Did you catch last weekends Saturday Night Live’s skit spoofing Gov. David Paterson of New York State? If you didn’t see it, maybe you have been hearing all the noise that has followed in its wake.

My take is that this is good news for people with disabilities. Think about it, a blind guy is Governor of New York State …An”openly blind” guy…Governor of NY! Plus, the guy has enough cache to merit a skit on SNL. Well, we have arrived!

It’s easy to forget the fact that we have already had a disabled person in high office. Then however every effort was made to hide the fact that the President of the United States of America, FDR, could hardly walk. Somehow a disability showed weakness, so it was painstakingly hidden. Today the disability of a public servant is not hidden. We have come so far in fact, that it’s acceptable fodder for a comedy skit. Or, it should be acceptable fodder, but we still have some raw nerves it seems. Too bad.

My only beef with the skit is that it just wasn’t that funny. Funny would have been if the Governor showed up and spoofed himself.

It’s too bad that Paterson jumped right into “outrage” before consider the situation from many angles. The same goes for The Federation for the Blind and other disability advocacy organizations. We had the chance to say, it’s great that we are at a place that it’s alright to poke fun at someone specific who has a disability. His character was not being attacked, his accomplishment as a guy in the public eye was being exploited. Haven’t we been aiming for equal access? He wasn’t selling pencils on street corners in New York City, we was holding a graph on the economy upside down. It wasn’t super funny but it was not degrading.

Take the risk and express your HONEST thoughts on this. I would love to hear what you have to say.

Next Teleconference

THIS SATURDAY!!

Just a reminder, my next teleconference is:

December 6th

3:00 – 4:00 PM ET

If you’re interested in participating, please fill out the form on the contact page. Once I get your email I’ll send you the phone number and access code you’ll need to join in the conversation. After you have done this once, you’ll automatically be informed of all future calls.

There is no charge for the teleconference, except what your long distance carrier charges for a call.

The Call

The conference call is set up in an informal format. I will introduce the topic and then the rest of the call is open to question and answers.

During Saturday’s conversation:

Let me help you help yourself locate and capitalize on the opportunities embedded in your problems.  Or in other words, bring your sh*t to the table and we’ll explore how you might wish to apply the “7 Opportunities for Landing Butter Side Up” to your own life situations.

1: Don’t Prevent the Fall
2: What To Do on the Way Down
3: What To Do upon Landing
4: What to Do When You Don’t Land Right side Up
5: The Five Second Rule
6: How To Get Up
7: Don’t Prevent the Fall

THIS SATURDAY!!

Just a reminder, my next teleconference is:

November 22nd

3:00 – 4:00 PM EST

If you’re interested in participating, please fill out the form on the contact page. Once I get your email I’ll send you the phone number and access code you’ll need to join in the conversation. After you have done this once, you’ll automatically be informed of all future calls.

There is no charge for the teleconference, except what your long distance carrier charges for a call.

The Call

The conference call is set up in an informal format. I will introduce the topic and then the rest of the call is open to question and answers.

During Saturday’s conversation we’ll be addressing

(We will not likely get through all the steps but here they are just to get you curious)

The 7 steps for Land Butter Side Up

Step 1: Don’t Prevent the Fall
Step 2: What To Do on the Way Down
Step 3: What To Do upon Landing
Step 4: What to Do When You Don’t Land Right side Up ( Some Flip and Flick Techniques)
Step 5: The Five Second Rule
Step 6: How To Get Up
Step 7: Don’t Prevent the Fall

]]> http://www.whynotrachel.com/2008/11/19/teleconference-7-steps-for-landing-butter-side-up/feed/ http://www.whynotrachel.com/2008/11/06/teleconference-step-into-the-unknown-step-into-life/ http://www.whynotrachel.com/2008/11/06/teleconference-step-into-the-unknown-step-into-life/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:43:51 +0000 Rachel http://whynotrachel.wordpress.com/?p=507 Next Teleconference

THIS SATURDAY!!

Just a reminder, my next teleconference is:

November 8th 

3:00 – 4:00 PM EST

If you’re interested in participating, please fill out the form on the contact page.  Once I get your email I’ll send you the phone number and access code you’ll need to join in the conversation.  After you have done this once, you’ll automatically be informed of all future calls.

There is no charge for the teleconference, except what your long distance carrier charges for a call.

The Call

The conference call is set up in an informal format.  I will introduce the topic and then the rest of the call is open to question and answers. 

During Saturday’s conversation we’ll be addressing

Life is mostly about getting comfortable with the unknown.  How do we do this though?  We will talk about ways to get used to, and thrive in, the unknown.

I recently posed the above question “do we need adversity to grow” on disaboom.com, a web based community that is “connecting the millions touched by disability.” 

Here’s my post to disaboom.

Here’s a question I’ve been thinking a lot about recently:

“Do we need adversity to grow?”

Below are some some of the comments I’ve recieved and my responses to them.  I would love for you to share your thoughts as well. 

^^^^^^^^

d wrote: I suppose I’ve always believed the adage “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” Not necessarily in the physical sense, but in the sense of developing inner strength, to be able to mentally and emotionally deal with all that life has to offer, both good and bad.

Rachel: At first I had the thought that every experience, thoughtfully evaluated, has within it the power to help use grow. Then I thought, it’s been the more challenging experances, and the times in which I’ve stuck my neck out in the pursuit of something meaningful to me that has shaped me as a person the most.

So as much as I would like to think that adage is silly, I think there really is something to it d.

d: I’ve had my share of adversity, and if you compared me to a tree, I suppose my trunk would look scarred and burned in places, my branches twisted and misshapen, some pruned off completely. But, a tree that is still managing to stand, nonetheless. I also believe that some trees that may not be as physically strong as others can still thrive and grow stronger with the help of the surrounding trees that help to protect them when things are too harsh, or provide “leaning posts” to keep them from falling. Of course, in this analogy, the surrounding trees would be loved ones/caregivers, assistance devices, and faith.

R: So wonderfully expressed!

d: The tree analogy makes an excellent one. Have you ever seen a tree or plant grown in zero gravity,away from natural light and normal surroundings? They grow in peculiar shapes, often stunted and never blooming or reaching anything like their full potential. They are grown in a vacuum, with no outside influences or forces to help them develop. I’d compare this to a person that becomes withdrawn and reclusive, keeping only to him or herself, without contact by “outside forces” (people, life and everyday experiences in general) that might nurture them into something more.

R: Interestingly a tree that stands alone is much more vulnerable than a tree in a forest. Maybe we need some kind of balance of adversity and security.

d: As a person, and not a tree, I personally feel that I need to be challenged on occasion, just to keep my muscles toned in order to face the big winds. Then again, she whined to all who would listen, I don’t want it always to be difficult. It would be nice to just be able to coast once in a while, too, and not have even the simplest thing turn into an all-week project.

R: Boy do I hear you there! “I want to grow to my fullest potential, but I sure wish it didn’t have to hurt any.”

d: Interesting topic, by the way. I’m looking forward to reading the other responses!

R: Thanks me too!

I also wonder, if we don’t have “adversity” tossed in our laps, do people go and seek it? You know like with extreme sports or drug use. I know substance abuse can be used for a pain-killer. And we all seeming to agree it’s in part the pain that makes us strong.

But I wonder, do you suppose that some people use drugs more as a pain creator? I don’t know.

^^^^^^^^

T wrote: I was watching the Matrix again for the first time in years the other night (to lazy to go rent something newer, I suppose) and was struck by some of the dialogue: Agent Smith said that the first version of their world had been a disaster because everything was perfect and that the second version was much better because it had pain and suffering and that people somehow needed the pain and suffering. I thought that was very interesting.

R: I love when a topic like this and popular culture come together in the the same mixing bowl. Thanks for the great example T.

T: Looking at it from that angle raises a companion question to the one you asked: Is it possible to grow to one’s fullest potential without ever experiencing pain/suffering/adversity? I’m not sure that it is.

R: I’m not sure it is either. Heck, think about it, doctors whack us on our behinds to get us to breath. It starts early.

T: Perhaps adversity is part of the human condition and without it we’d be incomplete.

R: Right like d said, like the trees that grew in zero gravity without some kind of adversity.

^^^^^^^

Seems like my blog post only be so long, so I’ll create a second one with more of the disaboom comments.

Next Teleconference

THIS SATURDAY!!

Just a reminder, my next teleconference is:

April 26

3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

There are a few “seats” left for Saturday’s call. If you’re interested in participating, fill out the form on the contact page by 9:00 PM EDT this Friday April 25.

Once I get your email I’ll send you the phone number and access code you’ll need to join in the conversation.  After you have done this once you’ll automatically be informed of all future calls.

There is no charge for the teleconference, except what your long distance carrier charges for a call.

The Call

The conference call is set up in an informal question and answer format. Saturday’s conversation uses Anais Nin’s quote,  “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom,” as a topic starter.
You may want to take a few notes.  If note taking is difficult for you, please let me know before the start of the call.

THIS SATURDAY!!

Just a reminder, my next teleconference is:

April 12

3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

There are a few “seats” left for Saturday’s call. If you’re interested in participating, fill out the form on the contact page by 9:00 PM EDT this Friday April 11.

Once I get your email I’ll send you the phone number and access code you’ll need to join in the conversation.  After you have done this once you’ll automatically be informed of all future calls.

There is no charge for the teleconference, except what your long distance carrier charges for a call.

The Call

The conference call is set up in an informal question and answer format. Saturday’s conversation looks at how to live out your dreams despite any limitations (real or perceived) you may have. As a group we’ll look at one or more participants dreams and see where limitations may be holding them back.

You may want to take a few notes.  If note taking is difficult for you, please let me know before the start of the call.