Hi, this is Joanna. If you have decided to help, I think it is only fair that you get to know me a little and find out who you are helping.
I am a 33 year old maid ;) I have been suffering from congenital myopathy since birth... more in the "My disability" section. I don't like to write about myself because I don't believe in these kind of descriptions. We can describe ourselves in the best possible way. I never do, because I am too honest (as some people say, "I lack tact"). I associate tact with being wrong).
I am a very difficult person, stubborn and extremely determined, although now that the illness has taken its toll on me, I have to admit that I am probably a little less so. I have always had to fight for myself and prove that, despite my disability, I deserve what other healthy people have. Unfortunately, most people take this to mean that such a person is entitled and exploits others. Not ambitious, not striving for something, a disabled person can only be demanding. Being disabled in Poland was really difficult.
My closest friends and I think that I am too naive, I still think that if I am fair to someone and help them as much as I can, they will do the same to me. I always try to help everyone, even people I don't know. I think that studying psychology, which I have chosen, is a kind of vocation. When I manage to make someone happy, it just gives me strength!
I have "my" faith in God and I believe that the most important thing is to love your neighbour and to always help him, as much as we can, of course.
I believe in Karma, which is also manifested in the Christian religion (Two Commandments of Nature: 1. Do not do to others what you do not want done to you, and 2. Do to others as you would have them do to you). I love the company of people and used to spend a lot of time with them both at home and away from home.
Now, whenever I can, I choose my favourite "doing nothing" more and more often. I like to lie down in the comfort of my own home with a book (or rather an e-reader, as books are too heavy for me due to my muscle weakness) and music playing in the background. I also like to watch TV series that help me solve puzzles. Oh dear... when was the last time I did that? I can't remember...
Yes, I love puzzles, it relaxes me a lot. Unfortunately, again due to the fact that I cannot sit down, I get tired even during this hobby and supposed rest. So I can only rest in a lying position. Fortunately, you can also put it on a tablet or a phone, wherever it is most comfortable, I recommend it ;)
I love to deepen my knowledge about religions and cultures of the world, space, nature, psychology, etc. and parapsychology is my hobby.
I'm interested in literally everything, I know how that sounds, but I really don't think there's anything I'm not interested in. I love to deepen my knowledge of world religions and cultures, the cosmos, nature. Psychology and parapsychology are my hobbies. Human consciousness and the psyche have always fascinated me, although lately I have come to the conclusion that if I were smarter and less lazy, I would choose physics or astronomy;) Something beautiful!
Until recently I wanted to be a coach, unfortunately when my physical health took a hit my psyche did the same.
You get the idea, a broken down motivational mentor is probably not what people are looking for. Still, I'm working on it. What helps me is believing in people who are great to me. I know that when I get through this, I will be even better and stronger than I was before. Then I will be able to share that strength with others.
In my case, every new kilo has to be supported by that one knee on which I put all my weight.
I love animals, especially cats. I love trying different cuisines from around the world, but my favourites are Japanese, Lebanese and of course our beloved Polish. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I constantly strain my legs while standing, I need to monitor my weight for my health and normal functioning.
Healthy people don't think about it every day, they don't think about how lucky they are to be the masters of their own destiny!
I have lived in the UK for over 10 years. The most common question I get here is how did I get here and how is it possible for a disabled person to live alone in a foreign country without family!
For most people this is unthinkable as a disabled adult should always be with their parents.
It's a long story, I came here for purely private reasons, to visit my then boyfriend and then fiancé. Unfortunately, after 10 years, we decided that our paths would diverge and that we would be better off as a pair of loving friends :) Of course we still keep in touch.
For as long as I can remember I wanted to be independent as soon as possible and I knew I wanted to live outside Poland. When I had the chance to cut the umbilical cord from my family, I did.
I don't regret it because I know that in my home country I wouldn't have all the opportunities I have here. The most important thing in my life was and is that I can live like an adult, that is, despite my disability, without the help of my family, I can make my own decisions, I can have my own personal life and I don't have to take into account that, for example, someone doesn't have time to take me somewhere because I just order a big taxi and go where I want in the presence of my assistant.
From 18 years of age as soon as I passed my high school final exams, I tried to work online, although it was obviously not easy or profitable without specific education. Either way, I was always working, or at least I tried not to sit idle. I didn't go to college because someone would have to drive me there and be with me (because of the toilet), even if it was only on weekends. Due to family reasons this was not possible.
In 2011 I came to England and after about 2 years I started earning extra money at home doing make-up, eyebrows etc. When I got my professional certificate as a nail stylist I started working in a Polish beauty salon and after a while I started my own business, I had my own small beauty salon where I worked up to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Now I know it was very unwise. I was extremely fascinated by what I was doing, I loved the contact with people and I was proud of myself that I could earn some normal money, not "pocket money", and most of all that so many people appreciated my work.
I also didn't want them to perceive me as someone who came for the English social benefits (high benefits, free house, etc.), I remember being very "allergic" to that.
After 7 years, when my physical condition refused to obey me completely, I had to come up with a plan B.
I finally decided to make my dream come true and started studying psychology. I think that with such a profession, I will have a lot of professional opportunities in the future, and this is what I care about most. Also, psychology is my passion.
Where do I see myself in 5 years time? I hope to have a Master's degree in Psychology, I would like to have my own business, definitely a permanent source of income, but from my work, not from help from people or the government. I could already have a family, a husband, a child or perhaps children? I think about it, like every woman probably does, but it's not a priority for me. I also know that in my situation it would be extremely irresponsible and selfish to have a child. It's true that I had to come to terms with this idea. It took me a while because the desire to be a mother has been with me for as long as I can remember. Fortunately, it worked out in the end. Most importantly, I hope that my health will improve, or at least stop progressing, which would be a great achievement.
I also dream of setting up a foundation that would help disabled people to have "some social, entertaining or even intimate life". Of course, medical equipment, rehabilitation equipment and medicines are the most important, but so are good spirits and memories. It is also necessary for proper mental development.
I think most people forget that disabled people would like to feel, at least for a moment, like a healthy, average person.
If you like, I invite you to the interviews with my participation for example: Tydzień Polski - wp.pl - mirror.co.uk - nypost.com. I think I touched on very important issues.