My OperaSITTING BULLS
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:13:29 PM
May 1st, 2006, 03.00 AM, the most important turning point in my life that changed my outlook, the way I am, and finally “me”. Then, this became my chief point of view: you should be appreciative of even each air you pull into your lungs, for you only live once. Till then, I could call my self a depressed, tired, desperate, even helpless and hopeless person who believed that disasters always find her and every door leads nowhere. However, at that time, somehow, she, who was always lost in fact, got lost forever not to come back again.
Just three days, the most meaningful consecutive three days in my life… I am talking about the European Wheelchair Basketball Final having taken place in Adana last April. It was going to last for three days and volunteer students from university were going to take care of the teams, guests, etc. Now, I am so thankful to my teacher, who chose four of us in class, including me, to take part while only third graders were accepted to the organization. Since they told us exactly and properly what to do, and we even had a rehearsal, we knew very well what was waiting for us.
As far as I remember, there were eight teams from European countries of different characteristics, ages, or languages. But they were the same in one point: they were all dependent on their wheelchairs; some had lost their legs and some were paralytic. It sounds terrible, doesn’t it? But that was not the case…
The very first day, I got up so early that it was still dark, I got ready immediately and found myself on a bus, the destination being the Sürmeli Hotel. When I arrived there, almost everyone was ready to go to the basketball hall. After a while, team members came down and got on the busses. Seeing them, what I first noticed was their shining eyes—full of energy. That day we got acquainted with each other, and maybe we tried to show our hospitality to them. We really tried to be helpful, put so much effort to get their things done, etc.
Then the game started. They were all enthusiastic and focused on winning. Their eyes were sparkling with great excitement like an inventor having just invented something that will change the world. And that excitement passed to us from them. During the match, they were sometimes falling down with their chairs, which was so touchy, but they accepted no help since they believe they can overcome any obstacle in life, as every one under the sun should think. Anyway, we were mostly cheering on one of he teams, which was Conveen Sitting Bulls, that became my favorite immediately. Why? Because they were genial, sincere, and they knew how to invigorate our souls.
The second day was even more tiring than the first one. We were bustling around to prevent any possible setback. Meanwhile, I was chatting with them, being affected and even surprised by their devotion to life even after all they had gone through. Learning about them, I was really ashamed of myself for being such a pessimistic person or ready to give up on being confronted with a problem.
Watching them, talking or listening to them, I felt something started to change in my soul. The dark veil before my eyes was beginning to disappear. Then I was able to hear the songs of birds. I was feeling full of life, hope, and power. There was nothing I couldn’t overcome. Even death was not an end anymore.
The third and the last day... There was no minute that I didn’t feel like crying. I was about to shed tears at any time. That day, the final was played. And it was time to distribute medals. Including the volunteers, all of the players were awarded medals. As a matter of fact, I accepted that medal for my success in turning to a different and brand-new person!
Now, let’s look at the key moment, 03.00 AM, that woke me up. The last night, there was a bye-bye party for the players, and all the members of the organization were there. There was food, drink, music, etc. Have you ever seen a person dancing on his/her wheelchair? They were really worth seeing. Anyway, I was sitting next to one Austrian player. We were eating, talking, and laughing. He was telling something excitedly, and then he knocked against the beer glass of his friend next to him. Some beer spilled all around, and we laughed for minutes. Then, after the party, after the midnight, we were sitting with him and talking… Then, I noticed that he had changed hid trousers. I asked, “Why did you?” And the answer was “Some beer was spilled on my trousers. I didn’t feel, but its beautiful smell came to my nose.” And he told these with no trouble, no grief… It was no problem that he didn’t feel his legs. Though he had to carry his legs, they were not a burden on him. He was so powerful and determined, and cheerful in the very sense of the word. And now, I think I should thank him and all the others for being so helpful to me to change my way.
gncthegreat
Just three days, the most meaningful consecutive three days in my life… I am talking about the European Wheelchair Basketball Final having taken place in Adana last April. It was going to last for three days and volunteer students from university were going to take care of the teams, guests, etc. Now, I am so thankful to my teacher, who chose four of us in class, including me, to take part while only third graders were accepted to the organization. Since they told us exactly and properly what to do, and we even had a rehearsal, we knew very well what was waiting for us.
As far as I remember, there were eight teams from European countries of different characteristics, ages, or languages. But they were the same in one point: they were all dependent on their wheelchairs; some had lost their legs and some were paralytic. It sounds terrible, doesn’t it? But that was not the case…
The very first day, I got up so early that it was still dark, I got ready immediately and found myself on a bus, the destination being the Sürmeli Hotel. When I arrived there, almost everyone was ready to go to the basketball hall. After a while, team members came down and got on the busses. Seeing them, what I first noticed was their shining eyes—full of energy. That day we got acquainted with each other, and maybe we tried to show our hospitality to them. We really tried to be helpful, put so much effort to get their things done, etc.
Then the game started. They were all enthusiastic and focused on winning. Their eyes were sparkling with great excitement like an inventor having just invented something that will change the world. And that excitement passed to us from them. During the match, they were sometimes falling down with their chairs, which was so touchy, but they accepted no help since they believe they can overcome any obstacle in life, as every one under the sun should think. Anyway, we were mostly cheering on one of he teams, which was Conveen Sitting Bulls, that became my favorite immediately. Why? Because they were genial, sincere, and they knew how to invigorate our souls.
The second day was even more tiring than the first one. We were bustling around to prevent any possible setback. Meanwhile, I was chatting with them, being affected and even surprised by their devotion to life even after all they had gone through. Learning about them, I was really ashamed of myself for being such a pessimistic person or ready to give up on being confronted with a problem.
Watching them, talking or listening to them, I felt something started to change in my soul. The dark veil before my eyes was beginning to disappear. Then I was able to hear the songs of birds. I was feeling full of life, hope, and power. There was nothing I couldn’t overcome. Even death was not an end anymore.
The third and the last day... There was no minute that I didn’t feel like crying. I was about to shed tears at any time. That day, the final was played. And it was time to distribute medals. Including the volunteers, all of the players were awarded medals. As a matter of fact, I accepted that medal for my success in turning to a different and brand-new person!
Now, let’s look at the key moment, 03.00 AM, that woke me up. The last night, there was a bye-bye party for the players, and all the members of the organization were there. There was food, drink, music, etc. Have you ever seen a person dancing on his/her wheelchair? They were really worth seeing. Anyway, I was sitting next to one Austrian player. We were eating, talking, and laughing. He was telling something excitedly, and then he knocked against the beer glass of his friend next to him. Some beer spilled all around, and we laughed for minutes. Then, after the party, after the midnight, we were sitting with him and talking… Then, I noticed that he had changed hid trousers. I asked, “Why did you?” And the answer was “Some beer was spilled on my trousers. I didn’t feel, but its beautiful smell came to my nose.” And he told these with no trouble, no grief… It was no problem that he didn’t feel his legs. Though he had to carry his legs, they were not a burden on him. He was so powerful and determined, and cheerful in the very sense of the word. And now, I think I should thank him and all the others for being so helpful to me to change my way.
gncthegreat
