Advice for Living with Disability from the Past, Part 2

Randolph Bourne, who was born with a physical disability, wrote about 100 years ago, “Do not take the world too seriously, nor let too many social conventions oppress you. Keep sweet your sense of humor, and above all do not let any morbid feeling of inferiority creep into your soul....In a word, keep looking outward; look out eagerly for those things that interest you, for new interests and opportunities to express yourself” (quoted in The Best American Essays of the Century, p. 70).

Am I off base, or is this good advice for people with disabilities even today?

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Darla Nagel is an editor and writing tutor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to help other patients and enlighten health care professionals about our experiences. If you’d like to be alerted whenever she writes a new post, sign up by e-mailing darla.nagel@gmail.com.