Oh My Goodness Friends!! You MUST watch this!! This amazing artist took and made manikins of individuals with disabilities and I have to admit - I teared up, this is just so touching and so beautiful!
My mother and older brother are in wheelchairs because of Multiple Sclerosis and combining that with my own disabilities brought on physical injuries and complicated by the Fibromyalgia, I have gained a deeper respect for individuals who have disabilities they were born with. Individuals like the beautiful people in this video. I think that often times society looks down on people with disabilities because they are different and let's face it, its human nature to fear the unknown. I struggle with being so young and needing a full leg brace and sometimes my cane to walk but I have to remind myself how blessed I am to still have my legs because I know that my Mum and brother would give anything to have control of theirs again.
But I find myself judging others too sometimes which is not a good thing. I remember an incident when I was in significant pain, was struggling to move at all, much less walk, and so I parked in the handicap parking while my daughter and I slowly made our way into the store for groceries. When we come out, moving extremely slowly because now I am completely fatigued and the pain is over the top, and there is a huge land yacht of a suburban trying to squeeze in next to my smaller vehicle. As this older lady climbs out of the vehicle, my daughter and I waited so we could get into our car. I was informed by this lady that I should be "ashamed of myself being so lazy and taking up handicap parking that was reserved for older people who needed it." I have to admit...my anger BOILED over and I am pretty sure that if my daughter hadn't been standing next to me, I probably would have read that lady the riot act and suggest that she be more careful getting out of her huge truck so that she didn't fall and break a hip.
Fortunately, what this incident reminds me of and I strive to impress upon my child, is that everyone has unique situations and we should never judge, criticize, or alienate someone just because they have a disability - seen or unseen.
I DO have to remind myself that even though I may walk funny, can't participate in certain activities because of my pain, or have to limit my activities because of the overwhelming fatigue, I AM STILL BEAUTIFUL and you know what, SO ARE YOU! It is hard to not let our disabilities get us down but those same disabilities allow us to see the world in new way and THAT should be celebrated.
Find the BEAUTY in you and see the beauty all around you!
Be Happy, Be Healthy!
Rachel
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