You don’t have to reinvent the wheel but sometimes embracing change is a hard pill to swallow. Sure a new job you’ll eventually get your head around but for me I had this huge tug of war with myself when MS started to obviously affect me. I guess I thought if I stayed in denial then maybe I wouldn’t get any worse. People wouldn’t notice. Are you sure Dezzie? I remember being a sales rep out on the road. I could almost walk a hundred metres before my foot would slap on the ground. Slap slap slap. Sometimes I couldn’t park close to the client which was tricky. At work I’d hide my foldable walking stick in my handbag. Out of sight out of mind.

I see the same thing playing out with family friends. People buy walking frames for their loved ones only for them to never be used. Others buy mobility scooters only for them to be gathering dust in the garage. Yes it’s frustrating for you guys.

As a disabled person, and those with mobility challenges, we sometimes choose to ignore the way things truly are. For some reason you see it that is an admission of defeat. Yep we’re in denial. The whole idea of using a mobility aid has a certain jinx to it. Never give in, never give up, never show your hand. Stay strong. Stay stoic.

Accepting change

It’s not like that for me these days. Each tool is just that, a tool. Tough if people put me in the disability box. That’s their problem. As I watch my body slowly succumb to this life’s journey I am blessed because I have finally got to that stage where I accept myself, accept myself warts and all.

MS doesn’t cater for my plans. It attacks when and where it will and my task is to be my best self. That’s why it doesn’t bug me these days to be getting around on a walking frame as ugly as they are. That’s why I’m fine scooting around on a mobility scooter.

Dezzie 2025