Abby Marsh is a C-5 quadriplegic and has a great blog over at In The Waiting. She is a talented artist (seriously, check out her work and order a custom portrait) and all-around awesome person. When she asked if I’d like to do a video with her, I jump (figuratively) at the opportunity. I hope this video is as informative as it was fun to make.
Conquering a Mountain in a Sit-Ski (Video)
Several years ago I got to go to Colorado. When I told my friend Kerry I was coming to Boulder to speak, she said, “We’ve got to go skiing, Jen!”
Somehow I knew that was coming. Kerry had tried to get me to go downhill skiing for years.
With a deep exhale I said, “I’ll give anything a try once.”
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My Favorite Things Gift List
Here’s a complete list of My Favorite Things. From the kitchen to personal care items to the living room, I hope these ideas will make life easier – and even bring joy – into your life.
Continue reading “My Favorite Things Gift List”How Christmas Traditions Boost My Holiday Spirit
As I’ve gotten older, the excitement of Christmas morning no longer wakes me up before sunrise. To get in the Christmas Spirit, the past few years I’ve tried to establish traditions to look forward to each year. Read my ideas in this BardCare article by clicking the photo below.
An Easy Wrapping Paper Cutter (Video)
Each Christmas I wrap Christmas presents for my family. Watch how I do that in this video where I demonstrate what I can do with my tendon transfers and also test out the “nimble.” Read my reasons why I take the time to wrap presents in this article. However, I’m always looking for an easier way to do something when cutting is involved. I found this handy gadget for cutting wrapping paper and figured it was worth a try. Watch the video below to see how it worked.
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Why I Get Frustrated When You Don’t Appreciate Your Wheelchair
I’ve been holding my tongue on this topic for a long time. Why? Because it gets me fired up. Let’s call it a righteous anger. Over and over I read posts on social media from Westerners living in developed countries who complain about the quality of wheelchair they have access to.
There’s a huge problem here: ignorance of the reality for people with disabilities in the majority of the world.
Continue reading “Why I Get Frustrated When You Don’t Appreciate Your Wheelchair”How I Drive with Hand Controls as a Quad (video)
People often want to know how I drive. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I figured a video would be even better. My friend Leslie Ostrander – a quad who uses a different type of hand controls – shot this video while she was visiting town. Click on the photo below to watch this video at BardCard.
A Model of Living Resiliently in the Midst of Suffering
For about a year I’ve been digging in to the subject of resiliency. In some ways I think I’m an expert on the subject. At other times I don’t feel resilient in any form or fashion.
So what is resiliency? A simple definition is it’s the ability to bounce back after experiencing hardships or trauma.
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Cumberland Falls: A Beautiful and Accessible Getaway
As I mentioned in a previous post, I attended and spoke at a conference in Knoxville. On the return trip, my mom and I planned a visit to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Cumberland Falls is in Corbin, Kentucky; it’s about a three-hour drive from Louisville and two hours from Lexington, Kentucky.
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What ‘The Greatest Showman’ Can Teach Us About Accepting Ourselves
Have you seen the movie The Greatest Showman? It’s the fictional story of Phineas T. Barnum. However, the stars of the show – and the ones with whom I resonate – are Lettie (the bearded woman), Anne (trapeze artist), Charles (the little person General Tom Thumb) and the other performers who are hired as “unique persons” for Barnum’s museum and show.
It’s these characters’ sense of feeling like an outcast – and eventually embracing their differences – that has had me watching/listening to the movie over and over again.
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