Page 59 - Sportability

reference because I can understand that if my parents That job lasted for a short while as my results for the
had not been educated, open-minded, and financially present job came. I remember that at that age it was my
stable, it would have been more challenging for all of us. basic need that I have to be self-dependent financially
It will be significant to mention an important episode so I just couldn’t see myself without a job. I think my
when after taking training for driving a car, I went to diligent approach toward my aspirations made my grit
apply for my permanent driving license. The driving stronger. After getting into my current job, during the
authority office refused to accept my form. Their view last two decades, I don’t think I have refused any kind
was that I was not permitted to drive a car with manual of work that came on my way. Believe me, this attitude
gears even if I was trained to drive a manual car. After has provided me with open doors of various kinds, and
some conversation, we got to know that for me to drive, this certainly has to contribute in my quality of life. One
we would have to purchase a car with an automatic more significant aspect is the strength of acceptance. I
gear system which wasn’t available in all the cars at have never shied away from sharing my experience of
that time in India. It also meant that we would have to felling down, my failures and insecurities, limitations,
sell our present car and invest a hefty amount to get and challenges while interacting with my students and
the automatic version. To my surprise, my father in a my son. Here, the underlying hope has been that they
few minutes told the officer that we would meet him would also learn to deal with difficult situations in life.
again soon with the new vehicle and application form. We all must get motivated by small inspirations of life
I am indebted to this idea of self-dependence that my and thus should keep trying our best. I feel proud and
parents brimmed in me. This skill of driving and the uplifted when I look at the cohort of students taught by
independence it gave me have helped me so much in me as so confident, showing sensitivity towards others’
fulfilling my innumerable responsibilities towards situations, and who have taken their life’s challenges
myself, my work, and my family. head-on.

The same paper also states that Self-determination This has made me feel successful in life.
theory (SDT) assumes that it is essential for humans
to pursue basic psychological needs (BPNs)such as From here, what lies beyond?
autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Research has
shown that satisfying these three BPNs promotes the At this stage, I lead a busy life with a job, a kid, and
development of self-determination motivation and household responsibilities. There is not much free time
that it serves as the basis of not only task performance to think about recreational activities. But I sometimes
but also psychological well-being. SDT also suggests search about sports and physical exercises that people
that these three universal psychological needs must with spasticity should do. I can feel the impact of aging
be satisfied for individuals to maintain optimum on my mobility which makes me afraid and insecure
performance and well-being. about my physical independence as I have to go on
treks, drive on long routes, and lead life depending
Therefore, the pursuit of BPNs can act as an important on myself as long as possible. These are my life’s
psychological variable for individuals with disabilities agendas but due to the fear of not being able to walk,
who experience anxiety along with other mental and I have a self-pressure to push myself into the fitness
physical difficulties” ⁴. To work on one’s grit is not easy regime. I think the opportunities for adaptive sports
as it is full of challenges and obstacles for disabled are something lacking in our country. This area needs
people in comparison to abled ones. While working attention so that people like me do not feel socially
around my life, I know that people with disabilities are isolated. These sports help people with disabilities in
continuously engaged in negotiations of perceptions not only maintaining their health and well-being but
of their body, their physical surroundings, and their also in maintaining their social linkages. Till the time
perception of time and the future. But if the intrinsic adapted sports even for recreational purposes (as a
motivation is there to fulfill one’s goals then the minimal requirement) are not provided to people with
obstacles and discouragements can help in building disabilities, it can’t be said that all our human rights
the grit. For instance, facing physical challenges at my have been granted to us because in the words of Doris
first job in a village helped me in developing courage Corbett, “Sport and human rights have always been
and passion for my work. Till I got selected for my interconnected, particularly where societies reputation
present job which is a permanent position, I could not or national pride were at stake” ⁶. If I am being asked
sit at home. I remember when in the initial years of my about the requirements that will help in including my
career, one of the teaching jobs on a contract basis got participation in sports today, I think my answer lies in
terminated, I grabbed a job in a call centre immediately. the desire that I should have easy, accessible pathways

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