Here is what I really think of my life and Cerebral Palsy

Yesterday at my volunteer job which is in aged care I had a discussion with some of the staff and residence on my "life" and the struggles that I face. I am the type of person that loves for people to come to me and ask their questions, so I did this by aasking if anyone had any questions for me because I know all too well that EVERYONE has that burning question inside of them that they are dying to ask someone with special needs. It is like because this person is not what society consider to be the "norm" then there are questions that pop up everywhere! Strange and I am yet in my journey of life able to figure out quite why this is.... After all I function just like any other human being; I eat, sleep, party and socialise just like anyone my age does with the addition of a motorise wheelchair.

My friends will tell you that I'm no different to them, I love my ipod, texting, facebook, boozy nights BUT they will also tell you that I'm a thrill seeker when I hop in that chair of mine and seem to have a no fear attittude with it. There is a kind of "bond" behind man and machine, it is hard to describe but those in the same position know what I'm on about. Anyway in this discussion I am asked if I ever get frustrated given that the residents know that I am born with my disability. It seems like a silly question, but I found it interesting that someone should raise that point, not many people think that just because I carry myself well, am fiercely independant and achieve so much that I have frustrations but I do.

Yes, I don't really know what its like to have free moving limbs, or have a day free from spasticity or take a walk independantly around the block and these are things many take for granded and don't think about. There are days where my limbs are so stiff doing things takes forever, or my bladder annoys me and I'm wetting myself, or my slight speech impairment decides to show itself even more and I can't get words out (this is why texting is my best friend). or my hands just dont want to work, or I'm having a bad day with my eyes.

Despite all this as I grow older and particularly after fighting bouts of depression and tossing up if this world would just be much better without me on a whole I am learning to accept myself and the cards that I have been delt in life and find ways to get out there and challenge myself even more and I'm learning through the guidence of mamma and my friends that it is ok to shine and not to hold myself back EVER! I see myself as not a person suffering from Cerebral Palsy but a person living with Cerebral Palsy just like someone with blonde hair or brown eyes Cerebral Palsy is a part of me and I'm NOT a disabled person because I AM ABLE to do ANYTHING and I'm proving this to the world!