Brooke welcomes Lyndsay Watterson, who shares her journey of becoming an amputee and navigating life with a disability. They discuss the challenges of adjusting to a new identity, the impact of visible disabilities on social interactions, and the importance of finding a supportive community.
Lyndsay also shares her experience of starting her own business, creating unique acrylic walking sticks, and how it has empowered her to embrace her disability and pursue new opportunities. The conversation delves into topics of body image, self-acceptance, and the power of resilience in overcoming adversity.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Lyndsay experienced a significant shift in their identity and body image after acquiring a disability, initially struggling with self-acceptance and the perception of others.
Finding a supportive community of individuals with similar experiences was crucial for the Lyndsay's journey. She found solace and empowerment through connecting with other disabled individuals, particularly during their involvement in the Paralympics.
Lyndsay's career trajectory changed after acquiring their disability. She had to navigate the challenges of finding employment as a disabled person and eventually started her own business, which allowed for flexibility and accommodation of her access needs.
Lyndsay acknowledges that while there are difficult days, overall, she wouldn't change her life path and has found strength and resilience in all experiences.
BEST MOMENTS
"I just thought I'm strong enough. I'll deal with it. It'll be fine… I was on a high because of the Olympics."
"I just thought they were looking at me and thinking, 'Thank God I'm not her.' That really cut deep."
"I learned a lot about how much you can put your body through… I probably broke a lot as well."
"We all have bad days, but it's not a bad life… One hot day doesn't make a summer."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/disabled-and-proud/id1621152878
Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves.
The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational.
Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without the need to conform to society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”.
As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!
INSTAGRAM! https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en: https://www.instagram.com/disabledandproudpodcast/?hl=en
