I used to be really ashamed of clipping corners with my wheelchair. One day, my bff pointed out that everybody, disabled and not, clips corners. It's just that when I do it, it leaves marks and makes noise, so we notice it. I still try to avoid it, but I feel so much better about it. It's simply human to make mistakes like that.
I was helping a wheelchair user in the supermarket unclip herself the other week. She remarked she was such a terrible driver. I put a gentle hand on her arm and was sure to let her know that it wasn’t at all on her - the supermarket was designed with big boxes and marketing promo crap INTENTIONALLY so that you quite literally had to bang into it so you’d buy whatever they’re tempting you with!
Many people do it in their cars even! When I’ve used ECVs at amusement parks I’ve gotten stuck or not been able to turn it around and been super embarrassed so I totally know the feeling. A very good point your bff had.
It’s interesting because I was (and very openly) described myself as clumsy before I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I was constantly tripping, knocking things over. I even would consistently fall UP stairs. But about a year after I was diagnosed my walking was affected, and I had to be SO careful because my usual clumsiness could so easily result in an injury. So, I guess you could say I’m less clumsy now, but more accurate is that I’m so much more careful now 😕🤷🏼♀️
Thank you for sharing your experience with this idea/word clumsy! I’ve totally tripped up the stairs too and can totally relate. I’ve also rolled down a few sets in my youth. I think that’s the perfect way to describe too: being way more careful.
Glad you bought this topic up! Much needed conversation to have.
I wasn’t disabled as a child (always disabled by migraine attacks during then consistently for a few years when chronic)…but I was described clumsy as a child and having poor proprioception issues as an adult. And I’ve been wondering what’s the link? Is this an early sign?
I also received my medical records today and learned of two occasions my mum dropped me on my head as a baby (she also did my sister). To the extent that I passed out, was vomiting and bleeding.
I’ve known for two decades there’s been a link to the most severe attacks (post concussion related) and blows to the head (i figured it out when I realised I wasn’t in fact dying).
I’ve never been made aware of any of this but I know my mum also dropped my sister on the head outside. So what is going on with dropping babies? Clumsy on another level. But is there something in it (I believe my mum is autistic and is disabled by her own suppressed emotions).
Either way, I strongly believe there is more going on and more to be known about that, like most other areas chronic illness related, is being drastically overlooked.
I'm so sorry you had to find out about such a terrible part of your medical history. I hope in some way though it was helpful to know there was a link to being dropped as a baby and some of the chronic conditions you've experience in life. I think there are so many links between the things that happen to us mentally and physically. Realizing that I wasn't just a clumsy "goof" and that there's actual physical reasons for my dropping stuff (and of course, falling) all the time, made me feel a great sense of release. Thank you for reading and for your comment!
Thank you. I only got my medical records because I was strongly guided as part of writing my book. This new information is lot to digest. But the message in it I’m guessing for readers must be a big one?
I feel like it’ll speak to many who have figured it out themselves (like I did but in ways where there are no records and comes from secrets that are unknown that I have a boundary around sharing - I feel like having tangible medical records against two decades of gaslighting and dismissal makes a difference).
I’m sorry this is a journey you’ve been on too. I’m so glad you’re here sharing your insights. It definitely helps when others share their big a-ha moments. I do so believe that the greatest change will come from the sharing of our stories.
Happy to have found you for sure! That's exactly how it feels too. Sometimes I have trouble when I can't control things BECAUSE I can't control my body much, but for things like this, it's actually such a relief because it just is. Nothing I can do about it (except grab one of my many grabbers to help me pick stuff up off the floor lol).
Grabbers are such a great invention! We use one around the holidays to hang lights and decorations that go higher than we can reach. My college-aged godson was using them for many months during his back surgery rehab too. Whatever tools it takes, right?
I love that. Perpetual dropsies! I definitely have the same. And I don’t just drop something once, I’ll drop it several times after I attempt to pick it up too. That’s when the frustration really kicks in lol.
When I was a salad girl, I had to open lots of jars of all sizes. Sometimes the lids were too big for me to get a good grip.
My boss showed me to hold the jar upside down and tap the edge of the lid on a counter, in 3 different places on the edge of the lid. You have to do it pretty hard, but gravity helps. Never broke a jar doing this.
Works on all sizes of jars. Faster than running the lid under hot water.
Thanks for sharing that tip! My dad does that trick sometimes. Unfortunately my strength levels are such that I probably wouldn’t be able to hit it hard without also dropping and breaking it 😂 I found another trick though where I can also lay the jar down and get a spoon under the lid to break the seal. It always works but one of these days I think it would be nice to just have an automatic jar opener.
I used to be really ashamed of clipping corners with my wheelchair. One day, my bff pointed out that everybody, disabled and not, clips corners. It's just that when I do it, it leaves marks and makes noise, so we notice it. I still try to avoid it, but I feel so much better about it. It's simply human to make mistakes like that.
I was helping a wheelchair user in the supermarket unclip herself the other week. She remarked she was such a terrible driver. I put a gentle hand on her arm and was sure to let her know that it wasn’t at all on her - the supermarket was designed with big boxes and marketing promo crap INTENTIONALLY so that you quite literally had to bang into it so you’d buy whatever they’re tempting you with!
Many people do it in their cars even! When I’ve used ECVs at amusement parks I’ve gotten stuck or not been able to turn it around and been super embarrassed so I totally know the feeling. A very good point your bff had.
It’s interesting because I was (and very openly) described myself as clumsy before I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I was constantly tripping, knocking things over. I even would consistently fall UP stairs. But about a year after I was diagnosed my walking was affected, and I had to be SO careful because my usual clumsiness could so easily result in an injury. So, I guess you could say I’m less clumsy now, but more accurate is that I’m so much more careful now 😕🤷🏼♀️
Thank you for sharing your experience with this idea/word clumsy! I’ve totally tripped up the stairs too and can totally relate. I’ve also rolled down a few sets in my youth. I think that’s the perfect way to describe too: being way more careful.
Glad you bought this topic up! Much needed conversation to have.
I wasn’t disabled as a child (always disabled by migraine attacks during then consistently for a few years when chronic)…but I was described clumsy as a child and having poor proprioception issues as an adult. And I’ve been wondering what’s the link? Is this an early sign?
I also received my medical records today and learned of two occasions my mum dropped me on my head as a baby (she also did my sister). To the extent that I passed out, was vomiting and bleeding.
I’ve known for two decades there’s been a link to the most severe attacks (post concussion related) and blows to the head (i figured it out when I realised I wasn’t in fact dying).
I’ve never been made aware of any of this but I know my mum also dropped my sister on the head outside. So what is going on with dropping babies? Clumsy on another level. But is there something in it (I believe my mum is autistic and is disabled by her own suppressed emotions).
Either way, I strongly believe there is more going on and more to be known about that, like most other areas chronic illness related, is being drastically overlooked.
I'm so sorry you had to find out about such a terrible part of your medical history. I hope in some way though it was helpful to know there was a link to being dropped as a baby and some of the chronic conditions you've experience in life. I think there are so many links between the things that happen to us mentally and physically. Realizing that I wasn't just a clumsy "goof" and that there's actual physical reasons for my dropping stuff (and of course, falling) all the time, made me feel a great sense of release. Thank you for reading and for your comment!
Thank you. I only got my medical records because I was strongly guided as part of writing my book. This new information is lot to digest. But the message in it I’m guessing for readers must be a big one?
I feel like it’ll speak to many who have figured it out themselves (like I did but in ways where there are no records and comes from secrets that are unknown that I have a boundary around sharing - I feel like having tangible medical records against two decades of gaslighting and dismissal makes a difference).
I’m sorry this is a journey you’ve been on too. I’m so glad you’re here sharing your insights. It definitely helps when others share their big a-ha moments. I do so believe that the greatest change will come from the sharing of our stories.
This is such an important distinction you make and it should i
feel liberating to shift from the idea of blame to “oh, this has a cause, and the cause is not in my control.”
Fellow non-God believer here too! We always manage to find one another 😇🙃
Happy to have found you for sure! That's exactly how it feels too. Sometimes I have trouble when I can't control things BECAUSE I can't control my body much, but for things like this, it's actually such a relief because it just is. Nothing I can do about it (except grab one of my many grabbers to help me pick stuff up off the floor lol).
Grabbers are such a great invention! We use one around the holidays to hang lights and decorations that go higher than we can reach. My college-aged godson was using them for many months during his back surgery rehab too. Whatever tools it takes, right?
They really are! That’s such a great use for them to hang Christmas lights too
Reminding me I need to do my hand exercises… thanks Jackie!
Happy to help ☺️
Yes! I have what I call "perpetual dropsies," because I definitely can't keep things in my hands, and I don't have the best dexterity.
I love that. Perpetual dropsies! I definitely have the same. And I don’t just drop something once, I’ll drop it several times after I attempt to pick it up too. That’s when the frustration really kicks in lol.
When I was a salad girl, I had to open lots of jars of all sizes. Sometimes the lids were too big for me to get a good grip.
My boss showed me to hold the jar upside down and tap the edge of the lid on a counter, in 3 different places on the edge of the lid. You have to do it pretty hard, but gravity helps. Never broke a jar doing this.
Works on all sizes of jars. Faster than running the lid under hot water.
Thanks for sharing that tip! My dad does that trick sometimes. Unfortunately my strength levels are such that I probably wouldn’t be able to hit it hard without also dropping and breaking it 😂 I found another trick though where I can also lay the jar down and get a spoon under the lid to break the seal. It always works but one of these days I think it would be nice to just have an automatic jar opener.
I'll have to try the spoon trick! Thanks, and Christmas is coming up! Maybe you could ask Santa for an automatic jar opener
Hope the spoon trick works for you too! Great idea to ask Santa for the jar opener too 😊