"Useless" body?

[natsuko1978]

A disabled woman with a degenerative disease has become the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around Britain.

Especially in the wake of Gatefail and its associated assumptions and attitudes about and towards disability, I find this news story - on my front page when I logged in tonight - truly inspirational and hopeful.

To me it proves that as

Comments

[sheafrotherdon]

Ha! I just posted about this and then checked flist and saw your post. Shared yacht brains :D

I very much believe in fighting and persevering - but I would hate to see shame attached to anyone's experience of life. There's nothing shameful, for example, about knowing yourself and honoring what's achievable one day to the next - and that's a truism no matter what the visible or invisible disabilities we each have (or don't). Not sure if I'm making sense - but I think in some of the coverage of Hilary's achievement I see a creeping sense (from the less reputable journalists, like those in the Daily Fail) that she's whole because she's a super-achiever, rather than just because she's Hilary. So a pox on shame :D And a big fat celebration of everyone's achievements, for sure!

[natsuko1978]

I know from other comments you've made that you are very big on us being kind to ourselves - and I'm all for that - but sometimes I don't need kindness. I need a good, hard, well-aimed kick up the arse. (Not physically. That would hurt. A lot, given my injuries. Heh

[hamatokameko]

Wow, that really is amazing. More power to her! (and to us ;) )