Have you ever reflected on what a gift it is to simply be able to move? To get out of bed, walk, bend down, reach up, and use your body freely each day without needing any assistance? This is a level of mobility and physical independence that many people living with disabilities only dream of.
My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis Type 4 in 1995, I was just 15 years old. She carried the disease with her as bravely as she could for years, fighting to stay mobile and strong. She is the strongest human being I know!
But she has been unable to move without help for the past 15 years. Confined to the couch, her agency and autonomy have been drastically reduced by her limited mobility. She must rely on others for tasks as simple as getting a glass of water, brushing her teeth, or going to the bathroom. Despite this daily challenge, my mother perseveres with grace and grit. Her situation inspired me to better appreciate the able body I can sometimes take for granted.
When my alarm sounds each morning, I rise from bed, start moving and don’t stop until I go to sleep at night. I love to move! Simple joys like singing, dancing, yoga, raising my heart rate, and working up a sweat are easy for me. For my mother and millions like her, these mundane motions able-bodied people overlook are precious gifts and coveted abilities.
Living with my Mother’s extremely limited mobility for so many years, has taught me to cherish the basic movements most people never even think about.
Getting up, walking around, exercising – these are privileges, not guarantees.
Our able bodies allow us to explore life’s possibilities each day, never dwelling on or appreciating mundane motions. Even when illness, injury or age hamper our mobility, we must continue honoring this blessing.
So the next time you open your eyes from sleep, take a walk, brush your teeth or exercise without impediment, remember what a gift those simple movements are. Our able bodies give us the incredible privilege of mobility. We must fully appreciate each day we get to move without assistance and use our functional limbs to their fullest potential. Seize the day and your legs! Though mobility isn’t always easy, it’s a blessing those with disabilities would surely relish.
Let’s live purposefully to honor our able bodies. MOVE YOUR BODY!
