As a person living with a disability have you ever had the feeling that you were somehow less than or discounted because of your disability. As though you were less of a person. I have my friend.
Several days ago, in October 2014, during a brief conversation with some one who I had not seen in about 6 or 7 years, she asked. She asked me if I was working. She asked because, she knew that I had…
That I had experienced a traumatic brain injury that previously interfered with my ability to work. When she asked me if I was working, I told her that I was still disabled and receiving assistance. When I said that I was not working, I got the feeling from her. The feeling from her that being…
A feeling from her
Being disabled, receiving assistance and not being able to work in traditional settings made me less of a person. I got a feeling that as a result of being disabled and receiving assistance, I could not really have a place of significance and an ability to contribute in society. A feeling of “Yes, but…” coming from her.
“Yes, but…
A feeling that what I was doing and accomplishing with my time, energy and life was of little insignificance. A feeling of minimization and marginalization. A feeling of “that’s nice” after sharing with her what I have been doing and am doing through Second Chance to Live. Although I realized that I did not have to own or…
Take on those Feelings
Take any of those feelings and her attitude, I realized that I needed to remind. Needed to remind myself that, “Yes I am disabled, but Don’t Count me Out”. Although I realized that I did not have to own or take those feelings personally, I realized that I needed to remind myself. Remind myself to run my own race.
Remind Myself
Remind myself to stay committed to stay committed to using my gifts, talents and abilities. Use my gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for me AND to not lose sight of my mission and vision.
“Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s okay. You’re here to live your life, not to make everyone understand.” Banksy
“You may be the only person left who believes in you, but it’s enough. It takes just one star to pierce a universe of darkness. Never give up.” Richelle E. Goodrich
“Don’t quit. Never give up trying to build the world you can see, even if others can’t see it. Listen to your drum and your drum only. It’s the one that makes the sweetest sound.” Simon Sinek
Today’s Thought
In the event that you are living with a disability (invisible or visible), that interferes with your ability to work, don’t give up. Let me encourage you with this my friend; as I need to remember, “Yes, I am disabled, but Don’t Count Me Out”. Although you may have people in your life who leave you feeling minimized and marginalized stay committed to your course. Run your own race. Keep using your gifts…
Run Your own Race
Keep using your gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for you. Don’t lose sight of your mission and vision. And remember like the line in the Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, Slow and Steady Wins the Race. Although you may have people who discourage you, like the Hare, don’t give up. Although there may people who devalue you, don’t pay them any attention, keep moving forward. You Will Win your Race.
“Big things have small beginnings” Prometheus
Some Quotes to Inspire
“Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.” Zig Ziglar
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve
“He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would have been enough.” Albert Einstein
“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” Lou Holtz
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs
“I am only one, but still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” Helen Keller
“I was told over and over again that I would never be successful, that I was not going to be competitive and the technique was simply not going to work. All I could do is shrug my shoulders and say, ‘we’ll just have to see.” Dick Fosbury (Olympic Gold Medalist. Inventor of the “Fosbury Flop” High Jump Technique)
“Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, ‘This is the real me,’ and when you have found that attitude, follow it.” William James
“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half- possession. Do that which is assigned to you and you cannot hope too much, or too much.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
To read more about my process and journey, you may click on this link: My About Page
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