When we’re learning how to make a movement, we carefully repeat each step that makes up the movement. Then, when we’ve mastered it, we can make it automatically. It’s like learning to play a piano sonata or dance a choreography. Once we’ve memorized the movements of our fingers or feet, we make them without thinking. Same thing with toddlers: when they’re starting to walk, they look at the ground and take their first steps slowly and carefully, supporting themselves on anything they can find on their way. When they start to drink, they use sippy cups. Then, they stop looking down to the ground, and waddle; and they leave the sippy cup. And when they become adults, they walk and drink automatically.
When I started walking with the crutch, Eric followed, ready to catch me if I fell. And he had to catch me quite a few times. I thought and thought, but couldn’t find out what was causing me to lose balance. Yet, Eric had a quick answer – it was because my right leg was getting ahead of my left. I had to think carefully beforehand to make sure I took small steps.
Then I started walking with the harness and the crutch, and I almost fell again. My nurse aid also had an easy answer: If I wanted to avoid falling, I had use my right shoulder to support myself with the crutch while I lifted my left foot.
So many things to think of… to keep my balance, I had to pay attention to every move before I made it, and then breathe, and then make it slowly. And this applies to drinking water from a glass as well – to avoid coughing, I must pay attention to the amount of liquid I pour into my mouth and to the way I move my tongue to push down the liquid.
Whether I’m walking or drinking, I should move very slowly, recalling each direction I was given so as to get it right; I have to restrain my natural compulsion to rush; and repeat the movements I’ve learned over and over again. If I do so, when I grow up, I’ll be able to walk and drink without thinking.
When I started walking with the crutch, Eric followed, ready to catch me if I fell. And he had to catch me quite a few times. I thought and thought, but couldn’t find out what was causing me to lose balance. Yet, Eric had a quick answer – it was because my right leg was getting ahead of my left. I had to think carefully beforehand to make sure I took small steps.
Then I started walking with the harness and the crutch, and I almost fell again. My nurse aid also had an easy answer: If I wanted to avoid falling, I had use my right shoulder to support myself with the crutch while I lifted my left foot.
So many things to think of… to keep my balance, I had to pay attention to every move before I made it, and then breathe, and then make it slowly. And this applies to drinking water from a glass as well – to avoid coughing, I must pay attention to the amount of liquid I pour into my mouth and to the way I move my tongue to push down the liquid.
Whether I’m walking or drinking, I should move very slowly, recalling each direction I was given so as to get it right; I have to restrain my natural compulsion to rush; and repeat the movements I’ve learned over and over again. If I do so, when I grow up, I’ll be able to walk and drink without thinking.
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