Is Moon Rider Life Miserable?

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.:)