Imagine a small island that could be crossed within minutes; deprived of unnecessary technology; where golf carts and bikes are the only modes of transportation; and the only way to get there is a small ferry. This island may sound like a figment of one’s imagination but it exists and that is where I spent my 2009 summer vacation. As incredible as the island was, the entire vacation did not go as I personally thought it would. It was during that vacation that I had some kind of realization and felt more sympathy and closeness to those are disabled since I became temporarily disabled myself. During that vacation I learned what it felt like to miss out on fun things that surrounding people could do and I learned that I had to deal with it.
As my family entered the ferry dock on the morning beginning our vacation, I didn’t know what to expect the vacation would be like. However, positive thoughts and feelings began to fill me the moment we left the dock and started sailing into Cape Cod. We had passed several islands when one, larger than the rest, came into view right in front of us; we had reached Cuttyhunk Island. The first thing I spotted was a big red roofed house which I soon found out is where we would be staying. When we got settled into the house all I kept thinking was that I was going to enjoy this vacation.
As incredible the island turned out to be, not everything about the vacation turned out as good. At the close of the second day, as I was running to put my sandals on to leave the dock, I got a splinter; that is, if you could call it a splinter. It was actually a thin piece of wood the length of my pinky finger slanted into the bottom of my foot. Once the island doctor removed it, my foot hand to bee kept wet and bandaged. During the few days that followed I couldn’t play many outside games with my cousins or go swimming at the dock. I could walk around and ride my bike as long as I had my foot bandaged, but those are the things I can do anywhere. I felt separated from everyone at times and just wished my foot would heal fast.
It wasn’t until after the vacation that I started to realize what I had to go through for those few days is exactly what handicapped people have to go through their whole lives. Before the vacation, my thoughts about disabled people were sympathetic because I felt bad they couldn’t do some of the things that I could and they sometimes had really difficult burdens. However, after this experience, I realized there was more to it then my original thoughts. They too sometimes felt guilty or sympathetic for those around them because they my have held those people from doing just the smallest of things like playing a certain game. Afterward, I was so thankful that my injury healed before my vacation ended and I could still enjoy some of it.
That vacation changed my perspective on the disabled, both physical and mental. I have a new sympathy and respect for them. Anyone who is able to go through live with those kinds of difficulties is worthy of respect. I was handicapped for five days and by the third day I grew annoyed and impatient. I hope everyone will be able to realize that these people are some of the strongest in our world today.
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