Hello! Today with us we have the amazing RA Winter:! *Applause*
Hi Angelina, you asked a bit about my journey as a writer with disabilities?
Sure thing, I’m happy to share!
First off, I have fibromyalgia. Yeah, it’s part of my daily grind, but surprisingly, it doesn’t mess with my writing as much as you’d think. I’ve got this underdesk treadmill setup going on – keeps me moving while I work. Sitting still for too long? Forget about it. My body just locks up, every muscle is stiff and unweilding. So, the treadmill? It’s my secret weapon against stiffness. Oh, and here’s a funny one: I had no clue how bad my balance was until I tried walking while writing. Had to figure out how to use my keyboard for balance – talk about multitasking! Other issues with fibromyalgia: Brain fog-yes, lots of notes and I’ve made a deal with myself not to post or upload anything when it’s bad. Insomnia-yes, writing notes, thinking of changes but no major decisions while sleepy.
Now, onto the double vision. Yeah, it’s been a pesky companion for a couple of years now. My neurologist is convinced it’s here to stay. Picture everything fuzzy and double – not exactly ideal for a writer, right? I’ve got these three massive monitors on my desk, but even they can’t always cut through the blur. And let’s not even talk about proofreading – commas and periods become elusive little creatures in this fuzzy world of mine. And, reading for any amount of time on a device brings on headaches and eye pain.
Did I mention that I have a caterac on one eye? OMG, the whole world is douced in shadows.
At some point, I might have to learn to dictate to a software program, but I find that I don’t have the same verbal logical flow that I experience while writing.
Eye pain sounds silly, but its no joke. You can’t do anything for it but wait it out.
But you know what? Despite the challenges, I’m still here, still writing. Sure, there are days when fatigue hits hard, and I can’t focus to save my life. But that’s just part of my life, I guess. It’s all about finding ways to adapt, to keep pushing forward.
My disabilities? They’re just part of the story. They’ve shaped my journey as a writer, given me a unique perspective on things.
Honestly, I don’t have it bad. I consider myself lucky. Back in 2006, when my doctor told me I had fibromyalgia, he said, “you’ll be in a wheelchair in 5 years.” While I did use a cane for years due to a knee/hip injury, I’m not using it anymore. So, I truly count myself very fortunate. I see so many people who ‘look’ like they have a disability, but they are grabbing life by the hands and shaking it. Just look at YouTube or TikTok. There are thousands of disabled people who live life fuller than people without disabilities.
As long as I have my mind, I can do what I love. You should too. Adapt life to fit your needs.
So yeah, that’s me – navigating life’s curveballs, one word at a time.
-RA Winter
Angelina: Thank you for being here. The next guest author will be here next Monday.
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