One of the Richest Classrooms a Human Can Experience

I believe that people with severe disabilities, especially when accompanied by near-death experiences, do have a unique viewpoint. Does that impart to them some special vision worthy of sharing with others. I'd like to think so. At least one consolation I take from viewing life from a wheelchair is the young girls walking in front of me.

Tiffiny Carlson recently published an article in the Huff Post titled, "10 Things The World Can Learn From People With Disabilities."

Some of the highlights from the story really struck home, and I'd like to share those with you now.

"Most say they would rather die than live with a disability, which makes me laugh. That's because most able-bodied people can't imagine being happy if their body was ever permanently broken. I thought I would never be happy again. But a few years after becoming paralyzed, I was happy. I found happiness through simply being alive, and through family and friends. I still wish I could walk again, but true happiness resides in me."

"When you have a disability, the patience required is at a whole new level. Very often we have to wait longer for all types of things and over time we become masters at honing in on it."

"The cold, hard truth is that accidents [and illnesses] that cause disabilities happen every day, and they could likely happen to you or someone you know."

"We are confronted with crazy things all the time, so we learn to prioritize what is really worth freaking out over. That is why so many of us seem so zen-like."

"In fact, when you live the life as someone who's different, you learn right away it has its cool moments. You get to meet amazing people and get in on special opportunities."

"When you have a disability, you pretty much have a free-for-all card to be exactly who you want to be. And that feeling is amazing."

"Having a disability can also, unfortunately, have an impact on your lifespan. For many of us, living to 95 isn't probably going to happen, which is why most people with disabilities have figured out the secret to life - enjoy each day as if it were our last, from enjoying the sun rays to a warm cup of coffee."

"When living with a disability, you learn to be OK with receiving help, and realize that we all need help in our own way. It's unavoidable and part of the human experience."

"There's no getting around it, having a disability is certainly a difficult ticket in life, but the life lessons to be had make it a near VIP experience. And hey, the free parking is a nice perk, too."