Clintism #62: "You're an inspiration and stuff."

As most of you know I get out and about quite a bit. I seem to meet new people wherever I go. A lot of them always say, “It’s good to see you out. You’re such an inspiration.” I’m always taken back by those two statements.

When I hear the first part (it’s good to see you out), I always think to myself, where else would I be? I have lived in an apartment building with mostly disabled people and I would say 1/3 of them never went outside. I could not do that. I would be crazier than I already am. To me it’s not a choice to be out and about, I have to be out and about. I would not be me if I wasn’t out on the town or chasing some tag somewhere.

When I hear the second part (you’re such an inspiration), I always think to myself, you must be mistaken because I am no inspiration. I was born able-bodied and I put myself in this situation to be disabled. The kids that were born disabled and are still trying their best, they are the inspiration. They didn’t have a choice, I did.

Everybody has challenges and everybody has obstacles they need to get over and get through, it doesn’t matter if they are disabled or not. To me, everyone is an inspiration as long as they try and face whatever is in their path.

This little blurb isn’t to argue. I truly am grateful for the comments and the support. But when I hear those statements, that’s what I think. Hard to explain, but at least I tried… I am not an inspiration. I’m just a person in a motorized cart.

Thanks for reading, Clint.