Why Lemonade?
Why a lemonade stand? Well, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! It’s a saying you’ve likely heard before and is one that is often associated with unpleasant or challenging circumstances. If you’re like me, and have found yourself facing some type of physical or mental health issue while trying to carry-on with everyday life, this saying may be something that you’ve become rather familiar with. Although it could be considered cliche, something that is said by well-meaning people and those determined to keep a positive attitude in the face of adversity, have you ever stopped to consider where or when such a saying was coined?
Through a late night Internet search, I discovered that there are several historical sources proclaiming the first use of of the phrase; the one that resonates with me the most is, Elbert Hubbard.
Hubbard used a variation of the phrase when writing an obituary for actor Marshall P. Wilder;
“Marshall P. Wilder lived all his life in the shadow of the wing of Death
He was a walking refutation of that dogmatic statement, Mens sana in corpore sano. His was a sound mind in an unsound body. He proved the eternal paradox of things. He cashed in on his disabilities. He picked up the lemons that Fate had sent him and started a lemonade-stand.
And he never asked for pity. In fact, he scorned it, and if any one ever got his ill-will, it was because the party was too profuse in endeavors to help him.”
While I am not a historian and had never heard of Elbert Hubbard or Marshall P. Wilder before I began my search for blogging inspiration; the context of this sentiment aligns well with my personal views.
Similar to Wilder’s perspective on navigating the world and achieving success despite his physical challenges, here at The Lemonade Stand I’ll share my experiences, triumphs, and challenges of living with a physical disability and chronic illness in an able-bodied world. Through humour, the personal reflection, and a few (fun) facts, I aim to provide you the reader with a new perspective and insight into what it means to be differently-abled in the 21st-century!
It’s sweet, tangy, and refreshing, come and join me for a glass of lemonade!
