Welcome, to the Rolling Explorer(s), Passionate wheelchair users who believe that every journey is possible, whatever the wheels beneath you.

The Rant.

What started with small steps of just leaving the house and the comfort zone of If I don't leave here then nothing can go wrong, I wont stand out from the crowd as the disabled person over there trying to fit in, I won't be made feel different or pitied, I won't be reminded at every turn that I am the odd one out in the crowd, feeling like you are in the way and make Jokes like mind your toes, oil rig coming through and constantly feel I have to keep thanking people for moving a little to accommodate me..

Fitting In.

All of us just want to fit in. Be part of the Tribe, Either Able bodied or Disabled our core human needs are the same. In case anyone thinks I'm having a negative rant I'm not. I am simply outlining the challenges, negative brain chatter we all suffer from, the good and the bad. And there is far more good in the world than bad. The bad just tends to make more noise. There are far more kind, caring, and want to help decent human beings out there than un-empathetic ( I think I may have made up a word ) others. And I personally can't tell you all how much I appreciate you all. From the person who holds the door ( equipped with the most powerful automatic door closer known to man ) open to let me through, to the teen who saw me dropping my phone and rushed to pick it up and asked me if I was OK, Thank You All.

Acceptance.

This is where we need to step up and learn to embrace who we are. Yes I face different challenges to the able bodied community but I will push the boundaries now to discover the treasures and experiences that I have been hiding from, for far too long. Some highly regarded philosopher whose name I can't remember wrote that we need to accept that the baseline for life is hard and miserable, but it is dotted with moments of joy, love, humor, excitement... You get the picture. If we hide away in a safe sterile place we try to control having not to experience hurt or fear or failure. This Scenario has to be hovering just above hard and miserable. Guess what, Murphys Law, they will find you anyway. Joy, love, humor, excitement will find us occasionally when it's a good day. So we spend our time waiting, waiting, waiting hoping that today will be a good day and one will arrive.

Change the Odds. Stack the Deck..

Life is hard. Accept it. Sit around all day waiting for something good to happen, maybe it will.

Seize the day, do something outside your comfort zone, start with something simple and be prepared to accept failure if it arrives. Guess what, it won't feel any worse than wasting time sitting around waiting. Start simple with something you think you might enjoy. The chances of success and the feelgood factor are far higher than you think. Think, Plan, Do!

But how can I do that...

Thinking now, that's all good in an Ideal world.... Yep, you're afraid. Guess what You are human! That's what halts us all, myself included. Accept it. Stop looking for the reasons not to, I guarantee there are far more of them than you realise. Something to do with fight or flight chemicals released in our brains to keep us safe. Hit the OverRide Switch. Here's a fresh thought...

OutSource Your Courage...

If you rate levels of disability from 1 - 10, 1 Mild, 10 Most Challenging ( but never Impossible ). There's help, advice and assistance for everyone. Use the amazing resources provided by the likes of the Irish Wheelchair Association and the hardworking Occupational Therapists of Ireland plus many more great groups. Check out the links and see how they roll. ( Excuse the pun ) This is a new platform and we hope to share user experiences on this website to find out in an unbiased manner, what works and simply what does not. See Reviews and Ratings.

Wheelchair Living is on a mission to seek out achievable experiences, for all levels of disability, proving that adventure knows no limits. Through this platform, The Rolling Explorer will share experiences, travels, insights, and the empowerment that comes from embracing life’s challenges head-on.

Join us as we roll forward with courage, curiosity, and the unstoppable spirit of discovery.

Raymond Sullivan