Fireworks!

On Canada Day, we travelled to Granum to watch fireworks. They were amazing and, I got to spend some quality time with my brother and sister, which was a bonus. As we watched the array of bright colors spread across the night sky, I could not help but think about how life can be so much like fireworks. Both have the power to make us feel different emotions. They can leave us feeling happy and excited, but both can also leave us feeling uncertain because we have no idea what will happen next. I have learned that even though life is not always easy and it leaves me feeling uncertain sometimes, there is one thing that I know for sure. It doesn't matter what I am going through eventually everything will turn out for the better.

This past week marked a year since I graduated from high school. Looking back, it is hard to believe all that has happened in such a short period of time. In the months leading up to graduation, I set a goal to walk across the stage to recieve my high school diploma with fore- arm crutches. I worked for eight months teaching myself and training my body to walk with crutches. There were many times where I doubted myself, wondering if I was crazy for even making the decision to set out and achieve this goal. There were also certain people who skeptical that I would be able to turn this dream into a reality. I was so scared that I was going to fail. I told myself that if I did fall, it would be a great testament to everyone in the audience that if we fall in life we should get right back up again and keep moving foward, no matter what challenges we are facing. Sometimes, the idea of giving up seems much eaiser than to keep moving foward because we are afraid of what might happen if we choose to keep going. However, life has also taught me that if we give up in the midst of a challenge, it ultimately hinders us from enjoying all of the wonderful gifts that life has to offer. I accomplished my goal of walking across the stage to get my diploma without falling because I chose to keep going, despite feeling nervous and uncertain. And, it turned out to be one of the happiest days of my life.

I came across a quote by Theodore Rossevelt this week and, I thought I would share it with you all.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Having Cerebral Palsy has taught me to never give up on my dreams because, even though life can be unexpected, we will never know what would have happened if we gave it a try.