When I was younger, as a kid with a disability I played adaptive sports.

I first played baseball as a young kid. Well, after that, I did track and field, and I played wheelchair basketball.

One of the things I wish I did was keep myself in better shape.

When I was a teenager I made three mistakes as a adaptive athlete.

My first mistake was that I ate what I wanted, and I ate multiple times a day. Not good when you have spina bifida and you’re trying to play sports and stay in shape at the same time. I never sweat but still, I was not in shape to play sports to begin with.

Another mistake I made was not drinking water as I found out in my thirties leading into my 40s helps tremendously with everything it helps with skin care bladder care it helps with the digestive system as well and taking the extra weight off of you if you do have extra weight but I was too young and stupid to understand that but I think I paid for it too. I didn’t understand the importance of drinking water at that age but now that I’m 41 I realize that now. The problem was that I drank too much Pepsi, and to be completely honest the majority of the time I never drank water.

I also wish I catheterized myself better than I did. My entire life I’ve had bladder issues which affected everything in my life.

Being overnight and having a weak bladder is not a good combination, plus not drinking water. It just leads to a lot of problems.

Another issue was that I didn’t practice with the team as much as I should of.

I believe every adaptive athlete should practice whatever sport they’re in drink water and try to eat right whether it be just eating less or eating healthy foods.

If I could tell anybody anything to do the opposite of what I did when I did Sports as a kid I feel like I would have been better off.

• Just because you’re broke doesn’t mean you can’t spend money
  You can afford nice things on social security, just be smart about it
• Why Shopping on Amazon can be a game changer for People with disabilities
  amazon shopping for people with disabilites are a great avanue for people with disabilites
• It’s time for wheelchair basketball players to get there due
  For years, women have been complaining about not being equal in sports. Take, for example, women’s basketball before the WNBA was formed; players were forced to play overseas. Things have got better. However, most players still have to go abroad, even though they’re getting paid. Now, let’s talk about wheelchair… Read more: It’s time for wheelchair basketball players to get there due
• Anxiety is a disability, how it’s an unfortunate family thing for my family
  Anxiety is a serious thing; I don’t think people understand how serious it is. The bad thing about it is that anybody can get bad. Anybody can be affected by it. Along with having problems with having a congenital disability, I also have to deal with a lifelong family disorder,… Read more: Anxiety is a disability, how it’s an unfortunate family thing for my family
• What is a joystick module, and why do people need it?
  Not many people in electric wheelchairs think of their joystick and what they can do. Not many people know this, but a joystick is not just called a joystick; its actual name is a joystick module, and different types of it do other things. There’s a simple module where you… Read more: What is a joystick module, and why do people need it?
• What I’ve learned living with Spina Bifida
  I’ve had to live a long time with Spina Bifida; it’s been quite the journey. I’ve had to deal with a lot of surgeries, hospital stays, pain trying to figure things out, all of that plus coping with personal issues as well. It hasn’t been easy at all. I feel… Read more: What I’ve learned living with Spina Bifida
• Purpose of John Sikon Writes
  The purpose of John Sikon’s writings is to highlight people with disabilities. People should know that they don’t need to be afraid of people with disabilities regardless of their disability. People need to understand that even though a person has a disability, they are still people, no matter what they… Read more: Purpose of John Sikon Writes
• A guide for Future parents of a disabled child
  I don’t know everything; I don’t have kids, I do not have a wife or a girlfriend. However, I am a man with a disability who is a single mom raised without a father. My family consisted of my mom, sister, my grandparents, my two aunts, and my two uncles.… Read more: A guide for Future parents of a disabled child
• What lesson I’ve learn from Zion Clark
  Man, disabilities are weird. For some disabilities, you’re born without an arm or a leg or sometimes with no legs, like Zion Clark, Zion Clark was born with a rare disability called Caudal regression syndrome, Caudal regression syndrome is a disorder that impacts the development of the lower (caudal) part… Read more: What lesson I’ve learn from Zion Clark
• People with Down syndrome are misunderstood in a world that should care
  Growing up, I was always around people with different types of disabilities. That made life difficult because I have always had a physical disability, but I was high-functioning. Just because I was around people with lowered functioning disabilities doesn’t mean I was better than anyone. Regarding lower-functioning people with disabilities,… Read more: People with Down syndrome are misunderstood in a world that should care