Author: ciaranjmclarnon

Superlympics!

The Olympics a lot of remarkable performances, a lot stories of remarkable hard-work and astounding success. Many people were disappointed when the closing ceremony came around, that it was over too soon. But I couldn’t share that disappointment; we’ve still got the Paralympics to look forward to.

               I enjoy the Paralympic games much more than the Olympics. Watching the athletes overcome their problems gives me strength to cope with my own, maybe I relate to the athletes a little better. However, the main reason I enjoy the games more is because the equipment they use to help them perform gives me ideas.

               I use a lot of different equipment to help me day-to-day and I’m constantly looking for things I could try to make my life easier, so when I see their equipment I think of how I could adapt the ideas to suit me. It doesn’t always work, but problems won’t get solved if you don’t try something new.

Life in the margins

I recently took part in a really great focus group to help Ataxia UK with their work. The charity does excellent work in supporting people living with Ataxia throughout the UK. Ataxia is rare medical condition that affects muscle co-ordination and balance, among other things. It’s also a medical condition that I have. It’s been a tough year for people heavily reliant on medical services. With cancelled appointments and difficulties getting help it’s easy for a disabled person to feel marginalised.

            Earlier today I read a news story that revealed that people in Northern Ireland were unable to get the funds they need to survive. It seems this is example of problem people with medical conditions could do without, allowing people to feel that even if they speak up. Charities like Ataxia UK would have less work if governments took greater care of their margins.

Out with the Old?

Like saving your work or getting a haircut, updating your website is just one of those things that you should do every-so-often. You figure invigorated to make a change, like a fresh coat of paint will solve all your bull solve all your problems. But do you ever feel that that brand new attitude is just an update of an old attitude you’d forgotten about for a while?

               Recently I heard someone say that history doesn’t run in circles, a view I can’t understand at all. Time doesn’t run in circles, but history is filled with motivations that arose more than once. How many armies have lost because they were over-confident? How many times has a population been divided to control?

               But people still change, thinking the mistakes can’t be made even one more time.