The rePurposed Life
When I started writing this blog in February, I wanted to engage the topic of living outside of our disAbilities. After all, everyone struggles with a disability and not all struggles can be neatly categorized (nor acknowledged by the afflicted).
My disAbility is obvious. Your eyes rivet to my rolling chair as I enter the room. The first seconds of meeting, we negotiate a social awkwardness. Eventually, I come up with a lighthearted quip, hoping to put everyone at ease. With children, it is different. They stare at me until their parent becomes uncomfortable. I don’t mind their straightforwardness. They are real and honest with curiosity. As our eyes meet, I smile and try to elicit a response. It allows me to engage with them about their unanswered questions.
Anyway, because I have failed and succeeded in my new role as a physically disabled person, I thought my focus would be on encouraging anyone who is struggling. My mistake was focusing on “disabilities.”
My life is not about my physical and mental limitations. It is about finding a rePurposed Life. Moving forward from a scared child to a petulant youth. . .until, finally, an earnest adult. But my disease changed me further. It was another twist in the narrative of my life’s story – a page turner.
Because of (and in spite of) muscular dystrophy, I reexamined my life again. I found it wanting – lacking vision. What did I desire? Over and over, I asked myself to define my purpose. The answer exploded in my heart as I watched one, two, three, four, five people die. What legacy did they leave? What legacy did I want to leave? To love others (family, friends, neighbors, enemies) and to encourage them.
Yes. It was time to take the focus off of me, the petulant youth who never grew up. I want a life that has meaning – with God centered.
No preaching. No condemnation here. Just honest conversations about how we think and what we do.
So, I am thinking about renaming my blog from Living Free with Disabilities to The reRepurposed Life. (The url will remain http://livingfreewithdisAbilities.com.) What do you think?
The rePurposed Life 
I get where you are going here. You might lose some of your audience because the word ‘disability’ is an eye catcher, without it, the people who would be taken in by that word might miss the connection of “The Repurposed Life.”
I love the new title though. You never know how it might expand your viewers. Hmmm. Maybe a test run for a time is in order. See if the traffic increases or slides. Either way I’ll be paying attention because your content is tops.
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Thank you for your feedback. You sum up the conundrum succinctly. A test run might be just what’s in order here. Thank you for your thoughtful comments and, most importantly, your support.
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I like the new name for the blog. It takes away the negative right off the bat and will more than likely bring in more readers. Keep up the good work.
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I agree with Jerry to try it, but I think you will actually get more views because it will reach out to those who don’t think of themselves with disabilities. But if they stick with you, they will realize we all have a disability of some kind (some of us more than others) whether physical or emotional or even temporary like fear or shyness (things that can be overcome). And I know that you are such a strong overcomer that you will be able reach many people on different levels. Love you dear friend!
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I think “disabilities” has a more defined audience, and keeps your focus on topic.
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You are an encouragement to me~
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Thank you. You could not have said a kinder thing to me. What a wonderful way for me to start the week. I am encouraged because of you. 🌅
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Aww Hugs 🙂
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I do like your Living Free with Disabilities blog url, because it is positive and is easier to find, perhaps, for people with disabilities. ‘rePurposed Life’ is a good title, too, because as others have mentioned, it is more open to more people – those not necessarily with physical impairements. I didn’t even think of myself as being disabled until 3 years later. It’s funny how we self evaluate. Of course, I knew I was very poorly – it affected every aspect of my life – but I was so determined to do my best, to make the best out of my horrendous situation. I wanted to survive – and thrive!
Thank you for your words. You always have great insight.
HUGS! 🙂 xox
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Thank you for your compliment. I am still wondering which way to go with the title of my blog. For now, I will try out the “The rePurposed Life” with the tagline of “Living Free With Disabilities.” Initially, there does seem to be a lag between having a physical impairment and the brain’s acknowledgment of it. Wishing you a good day.
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Making use of the tag line was what immediately struck me as a middle and all encompassing option when reading the comments. You had the pros and cons – to keep the disAbility as the reference but would that not be enticing enough and losing out possibly because of automatic assumptions and basically lose some identity.
Although being disabled does not in any way define who we are, it becomes part of the structure it has given to our life – a twist in the narrative, you eloquently portrayed it as -certainly. So anyway I think your better idea of utilising the tag line conquers all, and after reading some things about you I hope this is what you decide. This in part makes us who we are however which way we chose to deal with it. And opens worlds of possibilities to people as it catches their eyes one hopes.
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Thank you for your insightful comments. You have helped me tremendously. The test will become permanent. 😊
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Well that made it worth it, and good!
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