By Ian Harwick
Being friends with Mikelle and preparing for a surprise is always good.
As strange as that sounds, if you are prepared for the unexpected, you can move quickly. As my friendship with her has morphed over time, I have grasped three key insights:
- understand what you are working with,
- be flexible at all times,
- and wear the right shoes.
In my mind, this is a pretty decent metaphor for life: be prepared for things to change and have good shoes for the journey ahead.
Understanding is key to our friendship, as with all true friendships. I think ours might just be a bit different. With Mikelle, you must understand one key thing: when Mikelle sets her sights on something, it is best to move out of the way.
Sometimes she is so focused on what she wants–nothing can stop her. I have seen her zip through traffic for a friend, leave her friends in the dust on the dance floor and have Bronco players leaning in to get her autograph (maybe a small exaggeration). Nonetheless, when she is on a roll, watch out.
In a changing world, knowing how to be flexible is valuable. It has been important in how we interact as friends, and it is a necessity in how Mikelle navigates the world around her.
We might be out to a restaurant, grabbing a quick bite to each. Often, there is a mere 2 feet between tables, and her wheelchair is equal in size. Negotiating obstacles has become familiar to us. We work together. However, being flexible and understanding her agenda is pivotal. However we plan our day, Mikelle may have other intentions, whether those intentions are selling jewelry or deciding that she is on the prowl for a man.
Not only do I have to be flexible, but Mikelle must also be flexible. Roommates change, daytime support folks frequently change, and the world around her constantly changes.
I never knew where my friendship with Mikelle would lead me. I might be crisscrossing the state watching and supporting her doing a workshop/keynote presentation, or walking blocks in the neighborhood going to just about every coffee house in Denver, including Pablos, watching her meet new and exciting people–that is why it is vital to have the right shoes.
Through her example, Mikelle has taught me a ton about life: how to understand my surroundings, how to navigate them in new and interesting ways, and how to prepare properly for any given situation.
As life changes, so must I change with it.
Mikelle and having the right shoes has helped me better equip me for these changes.