Powered By Blogger

Sunday 26 April 2015

Freedom From A Zip-Wire!!

I went on a zip-wire on Friday. It was just in a local park. But it's amazing the sense of freedom I got from it being out of the confines of my wheelchair. It wasn't a planned expedition and was rather a spontaneous moment. My friend thought he'd have a go and I'm not one to pass up on an adventure so I got up there and did it. It was a life-changing moment for me. It might not seem very big or anything but it was just what I needed. It really has made me feel like anything's possible.
It was incredible how wrapping my legs around the seat and feeling the wind on my hips felt. It really was a phenomenal feeling for me! I realise now how comfortable I  am in my wheelchair and I want to change that.

One of my life goals is to do a skydive. I think it would be awesome fun as well as entirely wheelchair-less!

I know there's a big difference between doing a zip-wire from not very high off the ground but it was still a very trusting exercise for me and I loved it! I just think skydiving would be a spectacular experience for me.

I had to really put trust in myself for what felt like the first time in a long time and that felt fantastic. I had to hold myself up and the fact that I felt confident to let go - or let my friend let go of the wire after a 5 minute deliberation making sure I was Ok - felt so freeing.

I'm hoping that when I get further into the world I can have more life-changing experiences.

Steph

XxX

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Things Are Not Clear Cut Part 41

Told from Jamie's p.o.v

'She's gone into a coma...' those words just scared me more than anything. Her mother was whispering down the phone to me, hardly believing it herself. You know that moment when the whole world stops? Well, it did for me just then with her mum uttering the words of fear.
This was like a nightmare I'd had come to life. I was in Max's office when I took the call. I'd taken it expecting it to be a sale call; I didn't even look at the name. The 'Oh God, I'm so glad I've gotten hold of you,' came as a surprise and I dechifered that it was Linda. I don't know what I did to get out of the office but suddenly I was slapped sharp in the face as the wind drove gustily Northwards. She was at St George's.

I got on a bus headed for nearby and sat down to collect my thoughts. How could this happen? Ellie was so careful. She knew her limitations, and her strengths which she put all her strength behind. My mind drifted as I realised, I'd never get the chance to tell her how I feel now, it was too late. If you want to tell someone something, don't wait. You don't know what could be happening in their lives and tomorrow is a concept that is never promised. Don't put off something that you could do right now for fear of being wrong. It's really not worth the risk.

The bus moved swiftly, was crammed and I had to share my seat with a young girl of about 17 who had dyed her hair red and was devoted to her phone but looked up every few minutes to give me a little nervous smile. Within half an hour I was outside the hospital. Wow, he hadn't been to a hospital since his Aunt Louise passed away last Summer. I took a deep breath. I pushed the doors open and having previously asked Linda where she was I pressed number 6 in the lift when it came. I got out of it when it stopped and walked along the corridor until I came to her room. 658. I looked through the perspex just to make sure it was the right room. I saw a flash of red hair and imagined it sprawled out on the tarmac, as it must have been. It was too ghastly to imagin e that for longer than three seconds so I switched my thoughts to the last outing I had had with her. I wish I'd just said it. It's too easy to make all my memories of the time we spent together regretful. All of these thoughts raced through my mind as I pushed the door open. 'Oh, thank God,' Linda murmered rushing over and encapsulating me in a hug.

*Obviously, as Ellie is in a Coma, the next part cannot be told from her p.o.v so it will still be Jamie's p.o.v the week after next! I hope you are enjoying reading it. Be sure to leave me a comment and/or share it on if you are! I have decided to post parts of this story every other week rather than weekly to build up anticipation. I hope I have not let anyone down on that front!  Thank you for reading!*

Steph

XxX

Sunday 19 April 2015

How To: Keep Going When Nothing's Happening

When nothing is happening in your life it's very frustrating. I know. I've been there. Do something your future self will be grateful for.

This is YOUR life.

You're the one who has to be proud when you look back on it.

Go out, have adventures, have fun.

Get started on reading that book, or writing one.

It honestly doesn't have to be much.

But it has to be enough to feel like you've done something.

Whether it's getting another chapter read in your book or hanging out with your friend(s) these are important features in your life that matter to you right now.

And they are important things for the future too.

When you finish reading the book you could go on to write a best seller of your own or that friend your hanging out with might someday become more.

Who knows what the future holds?

People may think what you are doing is bizzare but people are going to think what they think and believe what they believe.

It shouldn't affect you.

One day all the crowds that followed like lost sheep are going to realise this and stop following.

Don't be a sheep, you weren't made to follow the pack.

You were made to be individual and there is nothing wrong with that.

Steph

XxX

Sunday 12 April 2015

How To: Stop Blaming Yourself

We're all human. Only human. Sometimes things go wrong or don't turn out how we expected them to. That is life. You may have made a mistake but any mistake you have made is minor in the scheme of things. You learn life on the job. When something major occurs, it is totally out of our control, it is in the universe's hands and so we shouldn't blame ourselves that is just nonsensical.

When I was younger I thought I could've prevented the death of someone close to me. It's only now I realise I could not have even if I'd been on my best behaviour or anything. Things that happen in our lives have agendas and sometimes the best way to learn a lesson is to go through a situation and reep the consequences.

Sometimes life can be thorny and there's no easy way around it, you've just got to get through, sometimes stumbling and being pricked. (Mental image - the garden of thorns Maleficent introduces for the Prince to break through in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.


It's always better to have positive expections than negative ones because negativity steals possibility from the moment.

Hope this helps!

Steph

XxX

Wednesday 1 April 2015

Things Are Not Clear Cut Part 40

'I'll be there,' Ellie said down the phone. She put down the phone and looked at her watch. Two minutes before lunchtime. She was meeting Chrissie at somde posh London hotel. Plush is the name of the hotel. It was where Tall liked to go with her clients sometimes, not today thankfully. How embarassing would that be? Ellie was looking forward to it, it hadn't been since Christmas they'd sat down and talked. They usually catch up every three - four months and thanks to Chrissie's well-paid job they try out swanky new resturants almost every time. Ellie had never been to the hotel - on Hexagon road - before. She pressed the button for the lift and it opened instantly. A little shocked but pleased to find it empty Ellie hit the ground button which she arrived at moments later. It must be her lucky day!

She got a black cab to Hexagon road which wasn't too far from her work - she just didn't  want to be breathless when she got there. But she'd wheel back. It wasn't far. Her hour for lunch would be more than enough time to eat, have a chat with her sister, and get back in time.
She got out of the taxi and paid the fare. She went into the lobby of the hotel. She could see Chrissie hanging around outside the glass entrance of the resturant. The girls shrieked a little on meeting a few moments later. They were greeted by a handsome male waiter who could have been a double of Brad Pitt, who dazzled them with his smile and had an American accent. 'Hi, welcome to Plush today, table for two?' He looked at Chrissie.

'Uh-huh' she mumbled turning a good shade of strawberry.

'Follow me,' he replied, turning and walking through the fairly busy resturant. He turned at a table and said, 'I wonder if this would be to your liking?' he asked. Chrissie merely nodded in response and sat down.

'Brad Pitt lookalike hey!?' Ellie said quietly.
'I know right! Must be working here while hunting jobs.' Chrissie detected. Chrissie enjoyed making up stories of strangers. Well, the ones she interacted with anyway. How they got to that point in their lives and where they were headed.
'Mustn't be hard to find work for him!' Ellie mentioned. The waiter who looked like Brad Pitt came to take their drink orders. Ellie just had a coca cola as it was lunch time and she didn't want to be even a little tipsy on her afternoon shift. It was an important time for Tall who had meetings with clients coming out of her ears. Work was pretty busy at the moment, so a sisters' meet up was just what was called for!

After the scrumptious meal, Chrissie left a rather generous tip for Brad-Pitt-lookalike. 'He deserves it,' she told Ellie when she gave her the eye.
'It's your money,' Ellie laughed. 'Thanks for paying C,' she said reaching out to give her sister a hug. Chrissie returned her sister's affectionate manners. Chrissie got up and walked to the door. Ellie followed swiftly and they hugged again outside the resturant as a goodbye gesture. Ellie then watched as her sister walked down the street and rounded a corner. It had been a very good lunch. And they would more than likely be coming here again, not because of the waiter but bec ause the food was delicious. Ok, well maybe partly because of the Brad-Pitt-lookalike waiter!

Ellie switched her attention to the traffic lights. She still had fifteen minutes before she was needed back at work so there was no need to panic. The traffic light turned red. This was her cue.

She wheeled into the road mindlessly - thinking of what Tall might get her to do this afternoon when a car came speeding through the traffic lights and hit her.

She was knocked from her wheelchair into the air and landed about five metres away.

Steph

XxX