My Response When Someone Says They Feel Sorry For Me.

Writing my blog has brought about a host of questions and inquiries for me to ponder. I have learned that no question is a stupid question, and the willingness to provide an answer to people’s questions allows them to see things from a different perspective that maybe they had never thought of before.

The other day, while I was climbing back into my wheelchair after playing with the children that I work with on the playground, a woman came up to me and said, “ If you don’t mind my asking, how long have you been in the chair?”

“ Just about my whole life.”

“Oh”, she said. “ What caused you to be in the wheelchair?”

I then went on to explain that I have Cerebral Palsy, which causes my arms and legs to be tight and stiff making movement and balance a challenge.

Even though I have heard the same response many times before, it still catches me off guard.

“ I’m sorry!”

Her words caught me off guard, because I don’t feel this way. I understand that people might feel sympathy for me, but I don’t want them to.

I don’t expect people to treat me any differently, either. I want to have the same expectations placed on me as everybody else.

There is no reason to feel bad about the fact that I am differently abled. I really don’t know any different. I have had time to adjust and adapt to living in my body and my surroundings.

Truth be told, it does suck sometimes, but in the words of one of my favourite bloggers, "there are parts of everyone’s life that truly just blow."- Shane Burcaw-

The good outweighs the bad. Despite all of the challenges I have encountered, I have so much to be happy about.

I have infinite blessings.

Here is an awesome, thought- provoking video about Shane Burcaw. Feel free to check it out.