Another great article that everyone should read and examine themselves while reading. The only thing I found strange was "supper sensitive." That is a new one to me although I am very particular about how my supper is served now that I can no longer do it myself. ;-)

At the turning point in the hospital after surgery rendered my arms and hands atrophied and paralyzed to the point where I could no longer hold a pen in my right hand and write but could still handle utensils enough to feed myself with my left hand, but not write anything until I got a metal hand splint that allowed me to grip a pen and began writing with my right arm again from the shoulder. Much easier than learning to write and hold the pen left-handed.

Of course I wanted to go back to the way I lived before. I perceived myself generally the same, but drew the line on what I could or could not do unless I had technology that would enable me to overcome the physical loss. Like the electric wheelchair when I could no longer walk, the high tech driving system when I could no longer drive a car unmodified. Each stage of my creeping paralysis required a self-assessment. Another profound change was when I gave up maintaining my household alone and had to hire others to maintain it and me.

But all in all, at my final stage of life where I have outlived already half of my contemporaries and am still quite healthy with only deteriorating hearing and increasing paralysis, I am quite accepting of my plight and place in life. Not quite what I would have expected, but not far from what I would have done anyway.

Ron

This, for me, is a fresh way to look at self-acceptance. It simmers down in my perception, from what you’ve written, to a single wonderful and healthy word = honesty. And, for me honesty has the ability to heal so many wounds. The challenge is overcoming ‘fear’ in order to be honest. That takes courage. So, Shervin, does it take courage to have self-acceptance? I’ll check back for your answer. I’m happy you post your writings here…thank you* ~~ djl