I am Happy!

No one has ever said that life is supposed to be easy. Everyone struggles with something, a disability if you will. Humans are not perfect and yet, at some point in our lives, we have all wished that our challenges would just magically disappear. It took me a long time to discover that my challenges are part of what make me, Becca. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people feel sorry for me, simply because I have a physical disability. We live in a world where disability is often viewed in a negative connotation, but it is not a bad thing at all.

In my experience, a disability is only a bad thing if you choose to let it define who you are as an individual. There is no need to feel sorry for me because I am happy. If you were to ask me what my most memorable moment has been, I would say that I have too many to count. Cerebral Palsy hasn't stopped me from enjoying life. As I sat down to write this, I realized that there are three componets that have made my life even better.

1) Love

I know that I would not be the person I am today without the support and encouragement I have received from those around me. My family and friends have helped me through every challenge I have encountered throughout my life. They taught me how to love myself. I think that it is important to focus on the positive aspects in our lives because if we focus only on the negative, we will lose the motivation we need to keep moving forward, even when life proves to be difficult.

2) Fear is the biggest disability of all

We have all experienced fear at some point in our lives. Fear in itself can be crippling. It can hinder us from going out into the world and trying new things. Growing up, one of my biggest fears was that I would never be able to live a normal life because of my physical limitations. I underestimated myself. Looking back on my life, it hard for me to comprehend how much I have been able to accomplish up to this point. I now realize that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to.

3) Laugh at Yourself

I truly believe that laughter is the best coping mechanism. As one of best friends says: " a day without laughter is a day not lived." Laughter has helped me get through some very difficult times in my life. Being able to laugh at myself has also had a positive impact on those around me. When people see that I have embraced my challenges, they find it easier to accept who I am as a person.