Years ago, I posted something about how I had the best seats at Bengals games because handicapped people got tons of cool stuff in life.

 

This man, who happened to be in a wheelchair for a reason different than I am, posted "omg, Brad, I hope you are joking," and then PMed me and said "you shouldn't say things like that because we don't want people thinking we like being like this."

 

People love my attitude with how I don't let my situation define me, how I'm always smiling and positive, how I have fun with the things other people offer me sympathy for, etc.

 

So I started a thread called "How Do You Want Me To Act" because I figured everyone who knew who I was would have my back and it would help this guy know that I didn't need his insight into life.

 

People who knew me posted that they loved my attitude, as I expected, but it was mostly a bunch of people who didn't know me posting things like "you should seek help from your family and friends" and "you should seek professional help," and it made me want to roll off a cliff, so this thread's to clear it up.

 

HERE'S MY DISCLAIMER

 

I might post things like handicapped people get tons of cool stuff in life, like the best seats in the stadium at Bengals games, but that's only referring to me. I get tons of cool stuff in life because I'm handicapped. I LOVE being in the condition I'm in because I can't change it and, yeah, it's not easy, but that's life and no one has an easy life.

 

My family, friends, and usually anyone I meet, LOVE my attitude and LOVE how I don't let the situation define me. I don't think I'm better than anyone because who's to say I'm right for how I act? It just works for me.

 

I actually hate the words "handicapped" and "disabled," because I think they make me sound like a charity case, but the word I prefer to use is politically incorrect.

 

If it offends anyone that I don't mind being in the condition I'm in, I'm sorry that I'm not sorry, but I've never liked that people are supposed to walk around on egg shells when talking to me and I don't like the way that anyone in any physical situation that's remotely similar to mine is supposed to act.

 

Also, don't lump everyone you see in a wheelchair into one category and apply all opinions to them because people are in wheelchairs for thousands of different problems for thousands of different reasons, so people are sensitive to different things (I'm not sensitive to anything really, but, like I said, that's just me).

 

I actually need to go get ready to go present up in Cincinnati, so I apologize that I won't reply to any replies right away, but it's nothing personal.

 

I'm pretty sure that I'll also have a lot more to post on this topic, but that was just off the top of what's left of my brain.

 

:thumb:

I think it's great that you approach it from that angle. I can't imagine what I would be like in that situation, so the fact that, attitude-wise, you take lemons and make lemonade is inspiring.

I think it's great that you approach it from that angle. I can't imagine what I would be like in that situation, so the fact that, attitude-wise, you take lemons and make lemonade is inspiring.

 

I got home from presenting and was so tired that I slept through the NFL games (which, normally I'd be mad, but they weren't much of games, but it was hilarious to watch the highlights and see Mike Mitchell get torched :laugh:) and just woke up a bit again.

 

I do appreciate the words, and I don't think anyone can ever picture a situation like this until you're face-to-face with it. People say things like you did, but I always point out that you never know. There's many things that I would do different if I could do it over again and maybe you or anyone else wouldn't have made the same mistakes I did.

 

This is just like to me, so I don't really see it as me overcoming anything big, but more just living my life.

There was pages of people telling me how I should get help, but now nobody has anything to say?!

I just never thought a response was needed. It is difficult to respond or understand a situation or condition until you experience it. So it is better in most cases to say nothing in my mind.

 

I do not find it awkward at all talking with someone that is handicapped, however, I rarely find myself in a situation where i would need to.I rarely go up to any person I don't know and talk to them. I am usually cordial with most and handicapped people are the same.

 

With your Disclaimer, I certainly didn't think you needed any help. Now if you voted for DJT, I might think something was wrong with you.

I'm not in a chair yet, I will be at some point. (FSHD)

I make comments, about myself, that people don't quite know how to take.

I get asked from time to time, what happened to you.

I tell them.

I'm so sorry, is the reply I get many times.

My usual reply is, "so you caused me to have muscular dystrophy,

you should be sorry."

It usually lightens thing up.

As my chair bound buddy points out to me quite often,

it must sucks to have to push that rollator around all the time.

So good for you BFitz.

Life is what you make of it.

I choose to be happy, and enjoy it as much as possible too

I just never thought a response was needed. It is difficult to respond or understand a situation or condition until you experience it. So it is better in most cases to say nothing in my mind.

 

I do not find it awkward at all talking with someone that is handicapped, however, I rarely find myself in a situation where i would need to.I rarely go up to any person I don't know and talk to them. I am usually cordial with most and handicapped people are the same.

 

With your Disclaimer, I certainly didn't think you needed any help. Now if you voted for DJT, I might think something was wrong with you.

Were you one of the many people that posted that I should go to a psychiatrist for help or have all of my friends and family get together to discuss how to better live my life?

 

If not, then no response expected :thumb:

 

I am wondering where all of the people who posted that I should get help are because I seriously was angry. I'm not talking about the person who told me that I shouldn't say it because I'm not that disrespectful, but I am referring to everyone else who claimed I needed help.

I'm not in a chair yet, I will be at some point. (FSHD)

I make comments, about myself, that people don't quite know how to take.

I get asked from time to time, what happened to you.

I tell them.

I'm so sorry, is the reply I get many times.

My usual reply is, "so you caused me to have muscular dystrophy,

you should be sorry."

It usually lightens thing up.

As my chair bound buddy points out to me quite often,

it must sucks to have to push that rollator around all the time.

So good for you BFitz.

Life is what you make of it.

I choose to be happy, and enjoy it as much as possible too

 

You rock for having that attitude!

 

I love making comments that make people feel so awkward that they'd rather be anywhere else in the world! (Another disclaimer is I typically only do that when people treat me like a charity case or like I'm too stupid to understand what they're saying.)

 

I do say (type) that quote a lot in my presentations (I think a news channel even quoted me on it once): "Life is what you make it...... happiness is what you make it."

 

Keep on keeping on!

You were raised in a wholesome, strong family environment. Mom and dad gave you great tools to deal with adversity (unfortunately, you had to use them). A horrific thing happened to you, and you made a life for yourself despite it.

 

Unless they have been in your shoes, people have no business judging you or giving you glib advice.

 

You keep on keeping on BF. You are a great role model for others!

You were raised in a wholesome, strong family environment. Mom and dad gave you great tools to deal with adversity (unfortunately, you had to use them). A horrific thing happened to you, and you made a life for yourself despite it.

 

Unless they have been in your shoes, people have no business judging you or giving you glib advice.

 

You keep on keeping on BF. You are a great role model for others!

 

I agree! My family has been better than I could ever ASK for!

 

They have the same attitude I do (they say it's because I stay so positive, but I point to them keeping me positive from the get-go), which made it even funnier when people said I should have conversations about them about it!

 

I do appreciate the words, but I don't think I'm much of a role model because I'm just trying to make the best of my life and enjoy it, the same way that everyone should!

Well after that Highlands football thread you started, if you weren't wheelchair bound before you surely likely would have been by now. Haha

Well after that Highlands football thread you started, if you weren't wheelchair bound before you surely likely would have been by now. Haha

 

Some people can't handle the truth :lol2:

 

Highlands fans don't scare me!

 

The only things that scares me in life are trees........... wait........ what?

 

:lol2:

 

:laugh:

 

:ylsuper:

 

:banana: