I am NOT Your Inspiration!

I have lost count of how many times I have been told that I am an inspiration. The word itself makes me cringe, not just because of the amount of times that I have heard it, but because of how and why it is used. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, May is Canadian Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Just the other day, I got asked, if you would want people to know one thing about CP, what would it be?

I want you to know that having Cerebral Palsy does not make me inspiration, or in the words of Zach Anner, (my favorite comedian), “CP does not mean that I am inherently inspiring.” I realize that when people call me inspirational, they truly do have good intentions, but really, I am just ordinary.

Apart from having to use a wheelchair and walker to get around, my life is not all that different from yours. In fact, it is similar to that of any other twenty-year-old. I have an amazing job, a passion for participating in sports and writing, and I love spending time with my friends and family. I shouldn’t be congratulated or commended for living my life the way I do. It’s not special. I am not special. I have my challenges, but who doesn’t? Just because I have Cerebral Palsy does mean that I have an excuse not to do those things. I am just a girl living life. There is nothing remarkable, special or inspiring about that.