Karla's Chronicles

Today’s blog is a diversion from the disability series and more about life’s purpose. I feel very strongly about my life’s purpose. It is what puts a “pep in my step”. It is one of the only things that makes me rise from my bed in the mornings. It is what keeps and puts a smile on my face. I believe that we all have a unique purpose in life. We are not meant to be stragglers or nomads. We were born with the innate idea that we are here to serve a specific purpose. A purpose that ignites your soul and enhances your human experience. The reason for living, if you will. I believe my purpose is to change the attitude climate of the world. To encourage those who are having a hard time or those who have not been dealt the best hand in life. In college, I thought my purpose was to counsel people up close and personally. I have a degree in social work because I thought that what I was meant to be doing in that time in my life. I would find out soon enough that I was sorely mistaken, but at

I am switching it up for a day, and I decided to write a blog post freehand. I have been relying on the inspirational messages behind quotes to help assist my writing. I guess you could call it a prompt if you wanted to because that is how they have been working for me. I love expressing myself through written word and could not be grateful for my blessed talent. Writing as of late has been very therapeutic for me. Because I can get the words out on paper, I have been feeling better about myself in an all-around and individualistic sense. Of course, my well-being is of utmost importance to me. So, today I thought I’d write a post about trying to stay positive when everything around you seem to suggest negativity. I will be the first to admit that it is easy to get caught up in a web of negativity. It is so easy because much of what we see on the news media is focused on murders, turmoil, child abuse, child neglect, domestic abuse etc. The list is not exhaustive, and I probably coul

Respect is something we all desire, and in many cases, we demand it. We are human and we work hard. We want to be recognized for our contribution to society and admired by the people we work for. However, as we know, respect is something that is earned and not just handed to us on a silver platter. Respect, while an admirable quality, is not always earned in an easy fashion. In a world full of violence, bullying and insecurities, we are often prone to see the opposite of respect, which is disrespect, in at least one form or another. This is a very unfortunate statistic and situation. Especially at risk are those with disabilities. I can recount many situations where I was treated unfairly strictly based on my physical differences. I was laughed at, called names, and push around. This is a perfect example of people who demand respect, but when treating people as they do, cannot be expected to receive it. Maybe they will be commended by people who have similar aims, but they will cer

As a pretty eccentric human being, I take comfort in the fact that we can all be celebrated for being our own person. Just think about how boring this world would be if we were all the same. Nothing would ever get accomplished, and most of us would stay stale and stagnant. So, while I like being celebrated for being different, I also wish to be treated with the same regard as my fellow able-bodied population. Growing up with a disability which requires me to use a wheelchair to survive, I have met many people who assume that I must be some sort of super hero because I must remain intact while I depend on someone else to fulfill some of my most basic needs. While this is somewhat true, it does not reflect my character in its entirety. What I mean by this, is that I wish that more people could see me as a normal person who just needs a little more assistance than regularly required to do ordinary activities which are required for daily living. Feeling like a burden or a bother is a big

I am doing some more things to just kind of shake my routine up. I am going to be writing a poem each day this week and then at the end of the week, you will see this completed project posted and linked to my blog. Monday’s piece is entitled “The Little Girl By the Sea” The little girl who lived by the sea She was sunburnt and fancy free What a joy she was to see Trashing around in the waves For days upon days Kicking through the waters Like she had been swimming well beyond her years Throwing away all her fears Watching her do this Brought me to tears Tuesday’s piece is entitled “Hurricane Winds” We are all preparing for the wild Hurricane Winds We seal down the house and board up the windows Hoping for the best Those hurricane winds can sure make a mess And are likely to increase your stress But you just must hold on tight And pray God takes care of the rest Wednesday’s piece is an oldie but a goodie. It is entitled “Redeeming Rainbow” Redeeming Rainbow As the bad thoughts pl

For the one I love Your presence is a gift from above It is so pure that it can be carried on the Right wing of a dove When you hug me tightly I feel like I could take off in flight The first night I encountered your beautiful face Is a memory that can never be erased For the one I love Please remember that I’ll never let you go My dedication will be something I’ll always show Especially on the days when you are feeling particularly low For the one I love I know life can force you to the floor Especially when you might have expected more However, you should be reminded that the tide Always return to the shore No matter how agonizing the chore For the one I love I will always remind you of how special you are How you helped me erase much of my scars How love can sneak up on you But can feel so good when it is true When you are feeling blue I’ll always be here for you For the one I love You ignite my purpose And remind me that I always have a reason to keep

This is the beginning of a new series of blogs I am writing that will explore and explain the world of disability quotes and inspiring words designed to help those of us affected by them live a more positive life. These quotes can range from simplistic to more complex. They can be found on google images. All you must do is search disability images and quotes of all kinds will appear at your fingertips. The quote I would like to discuss is “disability does not mean inability”. This quote could not be filled with more truth. From personal experience and from people’s lack of experience, I know that many assume that having a disability means that you are not as capable as most. Speaking from a viewpoint where people lack interaction with the disabled population, I have heard things like “ I am so happy to see you out and about” or “I am so glad you seem happy” Deep down inside, I know they mean well, and I figure that they don’t have a ton of experience with the disabled population so