What is it to live a courageous life?
Barton and Megan Cutter break barriers through words and being together. Photography credit: Karen Kain
That was the question I pondered for the past few weeks, during a time when I reflected on fabulous excitement of publishing our memoir and the past year of speaking to people with and without disabilities. And, also at a time when the challenges of transportation and other transitions came barreling in.
In 2007, when one of Barton’s grants ended, there was this sinking feeling when he found out there would be no temporary or permanent extension. I did not take the news so gracefully. I felt I had no control to what was happening to me, and I was clasping at anything I could, even lashing out in the process.
We’ve all had times in our lives when we felt no control, and tried to hang on for dear life.
It’s been a life-long lesson for me, as I have held onto things much longer than I needed to that no longer serve my life purpose.
This time around, however, there is a feeling of resiliency, that whatever transitions and changes will lead us to ultimately where we are called to go in our life’s vision. And the challenges along the way teach us, keeping us flexible and pliable.
There’s an acknowledgement that I will never live an ordinary life—it will always be a “life on the edge.”
That’s what makes it so exciting.
There was the time when we moved with only a few weeks notice, when we realized the location where we had put down a deposit for an apartment wasn’t in the best part of town, where we met a detour sign pointing to a flooded road, and the numerous trips on the road in crazy weather…
Our primary mission with Ink in the Wheels: Stories to Make Love Roll is to bring a starting point for discussions (for all people no matter what ability, life stage, race…), and one example of how one couple is making it work, to give others encouragement, motivation, inspiration, and to know they aren’t alone during times of challenge.
Barton loves this picture of Megan on their wedding day!
But to us, these are our memories shaped by the times of pure joy and celebration, exhilaration of leaping into the unknown, moments of utter failure and despair, precious places of connection, and those moments where all you can do is laugh at the absurdity of it all.
This last week was a whirlwind: we had two workshops, a conference, the last dinner meeting for a contract (we think) is ending at the end of the year, training for Barton’s 2014 ambassador position, and the anticipation of hearing from a new opportunity for more speaking (whew)—AND the celebrations of our wedding anniversary, the anniversary first time Barton walked, and upcoming is Thanksgiving, when we got engaged.
Yet, in the midst of running from here and there, we took an afternoon to cuddle on the couch under our blue and white Navaho blanket to relish in our connection with each other and enjoy the most amazing fire with a treat of wine and melted brie.
In that moment, nothing else mattered. We were there, breathing life in, and time stood still.
Barton and Megan laugh and live, even in the midst of challenge.
Taking this time out gave us reflection on how much we have been able to accomplish this year, where we dream of going, acknowledging places where we could do better, and just delighting in the connection of each other.
And as we go back into the fray that makes up our our extra-ordinary life of work and service, we move forward courageously together, knowing we are both striving to be better, to overcome challenges, and to make an even greater impact on our community and the world.
There is not much more we could ask for!
If you haven’t seen us on Disability.gov, check out our guest blog post:
Inter-Ability Relationships: A Journey Toward Understanding
And check out Barton’s latest guest blog post on The Easter Seals UCP Living Without Limits Blog.