Once Upon A Time - The Story of My Life

I have almost forgotten to define the word independence after a decade of being confined to my chair. With my seemingly limited mobility, living alone and devoid of any help from other people seemed unimaginable!

I miss those days when I can tread the populated stores of Araneta Center for instance - of unconsciously spending many hours in National Bookstore; captivated with the shelves of books and novels I wished were mine and fascinated with the perfumed stationery, colorful trinkets and gel pens that abounded. I miss walking so slowly along the pavements where Dunkin Donut outlets were situated as I inhaled the aroma of the freshly baked donuts and the newly brewed coffee. Most of all, I long for the moments when I craved for Jolly hotdog, purchased it by myself and leisurely sat amongst the sea of people, enjoying every bite and my aloneness.

The advent of my paralysis, I deem in this age and time, is not that arduous after all. Indeed, I have experienced eating my dinner and brushing my teeth while lying flat on my back, having sponge baths for 12 months, wearing adult diapers for 9 years, the inability to go out without a chaperon and the many bouts of depression. The transition from an able-bodied to a paralytic was all-together a perplexity, a melancholy and a blessing-in-disguise. The transformation, however, was never hurried. It was a metamorphosis I would marvel at over and over again, allowing me to explicitly grasp life to its fullest.

2006 is a year of rejoicing. The myriad baby-steps I have had and have courageously mustered have accumulated to great achievements and my reorientation to being independent.

Our good Lord is explicitly amazing! My partnership with Him has liberated me from the shielded and apprehensive life I once had. It has enabled me to literally live away from home and explore the insurmountable things I can do, achieve and aspire for. All throughout these years, my faith has blossomed into a mustard plant as I learned to lift up to Him all my uncertainties and anxieties. Most importantly, I am no longer afraid to be forever confined in my wheelchair.

People smile at me. I smile back. I am a paraplegia and my name is Farida.

Postscript:

I used to be an able-bodied until my family and I met with a vehicular accident that fractured and dislocated two levels of my spine on December 30, 1996. After I was operated on, my lower limbs became paralyzed and I use the wheelchair full time ever since. I was at the height of my youth when this occurred, about to graduate from college and was enlisting the myriad plans I wanted to do then.

After making myself strong, I went back to school, pursued MA and started working. I would never experience God’s amazing grace if not for my acquired disability. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Heart-warming Experiences in My Everyday Life

young guy doing the sign of the cross before starting his job is a rare occurrence these days. I was captivated at the sight of this act. I was warmed by his behavior, reminding myself that there are still a handful of believing creatures in this urban jungle whose faith is not lost.

lady close to my heart fell ill and depressed for many months. Her marriage of five years ended. She is tall, fair skinned, donned a long hair and always dressed. She was vivacious, her state of happiness infectious and would blabber non-stop. She is a typical housewife, on call 24/7. She tidied the house, cooked food her family savored, drove the kids to school.

All these changed as she spiraled down to depression, starkly changing her to someone we barely know and lost confidence in herself. We prayed for her well-being and the Heaven answered our prayers. In no time, she bounced back to life as opportunities poured which she welcomed as a pleasant change. She now holds a very important position in a prestige company, drives her own car, goes out of the country for conferences and is enjoying everything about her work and life.

am blessed to have witnessed individuals who have triumphed even after a storm and never lost their faith. What extraordinary occurrence have you witnessed lately?

Long Distance Relationship with my Abang

The computer and mobile phone are essential tools to constantly connect with a significant other especially if one is in a long distance relationship. Both play a major role in keeping the relationship alive, to be in sync with each other and an imperative method of expressing one’s cognitions and affections.

My personal life is anchored by both devices, sustaining it for the last two years and three months. Let me share with you and count the ways of how this set up works (at least for us).

Pertinent tenets or values exist, grounding us to a lasting relationship. I am exceedingly blessed to be with somebody matured who keep up with my tantrums, emotional wavering and occasional petty issues stemming from jealousy. Trust is another factor we cultivate to make our bonding adhere despite the many factors, mostly external that causes uncertainties and doubts to prevail. We remedy every issue though trivial by explaining, communicating, listening and accepting with an open mind and ensuring our trust to grow and be established. Most of all, it is our love for each other that makes, even the proximity irrelevant. In harmony, he is able to visit me seven times a year, the most so far, and we always make it a point to have quality time together and continue learning from each other. Luckily, he has also the means to ring me anytime, making ours a real relationship and not just a mirage.

Like with any kind of relationship, we continue to learn, to understand, to appreciate, to encourage, to discover though we are thousands of miles apart.