What I Have Learned From a Two Year Old

 

Well hello there.  I am feeling quite happy today because my dad sent me a bunch of photos of my adorable nephew.  He is two and a half and it amazes me how much I can love a child that isn't mine.  Sometimes I think about him randomly throughout my days.  I  realized the other day how much he is teaching me about my life.  The way he moves through life is a good reminder of how I should behave in my own (not always literally).  

 

He reminds me to do the following:

1) Give myself credit for small wins.  It's a big deal when he goes "poopy in the potty."  We cheer, we clap, and we even have a song about it.  He gets a big smile on his face because he knows he did something great.  This reminds me to congratulate myself for things that might seem small to others.  There's no harm in being kind to yourself.

2) See everything as a learning opportunity.  He's at that age where he questions everything.  And when you say something- he repeats it.  His mind is like a sponge.  This reminds me to be aware of what's going on around me and never stop learning.  There's always more to learn.

3) Make time for fun.  He can occupy himself for hours.  Sure he moves from the sandbox outside to the train-set inside and back again, but there is never a lack of things to play with.  This reminds me to always give myself fun time.  It helps to reduce stress and can improve mood.  Yes, I have adult responsibilities, but I should always make time for play.

What If...

Do you ever think about what you would do if things were a little bit different?  If you had more money, if you had more time off, if you were in better health, if... whatever the "if" is for you.

I was thinking about this recently, and if I had my complete physical abilities I would do so many things.

I would want to learn to ski, to try scuba diving, to learn to surf, and to travel more (possibly by myself just because I could). I would want to learn to play tennis and maybe even golf. I  could live in a two story house, move back to New England to be near my family, and maybe I would even change career paths.  I've always wanted to do something that helps others and am fascinated by alternative medicine.  

I would obviously need money and time off to do many of these things, but I believe that I could find a way to make that happen.  If I had my complete physical strength my life would be different.  Not completely different, but different none the less. 

What is your "if"? 

Happy Disability Awareness Month!

October is disability awareness month!  It sometimes gets lost behind all the pink ribbons and breast cancer awareness, but it's equally important to bring awareness to disabilities- mental, physical, and cognitive. 

I plan to read up on a disease or disorder I am not familiar with- I challenge you to do the same.  

I Would Recommend...

I try to post some cool things that I share on facebook in this blog.  And I regularly share other blogs, especially those on MDA Transitions.

If you feel you would like to understand more about the many muscle disorders, I would recommend reading...

Forgiving Yourself

The Importance of Humor: From Frustrated to Funny

The Importance of Staying Active

Disability Awareness Month

Many places, including New Mexico, have declared the month of October Disability Awareness Month.

See if there is anything going on in your community to celebrate, or learn something new about a physical or mental disability...