1. That is Not a Parking Space

I see a lot of things on FB essentially high fiving parking shaming.  I’m sure you’ve seen it too. The shared post that provides evidence through a photo. The photo of someone blocking a car in or drawing new parking space lines with chalk, followed by a “they deserved it” statement. Who deserved what? Why does it matter anyways?  Our family doesn’t do that. In fact, given our circumstance, we have lots of new understanding and/or empathy for others. That understanding encourages us to be sympathetic and not critical of others for lots of things now. We know that we don’t always see the entire picture.

Deep breath…here it goes.  We sometimes park diagonal across two, sometimes even three parking spaces. Yep.  I confess. It’s true.  So one day, we may exit a store or the park and find someone to have drawn new parking lines with chalk, or left a note explaining our ignorance to us, or make the FB post where we are made fun of so to speak.  NOW, part of the picture you cant see…Keith has a wheel chair lift on the side of the van, and until recently you would never have known it (we now have a handicap sticker on the door where the lift is). Having a van with a lift means you can only park in certain handicapped spaces. A lot of times those are full (they have the slashed lines almost the width of another parking space beside them). So, we make our own space by parking diaganol over a few spaces so no one blocks the doors to the lift. Sometimes the picture is bigger than what your eyes can tell you. Sometimes, people just need to park so they can live life the best they can too.

So next time you get angry because of the injustice of someone thinking they are ‘too good’ to park  (and yes, there are folks out there who just park crazy, I am not denying that); take a step back, pause to think, and then just go on with your day, because in reality who really cares?

2. Handicap Stalls in Public Restrooms

There is always that one toilet with the double wide space for wheelchair accessibility in public restrooms. Honestly, I always saw them and used them if no other stall was available and it was my turn. I didn’t think anything about it at all, and then my husband told me this…(keep this image in mind: imagine you have to pee.  Like right now. It’s a full fledged emergency, because MS tells you when to go, and when it says go it means like yesterday)…he and our oldest went into the bathroom and someone was utilizing the handicap stall. OH NO! (Ever peed on yourself in public? Insert sad face). None of the other stalls where being used and the person in the handicap stall did not need to use that one.  I’m not shaming anyone, I’ve used them all the time myself without thinking much about it. I also know that sometimes they put the baby changing stations in those stalls, cool, that’s where you should be then. I’m simply sharing information that maybe you hadn’t thought of because you never had to think of it. And honestly, life is more enjoyable when your pants are dry.

So next time, I ask on behalf of MS’ers everywhere, save the handicap stall for someone with a wheel chair. Even if they don’t say thank you out loud, believe me, they are grateful for your consideration.

MS and other debilitating diseases often teach the average joe (like myself and my family) to change how we do things in order to simply be able to still do them.  While we always try to be considerate of others, we sometimes may look as if we are not. I assure you, that if you add a little sugar to life by overlooking small things like diagonal parking, and add an ounce of thoughtfulness in consideration of others, your life will be a little sweeter and you may just help us (and others in similar circumstance) enjoy a glass of lemonade!

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop.