Tag Archives: wheelchair

Farewell 2020

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As we bid farewell to this year, I find myself looking back at all that has happened in these last twelve months. Although 2020 certainly wasn’t perfect, I can think of multiple things about this year that are worth noting.

A year ago today, I started this blog site! On this blog I chose to write about a variety of topics that interest me, rather than stick to one specific topic. While I have a certain niche that my lifestyle blog is centered around, I have successfully written about many different topics all the way from fashion to sports. In my first ever blog post, I scribed a manifesto detailing all that I hope for in year 2020. While it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of this past year, I thought the best way to ring in the new year would be to look back and see what, if anything, did I get correct.

I had highlighted a quote from Viktor Frankel that states “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” I personally live by this quote. This year specifically, I have found that I had to choose how I respond emotionally to our unfortunate circumstances. Through the pandemic I have tried to remain positive and hopeful for better days ahead. I also stated that, whether good or bad, everything happens for a reason. I went on to say that even if we never know such reason, these occurrences are to shape our person. While we may never understand why something as tragic as a global pandemic would strike us this year, I do believe that the time spent in isolation did allow me an abundance of mental clarity. In any given situation, I have started asking myself “what is this trying to teach me?” I believe we’ve all been reminded to appreciate our own lives and value every moment spent with our loved ones.

The most interesting find in my first blog post was the information I learned about the meaning of number 2020. This number is said to mean that you must use wisdom in your decision making. It appears when you need tranquility in your life, especially when facing self-conflict, and tells you to live your life in peace and harmony. Throughout these grim days, besides the obvious suffering through a virus and the great losses we have endured this past year, I’m sure many have also faced internal struggles as they succumb to a sense of loneliness while in isolation. These hardships we have faced in year 2020 perhaps were to remind us to find peace within ourselves and to remain calm even when met with harsh challenges.

I personally made some positive changes in my life to close out this year. I took the mantra “new year, new me” literally and finally chopped my long locks off after years of hesitation!

Something that has remained constant in my life is my support system. I have the best family and friends who continually motivate me in my pursuance of writing.

In my first ever blog post I discussed the power of manifestation. As I did before, I want to share what I wish to manifest for myself in year 2021…

Last year I wrote that I hope to still be happy and be surrounded by positivity, love, and inspiration. In my life I regularly find myself met with love and inspiration that drives me to keep moving “Ever Onward” (see what I did there?). This past year I have received amazing support on my blog from all my closest friends and family. My ultimate goal from the start, and my hope going into this new year, has been to reach a larger following someday. I expressed that I wish to get a taste of success. I will continue to take you all on the journey called my life, through storytelling. This year I will keep working hard to achieve my goals for this site. I vow to never stop writing.

While I used to post on a weekly basis, I quickly found that this was an arduous undertaking. If you were unaware, I now post on a monthly basis. I typically upload a new blog post on the last day of every month, unless there is a particular occasion or topic I wish to write about before the end of the month so be sure to tune in each month!

As for our world as a whole, I hope in this next year we continue to heal from the hardships we have faced together throughout these last intense months.

If this was you on New Year’s Eve, counting down the seconds until the clock struck midnight, you certainly aren’t alone…

The best thing about this New Year’s Eve was getting to celebrate alongside my best friend for the seventh time in a row. Farewell to year 2020, and to year 2021, please take it easy on us!

Here’s to 2021!

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Happy New Year!


Embracing My Differences

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Growing up I never saw myself as any different from everyone else. It was never a big deal to me that I simply sat and rolled while others stood and walked. I felt annoyed by, but quickly got used to children in public pointing at me and asking their parent what happened to me. It took me years to even realize that I am different. 

I’ve never seen the need to call attention to my differences. I am disabled yes, but I’m also just your average young adult with my own hobbies and aspirations, much like you may have. I have never attempted to consider myself as part of a “community” or felt the need to be celebrated for being “so strong” for the way that I live. 

When I randomly discovered that July was Disability Pride Month, I first felt silly that there even was a holiday celebrating people like me. But then, the story-lover in me did some research. Why is July “Disability Pride Month”? That’s because July marks the anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. I then recalled that I had once written on my blog about this very date.

Taking a second look at that date, astonishment set in me. It seemed so unbelievable to me that only 30 years ago, people like me were just granted rights that I have today. Today I can look around and see ramps at the end of many sidewalks. Because of what people of all different disabilities fought for, I was welcomed into public schooling because they are required to have wheelchair ramp access and elevators. What I had thought of as nothing more than a social media trend, now started to make sense. 

I now claim newfound pride to be a disabled person. I came to the realization that it’s okay to celebrate me and what I symbolize. This month gave me an opportunity to recognize how fortunate I am due to the plight of those who came before me. Although I refuse to let my disability entirely define me as a person, I took this month to recognize myself and embrace my position in a community of others like me.

I can do without the cliché, restrictive saying that I am “differently abled”. I know what I am capable of. My disability adds many challenges to my everyday life, but I’ve lived this way my whole life, and it is my normal. I’ve lived everyday simply accepting who I am, but now I vow to appreciate the things that make me, me. I have brown hair, brown eyes, and I have a disability in which I use a wheelchair to get around. From this month forward, I am embracing my differences.