This article is also available in: 日本語
As I use a wheelchair, I’m often spoken by a stranger in the street.
Many people give me encouraging words, but some people just say negative words.
And I remember negative ones longer than encouraging ones.
When I was a junior high school student, a lady aged 40-50 looked at me and suddenly said
“oh, miserable…”
I had never experienced that a stranger suddenly and clearly told me like that before, so I was SO mad.
I was shouting
“You don’t know anything about me! How could you say that to me?!”
in my heart.
“I know being in wheelchair is inconvenient, but I’m not miserable.
I can study like other students do.
I have lots of friends.
I enjoy everyday!”
By thinking those things, I went to school.
However, when I talked with my mother about this happening, tears came out.
I was too sad that some people still think I’m miserable even though I don’t think so.
I haven’t had the same kind of experience since that happened.
Now I’m able to communicate with people about my disability better than before.
And I have more confidence in myself and live my life aggressively, so I don’t look “miserable” at all, maybe.
It is hard to change others’ mind and attitude, so I just need to live like one how I want people to think about me.
If I go outside, many people will see me in wheelchair.
Some people might say something I don’t wanna hear.
But more moon riders should go out to change people’s mind to “moon rider on the street = common situation”.
When I was in US for 2 years, no elderly people and no kids gazed at me.
I was so comfortable.
Well, one day Jeff and I were taking an elevator.
Once the elevator door opened, 3-4 years old boy was waiting outside and found me in wheelchair.
Then he loudly asked his mom “WHY?”
Maybe I was the first moon rider he saw in his life.
We thought he is really cute, and talked
“what should we answer if a kid ask me like that again?”
on the way home.:)