Welcome to Wheelchair LIFE!  I started Wheelchair LIFE to share information about living a fun, full, and rewarding life from a wheelchair.  I have a story to share, and hope that others can benefit from what I've learned. WheelchairLIFE is intended to be a fairly comprehensive, free site, including topics from 'how-to' information, to thought for the newly injured (a must-see resource), to tricks and insights for wheelchair veterans who want to make their lives better. I receive nothing for the referrals I make.

OVERVIEW of THIS SITE

Wheelchair

LIFE

Wheelchair LIFE was conceptualized to serve families and friends too. Wheelchair LIFE is about improving the lives of people. Whether you are new to the chair, have lived in a chair for a while, or are one of the people around someone in a chair, Wheelchair LIFE has something to improve the quality of your life!

People inconvenienced by a wheelchair, and friends and family, can utilize Wheelchair LIFE, its links, and the Feedback section to share their experiences about life in a chair, or experiences with someone in a chair.

Hopefully, able-bodied people can benefit from Wheelchair LIFE. Whether or not you know someone in a chair, the simple truths expressed on this site translate to everyday life in many ways. Wheelchair LIFE welcomes contributors from all "walks" of life ... whatever your "roll" may be (puns intended). If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please let us know through Feedback. We'll try to help.

WheelchairLIFE may be a bit "irreverent" or "direct" for some. But LIFE is too short to worry about offending someone (or everyone). No offense is ever intended. But we are dealing with important, real-life situations that are not well-suited for mincing words, or coddling. If one is offended by what someone else says or does, it’s up the "offended" person to Get Over It! And then figure out how not to be offended again, by getting rid of the 'victim' mentality. Wheelchair LIFE is not about whining, feeling sorry for one’s self, or wallowing in misery and despair. Wheelchair LIFE is about getting on with living LIFE ... to its fullest! For people in wheelchairs, life doesn’t end ... it just changes!

The section on Attitude is the most important. That’s why it’s first. If you understand and embrace the attitude insights from that section (and woven throughout this site) you are on your way to a more enjoyable and happy life! That’s true whether you are inconvenienced by a wheelchair or not!

That doesn’t mean that life in a wheelchair is easy. It’s not. But it can be productive, rewarding, and a lot of fun! It all depends on how we approach it. If we think of ourselves as "confined to a wheelchair" we start thinking from a negative perspective. And, of course, we begin to compare our lives to others' by dwelling on the things we can't do, rather than the thousands of things we can do. But if we think of being in a wheelchair as merely an "inconvenience" (not an overwhelming "burden") we automatically start opening our lives to more possibilities.

A wheelchair is simply a means of transportation. It replaces what most people use to get their bodies around – their legs. Many things are more difficult in a wheelchair. A few are easier. But think about it for a minute. The thing that causes us to get frustrated or down is jealousy. When we compare ourselves to others we naturally focus on things they have or can do that we don't or can't. We wish for things unattainable. So, of course, we get depressed. On the other hand, there is always someone who has more difficulty than we do.

As you use this web site, hopefully it will provide insight into living life fully from a chair. If you have your own insights, or suggestions for new topics, please be sure to post them in Feedback. I created and maintain this web site with my own money. If you would like to help keep it going, you can make donations by going to the Support page. Wheelchair LIFE is here for you, for your benefit. Use it, get comfortable with it, let us know how it can do more.

© Copyright 2008-2010 - Wheelchair Life, Inc.