Everyday,  I get to see persons pushing this sort-of-cart.  From the picture, it may seem that the person is merely pushing a cart with, maybe, stuffs on it.  Sadly, it’s not that.  The cart serves as an aid for the person to move.   

OK.  This ain’t new to me.  This is, in fact, an everyday scene in Japan.  But I am making it a big deal.

Ain’t it sad?  Here in Japan, it’s normal to see disabled persons maneuvering their own wheelchairs and being all alone trying with all their  might to continue surviving. 

Last night, I came across this old paralyzed woman who could hardly move, pushing her cart inside the grocery store and picking items.  It’s just so sad seeing them. 

Last week, I saw another paralyzed woman inside a very big and busy train station, maneuvering her own wheelchair going from platform to platform.  It sure is so hard.  I wish I could push her and help her get to the place she wanted to go. 

In my mind, I was asking where are the kids or siblings of these people.  In the Philippines, we wouldn’t allow paralyzed persons to be on their own.  There should be someone taking good care of them, looking after them.  Why do these people here have to be alone?  Don’t they have families?  Doesn’t anyone care for them?

Isn’t it what families are for - to take good care of each other especially during tough times?  We all grow old or go weak anytime.  Friends can vanish when we can’t go with them to parties or out-of-towns but our family, they are supposed to be there for us.  Family is all we got when the worst comes to us.  We may be confiding to our friend/s when we have problems, but at the end of the day (or in the long run), it is our family’s acceptance and understanding that we seek deeply.  It is our family (people we love) that matters.

Our relationship with our siblings, parents and/or kids, are, for me, the most important things in this world.  I always firmly believe that my family is the most important treasure I have in this world.  I always know that no matter what happens to me, they are always there.  Whatever I would like to do, they are willing to support.  In a lot of ways, my family’s love made me  commit into doing something that wouldn’t put them to shame.

I love my family.  We help each other.  We care for each other.  We do not do this, however, to receive assistance (in return) should we suffer from anything.  But having a great relationship with them does guarantee that we will never be alone no matter what.  Yeah, NO MATTER WHAT!

I know that should I run into trouble anytime, my family wouldn’t ask “Why would I help you?”  instead they would say “Why wouldn’t I?” and they’ll come running to rescue me. 

And I will never ever push my own aid-cart or maneuver my own wheelchair.  Hmnnn… at least, that’s how I feel.