inMotion Magazine

Living Strong 3 Is living with a disability a weakness or strength? Interesting question. The word “[dis]ability” itself implies that an individual is less capable than a person without a disability and, by being less capable, is inherently weaker. But nothing could be further from the truth. Life has an array of challenges for everyone – but for those with limb loss, the emotional and physical challenges are even greater. There is a long learning curve after an amputation. Relearning and performing basic functions that you once took for granted can be challenging. Although it is certainly possible to regain function after an amputation and live life as you were used to, it takes time, energy and patience to learn to do things with or without a prosthesis and achieve a new normal. And that’s just the physical aspect – it also takes an extraordinary amount of effort to overcome social barriers such as ignorance, apathy, arrogance and discrimination by raising awareness and opening closed minds. But strength isn’t simply the opposite of weakness – strength comes in many forms. Strength means to keep going, even when you feel weak. Strength is choosing to keep pushing and reaching when everything seems to stand between you and where you want to go. Strength is born out of the imperfect places in our lives that force us to stretch our limits farther than we ever thought possible. Strength means not giving up. We all have the potential to be strong. We all have the opportunity to demonstrate our unique strength in our own way, in the face of our own obstacles and scary circumstances. Yes, our disabilities may well make our bodies prone to weaknesses. But, as the old saying goes, that which does not kill us only makes us stronger. The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places. ~ Ernest Hemingway, from A Farewell to Arms Editor’s Message LIVING STRONG THATWHICHDOESNOTKILLUS ~ Bill Dupes, Editor-in-Chief