Positivity challenge #3: Taking Out the Trash

I serve every day as a direct support professional in a day treatment facility. That means I get to take care of adults with various disabilities. The purpose of the program is to teach and train basic job skills; however, realistically, some minds just aren't wired to be suitable for ordinary day to day jobs.

Many of my people are non verbal, meaning they don't use words to communicate. Some are bound to wheelchairs, having no use of their hands or feet. Some can talk and walk just fine, but lose focus so easily as to be unable to be made to work.

But this post isn't about me, what I am capable of doing. I have plenty of abilities that are perfectly ordinary, some that are amazing. No. This post is about Walter and what he is able to do for others.

Because of confidentiality, I cannot use this indiviual's real name or image, so I figured Superman would be an appropriate alternative.

Now, Walter is non verbal and quadriplegic. While he can raise his arms up and down stiffly, his fingers are permanently clenched in twisted fists. His elbows are always bent. Even if he could move his legs, he could not stand, as his feet are twisted and curled. He can't lie flat, as his neck and back are curved and stiff. He appears emaciated and brittle, though I know he eats plenty.

He must have help with everything, and it takes an hour for me to feed him lunch each day. With his neck twisted, he coughs after almost every bite. Swallowing is labored, to say the least. I must watch that he swallows and breathes regularly.

He can say "yes" by lifting his arms stiffly. He moans or cries when something upsets him. Best of all is his smile. His smile will warm your day. It brightens the room. It charms the soul. Innocent and pure.

What can Walter do? He can hold things in his fists, if I can pull his fingers apart. He loves to draw: I show him 2 markers one at a time, and he raises his arms at the color of his choice. Then I place the marker in his hand, then hold a paper under him. He stiffly moves his hand. We'll change colors a few times.

Some may call this a worthless scribble. I call it a triumph. Once when I went to his home, I saw one such piece of artwork displayed proudly on his fireplace by his mother.

On Tuesday this week (which happened to be my birthday), it was my day to take out the trash at work. I asked Walter if he'd like to help me, since I know how much he likes to be useful. His arms shot up, his mouth opened in ecstasy.

Imagine how he feels. Everything is done for him. He would feel pretty useless. But everyone is good for something! There is something everyone can do. Everyone is useful.

Walter can hold a trash bag.
He can smile and warm a room.

Tuesday was such a success, I had him help with the trash again today. In the morning, I mentioned it to him and got a brilliant smile. Every time I said trash, he smiled. And joy at the end of the day when I stuck the trash bag between his stiff, twisted fingers! He held the bag, I pushed the wheelchair to the dumpster.

The next time you don't feel like doing something to help, think of Walter, who was in sublime joy just because he was given an opportunity to take out the trash.

How many abilities do you have? What part of your soul are you wasting because you keep love to yourself? What can you do to make the world a better place?