Delete ‘I can’t’ from your vocabulary.
‘I can’t’ gets five pushups.
No, it doesn’t.
Sometimes, I can’t means I can’t.
Or I’d really like to, or I’m trying. But I can’t.
I can’t means don’t ask me, or ask me something else, or mind your own business.
Sometimes, I can’t means I’ll do it later, because I’m hurting right now, and I’m trying.
Sometimes, I can’t means I’m sorry, but I don’t want to. And maybe I’m not sorry.
I’m sorry, I can’t. You live too far away. There’s this thing called the ocean. I wish.
I can’t spend money in your store, make it accessible.
I would try to make dinner, but I’d burn it. Take out means it’s my turn.
I wish I could drive a car, but I can’t. The more I tried the more points I got in the ‘no’ column.
So I actually can’t.
You’ve got legs.
Well.
Yes, and no.
I wish I could be spontaneous. But I have to plan it. That doesn’t mean I can’t.
Chase me, Mum.
I can, but I’d rather not.
I can’t isn’t a copout, it’s a let’s do this instead.
Read with me. Colour this in.
That I can do.
And so, ‘I can’t’ doesn’t mean ‘I won’t’, as in lack of will.
It’s a lack of spoons, patience, or access.
Where there’s a will, there’s some stairs.
I can’t means it’s complicated.
I can’t means I’m too busy for your ableism.
Post also published on Medium.
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13 Comments
Thank you for your take on that recent Brevity piece. I also thought it was a little *interesting* that the writer compared physical ability (doing the splits in the example) with will. I hope you’ll comment with this post–enlarge the conversation over there. You’ve done that for me, here. Great post.
I know that wasn’t the point of the article, but it did start my thinking. A google search on the term garnered even more inspirational nonsense. I’ve commented now, but that’s her playground.
Yes!! I love this. Living with ME sometimes ‘I can’t’ really does mean ‘I can’t’, however much I’d like to. Plus brilliant use of Princess Bride quote ?
I wrote this for all who might feel it, ha! And I love it when a quote comes together. Or something. 🙂
I can’t often means I really want to.
Love the thought behind this . For many you dont need to remove the phrase… You add yet…
Some people just can’t, though. Pushing yourself is sometimes worse. Chasing the yet ignores what we already are doing.
Yup. That’s why I said for many. Sometimes there are obvious limitations.
You are so beautiful in so many ways. I’m crying and I hate you for that which really means I love you for it. I can’t explain it right now, too complicated.
No explanation required. <3
Beautifully said.
Thanks. Someone had to.
I won’t try, should go. I can’t yet, I can’t until Or when I have learned I will; are not the same as giving up. Stamping the still teenaged foot and frowning with clenched fists while you shout “I can’t!”. Now that needs gone. ???