October Reflections: Growth Through Change
By Robert L. Thomas Jr.
As I sat at my desk thinking about what I wanted this month’s column to focus on, I was torn between subjects.
One was the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) that was a big success this summer, along with Paralyzed Veterans of America’s (PVA) first Partner Summit in July. The other was three years ago this month when I lost my mom while I was attending the PVA Fall Board of Directors Meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Each time I attempt to write about my mom, I always inadvertently drift off into my feelings of pain and grief. As you know, losing someone is never easy, and with this loss being my mother, it really cuts to the core.
As the years go by, you would think it would become easier when a birthday passes by, when Mother’s Day arrives and even during the Christmas holiday season, but it never gets easier.
You only succumb to the deep feeling of loss when you think about it. It’s true that you never really get over the loss of loved ones; you just learn to live with their absence.
So, with that, I decided to focus on the 44th NVWG in Minneapolis.
The Games were action-packed and fun-filled as they historically have been. We had the pleasure of having several members of Team USA wheelchair rugby there. You could tell that the word about the Games is continuously getting out, as we had more novices than ever before. One of them was our very own PVA CEO, Carl Blake. As I watched him compete in several events, I could tell he had also been bitten by the Games bug and will more than likely become a repeat competitor.
While rolling around the Minneapolis Convention Center, I had the opportunity to talk to several other novice competitors who told me they would be coming back each and every year. The excitement and smiles on their faces could only be accomplished through the collective efforts of event co-sponsors PVA and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
It’s events like these where we can really get the public’s attention about what we can do in the disability community. Our dedicated sponsors have consistently shown up and shown out to help us co-host this event, and we surely couldn’t accomplish it without them.
While in Minneapolis, PVA hosted its inaugural Partner Summit at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. This gave new and potential corporate partners the opportunity to hear all about what the organization does for its members, as well as hear from other companies about the importance of being connected with an organization that has a relatable cause. We hope this draws some positive attention and interest to PVA for some game-changing collaboration.
So, when I think of October, what immediately comes to mind is change. Change in seasons, change in successful events such as the NVWG and the Partner Summit, and the reminiscence of old memories that are forever held with me, like I have with my mom.
For seasoned members like me, it reminds us of all of our own experiences. Most members have a story concerning the Games, how PVA changed their life, how the organization helped with benefits or how they met other individuals living with spinal cord injury and disease.
Change is the force for growth and adaptation, and that’s what the disability community is all about. n
