At 16, I refused to sit on a wheelchair; To me, it was a sign of weakness and defeat. Life, circumstances and my father’s arguments, eventually won over me. In miserable and uncompromising situations, I did the unthinkable. I finally accepted to use a wheelchair.

Today though, I am proud to sit on a wheelchair, everyday. As I independently cross the streets of New York, me & my wheelchair are like best friends, holding hands together. I call my powered chair ‘Tesla’ And I live my life conveniently because of my Tesla ! Everyday, I live by myself and look at life, from totally independent & different perspective.

My friends in college, know the arrogance with which I denied using crutches or a wheelchair. I would fall down seven times, and yet fight to not use any support. Taking support, in our culture, is a sign of weakness. And human ego does not permit weakness.. How wrong I was though ! How wrong everyone is, who deny to take support of that which makes them independent.

There is no happiness in struggle or pleasure in sacrifice. We live once. We need every support we can get, to become that which we dream and are capable of. Sometimes, we need to embrace the uncomfortable, to overcome the unnecessary struggles.

I advocate every young disabled child, parent & elderly to forget the stigma around disability, try things that make life easier and take charge of life, as early as you can. It is sad that the old and disabled think of wheelchair, as a sign of weakness. It is actually a sign of independence and enabling power. If you still do not believe me, then try racing a normal person against me on my Tesla.

© Sai Prasad, 2015
via – The Anonymous Writer