New inspiration

I've been reading a fabulous book titled A Whole New Life by Reynolds Price, a well known poet and writer.  It is a narrative of his experience with cancer and chronic pain which he has had to endure ever since, along with becoming a paraplegic due to the inoperable tumor in his spine.  After a summer full of discouragement and setbacks, his story has blessed me with courage and a willingness to keep fighting this invisible disease and truly live every day instead of just existing. Plus, the guy is truly funny!

He writes of a painter and colleague, also a paraplegic, that refuses to call himself disabled, disadvantaged or specially challenged.  Instead, he calls normal healthy people "temporarily abled." A true LOL!

At wheelchair level, stores mostly shelve such crucial items as dog food, toothpicks, charcoal briquettes, and cases of beer.  :)

I've taken more pleasure than most adults come to know from my present eyesight, hearing and taste ... from my mind's new grip on patience, surely more pleasure than I had learned til now, and I've been a competent epicure.

September is National Pain Awareness Month. I hope the activities the American Pain Foundation (and it's Canadian counterpart) do will result in greater understanding and compassion from the general public.