‘31 Years to Peel a Banana’ puts disability in its place

JORDAN MOSHE

Though confined to a motorised scooter, she exudes a zest for life which knows no limitations and is inspiring others to overcome their own restrictions.

“I’m no one special – I’m just me,” says Woolf. “I do what others do, and just happen to use wheels in the process.”

In spite of a doctor’s prediction that she would be lucky to live past 50, this feisty seventy-year-old has beaten the odds and continues to amaze.

Afflicted with cerebral palsy, Woolf is a quadriplegic and has only partial use of her right hand while the rest of her body remains inert. In spite of her disability, she recently wrote and published 31 Years to Peel a Banana, a deeply insightful account of her life’s journey that teaches others how to achieve greatness by taking responsibility for who they are.

It wasn’t always her intention to publish a book, she says. “The whole thing started as a therapy book,” she says. “I began a journal at 35 so that I could understand myself better, and it soon became a mission. I had to write. It was a way of expressing without stress.”

Woolf continued to write for a number of years, developing an understanding of herself and realising that she had begun a project which was bigger than her. “Essentially, I had begun an autobiography, but got bored with it,” she laughs. “I knew the subject too well. I chose to draw up a list of those who had had an impact on my life, family and role models who played a part in my development. I wrote about them, and found out about me in the process.”

Woolf decided to publish the book two years ago when she realised that she had something to give. In charting her journey, she saw that she had experienced something universally relevant, something she could share with others. “It was a journey in that I realised could help others understand living with a disability and help those with disabilities themselves,” she says.

“We all have some disability – mine you can see. I chose not to write about myself or how I’ve achieved something. This is a book about how we disabled people have to live with able-bodied people, not the reverse. We are on duty 24/7 to show them kindness and help them navigate life. Ultimately, we both benefit, and you walk away better than you were when you first met me, a disabled person.”

The book was launched in November at Retire@Midstream Estate at which Woolf resides, drawing more than 100 guests. In spite of her initial apprehension, Woolf found herself surrounded by admirers who simply couldn’t get enough of her writing.

“I still get the shivers when I think of the compliments I’ve been paid,” she says. “I got a call after the launch in which someone complained that my book was too good, that she couldn’t put it down. I’ve been told I made people cry.

“It’s when I hear this that it really feels real. The book represents my values, and carries a truth I want to get across. When I hear that people are finding this out for themselves in their lives, I feel I’ve done something right.”

What matters most to Woolf is that people understand that they are responsible for their own lives, and how they respond to their reality. “Responsibility means carrying something in spite of it being heavy,” she says. “It means finding a way to carry it that ensures you are true to yourself, thinking beyond your limitations, and yielding to life. We all go through something at some point, and we handle it differently. No matter who you are or what your circumstances, it’s possible to overcome anything that happens on your journey.”

“I found my way, and I just happened to use wheels while I did.”

Plans are in place to release the book in audio and electronic format, and Woolf admits that she is considering another writing venture, this time penning short stories. Whatever she chooses to write, Woolf knows that writing has helped her grow, and she hopes to continue her journey of self-discovery.

“When I look back at my early work, I can see how far I’ve come,” she says. “Not only has the quality of my work improved, but I can see that I’m a different person. This journey has pushed me, and though it’s been lonely until now, I can finally share it with others and enable them do to the same.”