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Spin 2.0

The injury anniversary

Aug 29 04:18

Is it morbid to celebrate a tragedy? Since when is it "sad" to miraculously survive an accident, even if you get permanently injured? Living to see another day is a gift my friends, and I don’t know about you, but life in any form is worth celebrating.

I will admit, I was first put off by the notion of doing anything celebratory on my injury anniversary. The day of my accident for a very long time represented nothing but lost dreams and a stolen youth. The day couldn’t get over fast enough. But then I met this fabulous quad who began to throw crazy theme parties when her injury anniversary came around. When Meghan threw a “Celebrity Train Wreck” party for her anniversary, that is when it finally clicked: This girl is seriously onto something.

Meghan realized, waaay before I ever got did, that the only thing we can do is to live with these terrible injuries is to point and laugh at them, and the fateful day they occurred. And above all, we can't sulk when the anniversary comes around. Sulking is a pointless activity that doesn‘t do anything for you in the long-run. Instead, having a grand ‘ol time and thumbing your injury in the face is the smart thing to do. You will feel refreshed, energized, and above all, happy to be here.

The injury anniversary party is a pristine example of gallows humor, which I’ve blogged about here before. Gallows humor makes fun of the saddest things in life…things we cannot change….because in the end, why not? If we cannot change them, scoff at them and show them you can still be happy no matter what.

When your injury anniversary comes rears it‘s ugly head, what do you do? Pretend its like no other day, or do you do something to celebrate?

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1. Anonymous | Sep 02 12:14

The only thing morbid about your August 29 anniversary is sharing it with the anniversary of Michael Jackson's birth. Tiffiny I think every rehab should have one of you for the recently paralyzed women to talk to and see in action. For a quad, you kick ass pretty hard.

2. Tim Case | Sep 06 12:32

I'm sorry, but I must disagree, emphatically. Anyone claiming to have a "great life" while he, or she is a hi quad, clearly don't know what they're missing. Tim C.

3. seeandbesafe.co | Oct 26 01:11

Well I certainly never thought of celebrating the day. I was without a doubt one of the worst of my life. But the writer makes a good point to ponder. Why should this day hold any more power over us than any other? I have never considered myself a whiner and rarely do I even notice the day's arrival but do recognize it as a sort of rebirth. I'm a strong believer in letting my past be my servant and not my master. This article has inspired me and I am seriously considering a post injury party next August 1.

Spin 2.0

By Tiffiny Carlson

Tiffiny Carlson Disability buzz, travel, fashion and dating — fun things to amp up everyday wheeling life.

Tiffiny Carlson is freelance writer and writes the “SCI Life” column for New Mobility. She's also a C6 quad from a diving accident that occurred when she was 14 years old. A lifelong resident of Minneapolis, Tiffiny has been a writer in the disability community for over 10 years and writes for several publications and blogs, as well as her personal blog BeautyAbility. Her work has also appeared in mainstream publications such as Nerve.com and Playgirl.