What Happened to YOU?
Like many people with visible disabilities, I am often stopped by oh-so-well-meaning types on the street. "What happened to you?" they ask. If I am feeling like a charitable human, I might be polite, explain that's personal, that it's a long story. Me? Nothing. If it's a bad day (and there are plenty of them), I might ignore them. Or, and I hate this, I blow up at them. "What? Other than your rudeness?? It's none of your business."
But it isn't true. Something has happened to me.
I have taken stock of my life. I have looked at myself -- my qualities and skills -- and I have realized that I have friends ... I have support networks. I have moved closer, physically and emotionally, to my partner, Wizard -- you'll hear more about him.
As I thought and thought, I talked to Chica, my girlfriend (a lot), and I met with Shrink, my ... , well, my shrink. I studied the numbers .. could I afford not to work? What about the toll work was taking on my body? I defined myself by my work; who would I be if I wasn't my career? Could I take the opportunity to take a risk? What would it mean to find something new? I thought about my life. I wrestled with fear and self-doubt.
I didn't need to choose a new life. All I had to do was to decide to turn towards it. All I had to do was to accept it. This meant, of course, learning to live in and from my body and not from anyone else's preconceptions.
That's what happened to me. Has it happened to you?
2 comments:
I prefer to respond,"why?" (looking over myself in dismay) "Am I missing something important?"
Unless it's a child. If it's a child, I explain it with patience and humor.
May I provide a link from my blog to yours?
(found you through the list for Blogging Against Disablism)
What happened to me?
I became a much more likable person, both for myself and others. I developed a lot of patience and a much better sense of humor. I had and took up the opportunity to teach my closest friend about their own prejudices.
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