Joshua Sundquist

About
is a Paralympian and a bestselling author and motivational speaker.

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joshsundquist352 karma

You're right about this question, majorly awkward turkey alert!

Being that my Mom is my most faithful stalker and there is a 100% chance she will read this (Hi Mom! I love you!) I am going to not answer this question, although I give you props for the fact that it is an interesting one, and reveals insight into the fact that people with disabilities do often have significant body image issues that can be difficult to overcome in romantic relationships.

joshsundquist323 karma

So am I!

joshsundquist262 karma

My girlfriends arms.

One, two, three....awwwww.

joshsundquist239 karma

Serious answer: I have a best friend. He's pretty cool. So I guess you could try to fight him or something.

joshsundquist223 karma

Carrots. And genetics. But mostly the carrots.

joshsundquist189 karma

Why yes, actually. In 2010 I dressed as a partially eaten gingerbread man: http://joshsundquist.com/photos_amputee_halloween.html

Well, thanks for creating a modified amputee version of this question for me. We amputees do like to stick together.

But given this choice, if I really did have to fight an amputee creature, I would obviously choose the 1-legged horse-sized duck, which could be EASILY defeated by my super pendulum kick. Here's that that looks like: http://blog.joshsundquist.com/post/10893961397

joshsundquist184 karma

Great question. For the most part, parents get really freaked out when their kids stare at me or ask questions. They yell "I TOLD YOU NEVER TO STARE AT HANDICAPPED PEOPLE!" Occasionally there is some child abuse involved. It gets awkward, is what I am saying.

I think the important thing for kids (and adults, for that matter) to realize is that people with disabilities are just that: People. With disabilities. So I would want kids to know that yes, I do have one leg, but I can still walk and talk and eat food and laugh and cry and watch TV just like any other human being.

What kids (and again, people in general) need to know is that a disability is just one facet of a human being, similar to, say, skin color. You can't deny that it's a part of that person, but it's wrong to assume that it is the single most defining characteristic of who they are as a person.

joshsundquist147 karma

I've been asked some offensive questions, and this is not one of them. So fear not.

The best part of being an amputee is that I am memorable. People usually don't forget me after they meet me for the first time.

And that's also the worst part, too. People always remember me, and are more likely to remember my name because I look so different from a "normal" person. But I myself, like anyone else, often forget names. And then people get really offended that I forgot their name even though they remember mine, not realizing they remember mine (mostly) because of the fact that I'm missing my leg.

joshsundquist126 karma

I don't talk about this much because it's a private (and, well, boring) thing, but I'm really into meditation. I sit on my floor and meditate for multiple hours most days. It's how I stay grounded (that was a pun). But seriously, it's how I battle the stress of my job as a speaker and YouTuber, which are very public, very stressful, very energy-demanding activities.

joshsundquist123 karma

No YOU'RE great. And by "you" I mean both you and Reddit. Thanks to Reddit for making my leg lamp so popular this week.

The biggest obstacle I have to deal with on a daily basis are what I would term the physical side effects of having one leg: Since I use crutches, this tends to wear on my shoulders and wrists, and of course I have knee problems. And these will only get worse as I get older, unfortunately. (Jeez, this is a depressing paragraph).

I don't wear a leg anymore because I have vestigial nerve damage from my amputation that flared up a couple years ago that makes it impossibly painful to wear.