Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day
This has always been a really hard post for me to make, and I think it’s because this is the one topic I’m afraid to be completely honest about.
I have a mild case of CP. I have a walker and a wheelchair, but I am blessed beyond measure to be able to walk on my own without those aids 24/7. I’m thankful.
I am blessed.
I am aware of those things.. I promise.
However, it can still be difficult and frustrating at times.
I’m not your “inspiration” just because I choose to live the life I have been dealt.
I’m not “tough” because I choose to wake up in the morning and live life just like everyone else does disability or not.
I’m a person first.
My disability is a part of me that I am super proud of, but it doesn’t define me.
I think it is so important to advocate
Not only for myself but for other’s like me.
As I said in the beginning, these are my OPINIONS. Not everyone with CP is going to think the same way, and that’s what makes us all unique.
I said posts like these are always really hard for me, and it’s because I feel like people immediately look at my physical appearance and start making assumptions about me without even knowing anything about me or my disability.
OR
With the people I do know and love—sometimes I feel like I’m put on this pedestal because everyone sees that I’m living 2 hours away from home at college, making good grades, accomplishing things… It’s a heavy load to carry, and I just don’t want to let anyone down.
I’m so proud of myself for all that I have and have yet to accomplish.
I’m so blessed with the people I have in my life who are constant encouragers, and they don’t let let my disability get in the way.
However, I’m also really thankful for the people who do appropriately acknowledge my disability.
Let me explain what “appropriately” means:
My college campus is small, but to someone with low stamina like me—my walker and I have a TIME just getting from here to there everyday. It means a lot when people recognize that.
Sometimes I get really tired of being “strong”
And I guess what I’m trying to say with this blog post is no matter the severity of your Cerebral Palsy.
It’s hard.
I’m not discounting those who have a more severe case than I do.
As I said,
I’m grateful.
I’m blessed.
I guess I just want people to know that just because I smile as I go throughout my day doesn’t mean I didn’t get stuck in the elevator or hung up by the entry way doors, or almost fall into a crack on the sidewalk…
I’m not trying to complain. I guess.. sometimes I think I make it look too easy, and it’s not. That’s the awareness I want to bring to you today:
No matter the severity of the CP it’s all hard.
We are all more than capable to handle it, but we are not your inspirations
We are not tough
We are just living the lives we have been dealt the best we know how.
I pray I did not offend anyone—especially within the disabled community
But I believe all of our feelings are valid to be expressed and all of our experiences are valid to be shared.
So, do not pity me, but don’t let the smile on my face and the laughter in my voice cause you to forget that I struggle too (as everyone does)
Be aware—I don’t want a cheerleader in terms of disability, I don’t want a sympathizer…
I want someone to look at me acknowledge my strengths, but also acknowledge that I’m not a poster child for Cerebral Palsy and neither is anyone else.
It’s just my life.
It’s just their life.
Don’t ignore the Cerebral Palsy
Do not praise it.
Respect it.
I hope this wasn’t too harsh, and I’m not sure if this was educational as much as it was a rant fest, but I pray someone got something out of this.
Whether you have CP
Are a parent of someone with CP
Know someone with CP etc.
I hope you learned something new and valuable today about Cerebral Palsy. (at least from my lens.
Happy Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day
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