When Walt Whitman was 53 he suffered a severe stroke that left him severely disabled. Ten years later he wrote:
From to-day I enter upon my 64th year. The paralysis that first affected me nearly ten years ago, has since remain’d, with varying course — seems to have settled quietly down, and will probably continue. I easily tire, am very clumsy, cannot walk far; but my spirits are first-rate. I go around in public almost every day — now and then take long trips, by railroad or boat, hundreds of miles — live largely in the open air — am sunburnt and stout, (weigh 190) — keep up my activity and interest in life, people, progress, and the questions of the day. About two-thirds of the time I am quite comfortable. What mentality I ever had remains entirely unaffected; though physically I am a half-paralytic, and likely to be so, long as I live. But the principal object of my life seems to have been accomplish’d — I have the most devoted and ardent of friends, and affectionate relatives — and of enemies I really make no account.
Doing the best we can with what we have left.
February 24, 2020
Sounds like a man with a super attitude. We could all learn from him.
Amen to that!
what a marvelous and talented man!
thank you for that quote from him about his life.
it’s very inspirational. xo
I was excited when I read it. Bless the internet.
I wish I could be like him.
Lately I’m failing.
But I’m working on it…
I greatly admire those who are able to.
xoxo
Baby steps can be powerful, and they’re a lot better than nothing. 🙂
Yes.
🙂
If only more people would think that way it would be a much happier world
Yes! And we can each do our own little part by handling our problems well. That’s the best part of it.
I have thought and thought about what to say to this…and I don’t mean I have thoughts so different to what others have said. I have thoughts in addition to them. He must have really have a good outlook on life. Sometimes, I think men and women think and react so differently. Roger has always been very hard headed…I think that is why is is walking today. He just would not give up. Also, he does not let stuff fester….if he can do something about something, he does. And if he can’t, he lets it go for the most part.
I don’t think it’s about gender. Andy and I went to Santa Fe yesterday to get his macular degeneration treated in one eye. (He goes next month for the other one.) It means a lot of time — two and and half hours yesterday — in the waiting room, and we saw a woman I know.
Her eyes are in a lot worse shape than Andy’s — he can still drive and the AMD seems be stabilized — but she has lost of her sight in one eye because of glaucoma and the other one, with just AMD, isn’t good enough for her to drive. She was as cheerful as ever and says she still can take the local bus to see her friends and goes to the fitness center regularly because we need to keep in good shape, etc.
She used to be an artist but didn’t even mention that loss.
I’m not sure how Andy would handle it if he couldn’t drive up to the land. My eyes aren’t good enough to do it, and his backup hobby would be photography, which wouldn’t be useful if his eyes are the problem. We keep our fingers crossed and don’t worry about it. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Sounds likes something my husband would have said after his stroke, had he been able to talk. Attitude sure makes a difference after a disability affects a person and that person’s family.
Yes!
what a great story, I wish I could live like that more and remember the fact enemies make no account.
Baby steps and commitment and practice can pay off big time.
What a remarkably positive and optimistic attitude. I hope I would adapt as cheerfully in the same circumstances.
Fortunately the little problems in our everyday life give us plenty of chances to practice. 🙂
I think as we age, we either can’t see our way out of the “mire” or we find ways around it…Walt Whitman “found a way…that suited”
I didn’t give up the car/driving because of any reason other than finances…and although there are times, when I wish I still had said car “find that it’s getting less problematic”
There seems to be simple ways to get around “getting things” with the advent of more courier/delivery companies…but I still really like to “see the items on the shelves” and since the last 3x with wrong groceries coming have taken to getting a few things when I’m out and about…somehow, I pick up less, but in a way better quality…
Yes, we buy a lot of fresh produce, so even if they delivered here we wouldn’t trust them to give us good quality. If we ever become housebound it would be a different story. So far it’s not an option.
and this morning, I went against that notion of “seeing the shelves” because a couple of more heavy awkward items have run out…not edibles. So I ordered a basic supply of things and for once the “picker” got everything on my list…possibly because I ordered more branded items …