Is it possible to dream big, go somewhere awesome or buy something awesome, even when you’re on a limited budget? After years of wishing but never doing, I’m finally going to dream big — and I’m going to go to Hawaii.
I know. It doesn’t sound too crazy, but for me, a C6 quad who requires a PCA to get up and into bed each night, either bringing a PCA and paying her way or finding a PCA who lives there before leaving is not easy. I hate it, but I am no longer letting this stop me. Life is too short to keep making excuses. The truth is that it won’t be easy, but it is possible.
Lucky for me, there’s a website (and app) you can set up that’ll help you save money called FeedthePig.org. It automatically withdraws cash in whatever amount you pre-specify each month, and before you know, it you’ll have a nice little lump sum for whatever dream you’re saving up for. It’s a fabulous idea, and for someone like me, this is probably the only way I could ever make it happen.
My FeedthePig fund is called “Hawaiian Extravaganza,” and it has a long ways to go, but with the current airfare roundtrip from where I live to Honolulu coming out at a cool $650, I feel like it’s manageable. It may take me four to five months to make it happen, but I’m not getting any younger, and I can no longer abide by my saying “one day I’ll go.” My “one day” will only happen if I make it.
It gets easy to sit back — quite literally — and let life pass you by. I was injured so young and sometimes feel disillusioned with the world; especially as I get older. But I’m trying hard to change how I think. I need to be less annoyed with the world, and more hopeful, less submissive, and more putting-things-in-action.
After all, you only live once, even if it’s from a wheelchair, and Hawaii is out there beckoning my shivering Minnesota bones. To finally try adaptive surfing, to meet up with my online disabled friends living the sweet sweet Hawaii life, that would be a notch on the ‘ol post-injury bucket list. No boyfriend, friend or even family member is going to make it happen, it’s on me.
Now the next big question, should I go to Kauai, Maui, Lanai, or Hawaii?
Has the allure of Hawaii sucked you in?
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