tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post6330483444426291762..comments2024-03-08T03:58:13.625+00:00Comments on Stickman Communications: Being InspirationalHannah Ensorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122568368871809noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-72682716293039323202012-07-13T23:31:46.069+01:002012-07-13T23:31:46.069+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Arweddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14025243624892141413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-63549563912199325552012-07-13T23:29:06.316+01:002012-07-13T23:29:06.316+01:00Or maybe my lovely hubby, going for a ride in your...Or maybe my lovely hubby, going for a ride in your wheelchair up and down Ward 53 in the BHI!!<br /><br />and he's definitely not inspirational ..... although.... does coming back from the dead count as inspirational?<br /><br />I promise not to tell you again!!<br /><br />Love Arwedd xxArweddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14025243624892141413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-14916448699348193182012-07-13T22:02:31.625+01:002012-07-13T22:02:31.625+01:00No offence, and point well made. I'd put you i...No offence, and point well made. I'd put you in category 2 anyway - because you DO know a bit about me. Plus you've met my stickmen. So provided you don't tell me I'm inspirational every time we communicate you are in the clear :) <br /><br />It isn't that people can't empathise, or understand, it is that when there is no interaction what-so-ever, simply a few seconds of observation - not even enough to know much about attitude or how I handle things and I get an 'inspirational' comment.....it just makes me feel soooooo unsettled.<br /><br />For all they know I could be an OT spending a day in wheels to get a bit of an idea what it is like. Or they could be seeing my naughty little sister who's sitting in my wheels cos I've just walked to the loo. Knowing that the above scenarios could elicit the same 'you are so inspiring' comment.....it makes me distrust 'no previous interaction' comments altogether.<br /><br />I don't mind complete strangers being inspired, but I'd rather that they kept it to themselves - or at least made the effort to get to know me before telling me what they think of me!<br /><br />BTW I just love your blog.<br /><br />(Now I've written an essay reply! oops! Oh well, it's my blog so I'm allowed to.)Hannah Ensorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122568368871809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-46298893680526362892012-07-13T21:27:17.543+01:002012-07-13T21:27:17.543+01:00I am one of those strangers who has called you ins...I am one of those strangers who has called you inspirational, in particular on my Blog and while I am feeling really terrible for doing that if you don't like it, I feel I ought to justify it. It is certainly not from a feeling that you have somehow exceeded my expectations for a 'disabled' person. At least I don't think so but I will accept the challenge to question my motives again.<br /><br />Whilst you are right in saying that I have absolutely no way of knowing what your struggles are, as I am so-called "able-bodied", I feel it is maybe a bit harsh to judge that I can't have some inkling that some things will be easier for me to do than you, and want to empathise. People don't have to understand it fully to care do they? I honestly don't want to sound critical but whilst you might feel that manouvering yourself in a wheelchair doesn't require great bravery or courage, the fact that you do it so cheerfully and are so willing to share the experience and help others I am sure does sometimes take a lot of bravery and courage. It is not just what you physically do, but the attitiude with which you do it, that inspires me. You would be perfectly within your rights to moan about your lot in life, more than other people who do it constantly, but you are able to accept it as your norm and that inspires me to accept my difficulties more easily.<br /><br />When I was diagnosed with Cancer, friends said how brave I was because I wasn't constantly in tears about it whenever they saw me. I didn't think I was brave because I didn't have a choice, I had it and that was that, crying about it wasn't going to change that fact, as far I was concerned. When it was gone I was able to look back and perhaps acknowledge some of what they said and own it. I could have fallen apart or given up or shouted at God, "Why me?", but I knew he didn't do it and he would help with me it and he kept me brave, so maybe I was a little brave after all!<br /><br />So maybe you can accept you are a little inspirational after all, without seeing it as a criticism!!<br /><br />Sorry for writing an essay anad I hope I haven't offended you in any way!!<br /><br />Love Arwedd xxArweddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14025243624892141413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-11621413458997724092012-07-13T16:46:02.142+01:002012-07-13T16:46:02.142+01:00I agbree - get the same phrase used in diferent se...I agbree - get the same phrase used in diferent settings. GrahamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-89693009552691176392012-07-13T14:17:58.733+01:002012-07-13T14:17:58.733+01:00You inspire me because you are pursuing your dream...You inspire me because you are pursuing your dreams and creating products that are useful and very needed: from the "key ring" cards to books normalizing disability. Now THAT is inspiring ;)<br /><br />But having a different mode of movement than I do? That is not inspiring, that's just life!Ruth Madisonhttp://www.ruthmadison.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-66580496269410797132012-07-13T14:04:46.662+01:002012-07-13T14:04:46.662+01:00I use my communication cards - see this blog post ...I use my communication cards - see this blog post http://stickmancommunications.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/pocket-full-of-confidence.html I find they take the awkwardness out of it - let the other person know what is going on, that it is 'normal' and also that I am still a person with a sense of humour. Then gestures and/or writing work well.Hannah Ensorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122568368871809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572102937612408267.post-5989237568674405052012-07-13T14:00:02.112+01:002012-07-13T14:00:02.112+01:00How do you handle bouts of nonverbalness? I also h...How do you handle bouts of nonverbalness? I also have nonverbal moments. Do you use a type to speech program, sign or just ride it out? Or something else?<br />I won't tell you you're inspirational, I don't like that either!<br />Lisa Anne from FacebookAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com