We are all very unique. Our talents and limitations are our very own special blueprint. If you are proud of your talents, but fearful that your challenges may make others judge you incorrectly and prematurely, you are not alone. It is human nature to want to be recognized as an individual who is of value to society and to the workplace. I think one must take the time to accept the fact that no one is perfect. Unfortunately, because we are a visual society, if you have a physical challenge, you are more likely to be judged by other purely on what they see initially. It’s a fact of life. You will have to work hard to prove that your physical limitations do not in any way affect your productivity or your contribution to society.
see the person first, before you see the disability
On the other hand, all people have challenges and limitations, but the ones that you cannot see on the outside are very often the most painful. We hide our emotional, developmental challenges and limitations from others, and buried them deep within our hearts and minds. We fear that others will discover our secret. Secrets are never secrets forever.
Trying to create a persona of perfection is heading straight towards a path of constant and continual emotional stress. Today, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that there are at least 50 million Americans of all ages, religions and ethnic backgrounds – roughly one in six – with disabilities. Imagine if we really knew how many of us are struggling with disabilities that we will not admit to having? Certainly and undoubtedly, the truth would set us free. Although we are making progress and headway overall learning to accept and appreciate people as people first, before we judge them, we still have a long way to go. Education begins at home. It is wise to remind yourself, family and friends that America’s largest minority group, are people with disabilities. Perhaps the word minority is inappropriately used since it suggests being less then, or inferior in some way. May I suggest a more open way to look at people, all people, as special individuals with gifts, talents, but also with challenges and limitations?
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Even before, during and after this illness, I have, do and will experience this type of discrimination daily. As you may have noticed on my FB page in my pictures, I have been an overweight person all my wonderful and appreciated years of living. I have had to fight, cuss and fuss to be accepted and treated fairly all my life. The cause and the reason why I am a handsome extra large man is not more important than the fact that I am a person. Whether my weight is from several medical issues are just pure overeating is not as important as I am. I have never let this “gift” defeat me but it has made me stronger than most as I fight daily just to be recognized as a man.
During my most important time of healing while still in the hospital after my procedure last month is where I experienced the most discrimination. I may have appeared to be extra large at will and seemed needy but little did they know I didn’t want to be helped as much as they didn’t want to help me. I was made to feel like “he has gotten himself so big and now I’m suppose to help him, move him, make him feel better?” It didn’t feel good at all and if my mom and wife were not there almost 24/7, I may not even be here to discuss this with you, YES IT WAS THAT BAD! So I do understand your mission and article more than you know.
My sweetest victory so far from this experience was my day of discharge when a new hospital physical trainer came to evaluate me. I sat on the couch in the room and I’m sure I looked asleep but as I opened my eyes slightly and she walked in the room, she stopped and just looked at me with the face of, “oh my how can I possibly help this man? what if he falls? how could I catch him? what if he hurts me?…so on and so on”. Before she could say one word, I got up and told her, “I won’t be needing your help today, I’m able to leave the bed, use the restroom and walk down the hall..on my own.” Shortly after, I was discharged, and as I was advised to sit and wait to be rolled out, I instead walked out the hospital on my own because just as I thought a wheelchair was brought to the room that I would not fit in and I refused t wait as my size should not have been a surprise.
The color of your blog is quite great. i would love to have those colors too on my blog.
Color is what help bring us up, or brings our mood down.
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