Answering the Question that always gets asked.......and probably answering it poorly

of people with any kind of physical disability. Other than "what happened?" (which I stopped answering long ago unless I felt it was genuinely sincere) the question I'd most often get, particularly from older adults is "How do you do it?" To be honest, I've always thought of this question as somewhat stupid and worthy of some smart-ass response on my part.

Well, the question was most often tied to sports or some other physical activity. I was / am no different than any other person. I played sports and participated in other activities for the same reasons any other person would. I liked them, they were fun, and minor physical limitations weren't going to stop me from doing what I wanted to do. (except ride a bike, I still can't do that)


So going back to that question "How do you do it?" In short, I just do it. It's not really some big mystery. I do it because I want to. I never understood why people were surprised at my doing something / playing a particular sport and doing it well. Many of us have disabilities, but that should never define ones life, nor stop them from trying. We work with the capabilities we do have, and fight through the physical limitations as best we can. Everyone has physical limitations, for example by way of lack of physical / athletic ability so doesn't my statement apply to the entire population not just those who are "disabled?" I swear to god sometimes when I was asked "that question" by someone in regards to running XC what I really wanted to say was "well, I put one foot in front of the other for 3.1 miles until the race is over."

That same question was often asked of me in regards to surgeries. Even my parents seem sometimes surprised by my matter of fact, nonchalant attitude towards surgery. Again, I never understood what the big deal was. Surgery is simple. Something is wrong and it needs fixing. It's nothing more than a temporary pain in the ass, like having to bring your car to the shop. It needs to be done, so get it over with, get better, and get back to life. Recovery is always frustrating, but the only time it's actually "scary" is when you're lying on the operating table just before they put you under.

I had some extremely unpleasant post-surgery experiences that are seared into my mind forever (pain will do that) I also remember two years ago, being so goddamn frustrated trying to eat after jaw-surgery that I actually cried. In reality though, those things are short-lived and not that bad. Shit happens, the physical pain is momentary, and you deal with it. I think 3rd party observers see things as much worse than they actually are. More often than not I've had to reassure my parents that I'll be fine.

I suppose I also never understood the admiration I received from others. I'm wasn't worthy of any special praise or treatment for simply doing the things I enjoyed. Anything I did was done because I wanted to do it and was capable of doing it well, not so I could prove a point that "someone like me" could do such things. Had I exhibited such an attitude I'd have been putting myself on a pedestal and in the process disrespecting both myself and my fellow athletes. Had I been more of a detriment than an asset I would have quit out of respect for my teammates.

What having a "disability" all comes down to is dealing with it. Life throws you speed bumps along the way and you make due. Every one of us has problems and obstacles that come our way in life. Whether or not that problem comes in the form of a physical handicap is irrelevant. I think it's how we make due that matters.