LESSABILITY not a DISABILITY
New Oxford Dictionary Definition:
| 1. a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.”children with severe physical disabilities” 2. a disadvantage or handicap, especially one imposed or recognized by the law. “the plaintiff was under a disability” |
Hi Lovelies,
So in this blog I would like to talk a little about disability. The definition given and what it means to me.
I have inserted the New Oxford dictionary definition above, have a read and see what thoughts come up for you. When I read it it brings up a feeling of sadness, frustration and confusion. you see I know I have a disability, I know there is something wrong with one of my senses and this can impact sometimes a little and sometimes a lot on my life but it is hard to acknowledge this or accept that I am less capable.
I have spent most of my life trying not to be a disabled person, fighting against it not wanting to be different, which is ironic because I have spent most of my life dying my hair different colours of the rainbow. LOL I guess I have never wanted to accept who I was and what I could not do or knowing the difference between them. I always thought if I accepted that I was disabled and different that that would mean I gave up. If I accepted my sight problems then I would be put in a pigeon hole nicely made up by the abled people of the world.
Well if I am going to accept my fate and my true authenticity then I want to be able to label myself. Do you think that is fair?
After speaking with a new friend I met at a festival I realised I was not the only one who didn’t like the label given to us. We had a good old chat about how people react to us, how people treat us, how we a talked to like we are stupid and treated like second class citizens. You wouldn’t think this goes on in the modern age but I’m afraid it does. This is not one persons fault it is peoples fault as a whole. It is lack of education and willingness to learn and accept others for their differences.
So while talking to my new friend I was telling him my hate for the fact that I have been put in a nice little pigeon whole made by the sighted community, made by the man. He said “I know what does that word disabled/disability actually mean it sounds like we are unable, unable to do anything.”
He then went on to say he came up with a new word for it “LESSABILITY” He said he thought this implied that we can do we just can do a little less, or it just takes us a little longer.” WOW I mean that blew my mind, the fact that I wasn’t alone in this thinking and that he found a new word to describe us. I loved it and from now on I have LESSABILITY not a DISABILITY.
As with all or most of my blogs they are about my journey, my personal feelings and thoughts. So I know to some the word disability is a comfort to them and they don’t mind it. I am defiantly on the journey to accepting my sightless but I doubt ever that I will be able to accept fully that I am different from anyone else out there.
Yes I may not be able to drive a car, not many do and there are far too many cars in the world anyway. I may not be able to walk down the road without assistants whether that be my cain or an elbow but I still walk down that road. It may take me a little longer to answer emails type my blog and to use my phone in a different way but by god I can still do it.
It is all a matter of perspective and if you have the mindfulness to look at someone who maybe a little different then you will see what they can do and not what they can’t do! I know there is a system in place to help us accomplish the things we can and I am thankful of that. The thing I am asking is those outside the system can you not judge or more specific look at us the same. I am not a pigeon and don’t belong in a box.
From now on I say:
“I am Nina Chesworth and I have a lessability”
Thank you for reading and I wish you all love and positivity
Nina xx