Choosing Joy...

On the day after this year’s solemn day of independence...

I've been trying to write this all week. It has taken a certain energy from me that was waxing and waning as I tried to make sense out of the state of affairs in our country.

The ‘Big’ bill passed the Senate and the House. I spoke out, I called, and I prayed for months that something would turn this action around and we wouldn't face the moment we are now in. Medicaid and other important programs will now be whittled down to almost nothing, with no plan for what could replace them. Well, the plan is for… nothing to replace them.

These financial supports have been available throughout my adult life. They made it possible for me to live with independence through college and my early years of employment. They assisted with rent, expenses for an accessible home and personal care. They provided resources for vocational training and needed adaptations in the workplace. In turn, I was able to contribute to my community and country. These federal financial supports have brought many people with disabilities into communities all over this country to share their skills and insights, reflecting the largest and most diverse minority among us.

Choosing joy in a moment like this may seem counterproductive or even a form of denial.

I think it is an act of courage.

Each day, people with disabilities are perceived as less than human, with assumptions that there is little we can offer. So, each day we leave our homes, gearing up as we always do. Ready to face these preconceived notions with our creative ways to soften the barriers. Hopeful that each small action will help tear down walls and provide ways for open conversations and relationships.

Yesterday was 4 July – Independence Day. This year, this celebration feels ironic. Much work was done to get this dangerous "big bill" passed before 4 July. Connecting it to Independence Day challenged my definition of the word - independence. My goal has always been to live with independence, but I know I could never do this without community, without support.

We do not live in separate spaces from each other. Our independence relies on the care we take of our family, neighbors, our cities, and our country. We are connected to one another.

In many ways, independence is based on interdependence. It is a way we care for each other. Many people with disabilities have known this for a long time. It is a way we support one another as we strive to live full and healthy lives.

As the quote from Morgan Harper Nichols says: choosing joy… is courageously believing that there is still hope, even with things get hard. Every day will not feel hopeful because things will get hard. But if we practice hope, it could bring the encouragement needed to reach out to our neighbors. Practicing hope might help us to have the energy to create the community most needed to redirect this country’s priorities.

Whew- these words are out!