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capri0mniI know that caring about the world today, with climate change being ignored and ethnic nationalism on the rise, and rising debt and stagnant wages, it's hard not to fall into compassion fatigue and depression.
And even when we know that self-care is important, and we have to take time out to make sure we spend energy on things that bring us joy, it's hard to follow the exhortation to "Don't Worry. Be Happy," (or the 12th Doctor's parting words: "Laugh hard. Run fast. Be Kind") without feeling like we have to turn off our awareness first (nothing wrong with tuning out, occasionally, as long as you don't get stuck there, but I know sometimes, it's hard to quiet the chatter of the guilt weasels).
And that got me thinking about one of the many things I was taught as a little kid in physical therapy. One of the things about growing up with cerebral palsy (a from-birth developmental disorder of the brain, that affects the way a person moves and balances), is that I had to consciously learn to walk-- with verbal instructions on what body parts to move, and in what order, and everything.
Much of those lessons were frustrating, because they were more focused on apparent normalcy than actually getting things done. But one lesson has turned out to be most useful throughout my life, so it's the one thing I remember most. I figure there are a lot of people out there who never had it spelled out to them, because it didn't need to be. And so it's a truth that they've forgotten:
Your body follows the direction you're looking.
If you're tripping on the stairs, raise your head, and look at the landing above you -- not down at the lip of the stair tread that's snagging your toes. If you're stuck in a corner, and need to turn around, look in the direction you want to turn, before you try to move your feet.
So if this old world has gotten you down, and you need a break, but you can't bring yourself to just tune out, yet, try taking a few minutes each day to imagine the world in the future you're fighting for, where the vulnerable are protected, and everyone has access to clean water and fresh food, and a comfy bed, and the air is clean, and we are free to love whomever we choose.
And take a little vacation in that world for a while.
And even when we know that self-care is important, and we have to take time out to make sure we spend energy on things that bring us joy, it's hard to follow the exhortation to "Don't Worry. Be Happy," (or the 12th Doctor's parting words: "Laugh hard. Run fast. Be Kind") without feeling like we have to turn off our awareness first (nothing wrong with tuning out, occasionally, as long as you don't get stuck there, but I know sometimes, it's hard to quiet the chatter of the guilt weasels).
And that got me thinking about one of the many things I was taught as a little kid in physical therapy. One of the things about growing up with cerebral palsy (a from-birth developmental disorder of the brain, that affects the way a person moves and balances), is that I had to consciously learn to walk-- with verbal instructions on what body parts to move, and in what order, and everything.
Much of those lessons were frustrating, because they were more focused on apparent normalcy than actually getting things done. But one lesson has turned out to be most useful throughout my life, so it's the one thing I remember most. I figure there are a lot of people out there who never had it spelled out to them, because it didn't need to be. And so it's a truth that they've forgotten:
Your body follows the direction you're looking.
If you're tripping on the stairs, raise your head, and look at the landing above you -- not down at the lip of the stair tread that's snagging your toes. If you're stuck in a corner, and need to turn around, look in the direction you want to turn, before you try to move your feet.
So if this old world has gotten you down, and you need a break, but you can't bring yourself to just tune out, yet, try taking a few minutes each day to imagine the world in the future you're fighting for, where the vulnerable are protected, and everyone has access to clean water and fresh food, and a comfy bed, and the air is clean, and we are free to love whomever we choose.
And take a little vacation in that world for a while.
Therapy techniques work!
Date: 2018-11-15 07:56 pm (UTC)I'm autistic, with dyspraxia and heart problems from birth. I really needed a coach who could move my limb as necessary just to find those muscles for figure skating. I figure skate as well as a bear dances, but hey, I could skate at all!
Using those ideas for my writing to escape and increase stress tolerance for this crazy world, thanks for the reminder!
Re: Therapy techniques work!
Date: 2018-11-15 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-11-15 09:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-11-15 10:52 pm (UTC)If you want to share: what were the three things? (You probably caught something even I missed)
no subject
Date: 2018-11-15 11:07 pm (UTC)2. (An insight about how an exercise that is literally tripping me up can be improved: direction of gaze is direction of head is direction of upper spine.)
3. The first thing is perception. (This phrasing may not make any sense? IDK. It chimes with a Thing that's been a major theme of the past five years for me.) Looking isn't always conscious, but it can be. When you can, when you need to, choose where you look.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-15 11:38 pm (UTC)“A bend in the road is not the end of the road… Unless you fail to make the turn.”
2. That's the point my P.T.s were focused on. Also, your head is a lot of mass, and it takes a lot of muscle strength to hold it upright -- if it's off centered. If it's over your center of gravity, things are much easier.
3. A lot like the difference between hearing and listening.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-15 11:48 pm (UTC)2. Going to try to implement this. I'm really bad about letting my head fall forward of my center of gravity, with a typical computer worker's slouch. I need to not.
3. Yup, exactly.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-17 12:36 pm (UTC)You might want to look into a kneeling chair (here's what it looks like to sit in one), if you can afford one, or, if not, at least try getting a cushion to raise your butt in relation to your knees, and tuck your feet so their directly underneath you, instead of out in front, to try and get close to that posture (which is also called the astronaut posture, because that's how the body naturally aligns itself in microgravity.
Back in the 1980s, my mom bought one of the original Norwegian designed chairs for each us, around the table in our family room. And even with my trouble balancing, it was the only seat without arm rests I ever felt secure in (I wish motorized wheelchairs could be made like that -- but the batteries go under the seat, so... no)
Thank you!
Date: 2018-11-26 10:35 pm (UTC)Oh that chair looks cool. I'm going to look into that.
There's someone not too far from here who does chair massages in something similar, and it's comfortable for the short term. I wonder if it'd be more comfortable than my office chair over the long term? And I bet it'd work well for crafting, too.
That's very good to know, about it feeling secure. I was just wondering if it'd have a high center of gravity.
Maybe they'll be able to make one as battery technology improves?
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2018-11-30 12:43 pm (UTC)The chairs my mother got, back in the 1980s, were adustable, but unfortunately, they're not available for sale online, anymore. An Internet search showed that there's an adjustable version available through Amazon, but I can't vouch for how secure that mechanism is...
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2018-11-30 04:50 pm (UTC)On further research, there's a vendor in a city I manage to visit 2-3 times a year that sells the version your mother got. I checked out the ones available on Amazon, and either their maximum limit is distressingly close to my actual weight, or they have reviews indicating that the mechanism isn't so secure. This is definitely something I want to try out before springing for it, so I might put a furniture store on the list for my next visit to $BigCity.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2018-12-01 12:32 pm (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2018-12-16 04:17 pm (UTC)I've found a dealer at a city I visit a couple times a year, and will be investigating this when I get the chance. :D
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2018-12-16 06:28 pm (UTC)Cool! I hope you have a good trip, and good luck with the dealer.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-30 02:23 am (UTC)Also, since the toes are higher up than if the legs went straight down, there's still some room under them that could be used (no reason for that open area to go all the way to the ground).
So I'm not convinced that there's really all that much less room for batteries in a wheelchair model using that chair design. And that could probably be made up for by other small changes, like making the seat be a little higher, or the chair longer.
It would move the wheelchair's center of gravity forwards, but as long as it's still behind the front wheels I'd guess that's not really a problem.
In some ways it might even be beneficial to move the batteries forward like that, e.g. improving the cooling by moving them away from other warm components, and by having more surface area open to air.
Worst-case, the batteries could be designed and built to fit the available space exactly, like is done for modern thin smartphones and tablets (for the same reason - squeezing in more capacity).
Come to think of it, it's probably even possible to make a convertible wheelchair, as looking at that image with the woman, it looks like the entire knee pad etc. would fit under the seat - just move it on rails or something. That would probably require accepting a smaller battery or moving the seat up, though. But considering I've seen chairs that can rise the user up into a standing position, it probably wouldn't be particularly difficult (relatively speaking). That would drive up the cost though.
Of course, I don't really know much about wheelchairs, so it's entirely possible that there's some show-stopper problem I haven't thought of, that is obvious to others.
I suspect the biggest problem, though, even for the basic non-convertible version, would be finding someone that is both willing and able to make and sell them... :(
no subject
Date: 2018-11-30 12:49 pm (UTC)I suspect the biggest problem, though, even for the basic non-convertible version, would be finding someone that is both willing and able to make and sell them...
Yup.
If kneeling chairs where the general cultural norm for everyone, I betcha people would figure out how to make it work for wheelchairs, too.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-04 04:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-12-04 08:24 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2019-02-23 09:22 pm (UTC)This time I'm going to save the whole post in my "words to live by" folder.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2019-02-23 09:55 pm (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2020-06-02 11:41 pm (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2020-06-03 11:22 am (UTC)