected to my new chair. Based on how long it’s taken me to set up the new chair, everything should be done by the year 2050.
I’m kidding, hopefully.
In the meantime, I type as best I can and try not to overdo it.
As hard as it is to type, I love what I do here.
I always enjoy reading the comments, even bad ones.
Anytime a person puts themselves out there, there are bound to be negative comments. It’s an unfortunate side effect of the internet and our world.
I typically either ignore the bad comments or type something simple. I don’t have the time or energy to deal with negativity. While I’m open to constructive criticism, different points of view, and ideas, there are ways to go about it respectfully.
Writing this column has often been therapeutic for me, especially recently.
Some of you may have noticed that I’ve cut back on talking about wheelchair accessibility and the lack of it. Besides the fact that it’s winter and due to continuous failures from the city to clear snow off the sidewalks and curbs, it’s become extremely challenging for me to get around. There’s also having to deal with the inadequacies of Para Transpo, especially when it snows.
The city doesn’t seem to understand or care about people with disabilities, especially during the winter.
Instead of talking about that, getting angry, and feeling frustrated, I chose to look after myself and write about my journey, hoping that I could help someone else.
At times, it’s been a difficult and even painful journey.
For example, suppose I’m doing a guided meditation about communication or dealing with emotions such as anger. In that case, I think about how I dealt with previous situations in my life.
I didn’t handle certain situations well, and I ended up hurting a lot of people — never physically but mentally and emotionally, which is just as bad. Reflecting on that teaches me much about how I should’ve handled things differently.
As tough as the journey has been, it’s been rewarding in many ways. I have learned so much about myself and how to handle situations differently. I feel like I better understand how to communicate with others without losing control of my emotions. I’m also making sure to show gratitude and appreciation to those in my life and for the opportunities I have been and continue to be given.
I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. We may not always learn why things happen the way they do, but we can learn how to deal with them.
The healthier way we deal with situations, the healthier we are as individuals.
When people get angry, they often say or do something they later regret.
You may feel justified in the moment, but shortly afterwards, you realize that you could have handled the situation better. Unfortunately, by that time, the damage has been done.
It’s a tough lesson to learn but a valuable one. Also, it’s better late than never.
To simplify matters, STOP yourself if you’re angry and unsure what to do.
If you need a moment to calm down, take it. If you need to step away from the situation, do it.
Don’t let your emotions take control of you. Take whatever’s needed to keep yourself in check. It’s also important to tell those around you you need a moment.
There’s no shame in telling them. After all, they’re also there, and it’s essential to consider them. At the same time, it is also important to remember to listen to them. Give them a chance to say what they need to say.
The important thing to remember is we’re all different, but we’re all in this together.
There’s already too much negativity in the world, and people are hurting. Why add to it?
Until next week, stay safe and keep rolling.