The word “best” is often associated with many things in life. Best house. Best car. Best friend. The list is seemingly endless. We all have our opinions about what the best things in the world are. Or what we think the next best thing will be.
Whatever we attach to that word, however, has a tendency to become an expectation. We expect that person, place or thing to always be a certain way – and make us think or feel a certain way in the process. We often stumble upon something that tests our claims about what we think the ultimate “best” truly is. When we’re proven wrong, we can either deny it or find a way to make the situation better.
I’ve always looked at myself as a normal person. I don’t think my cerebral palsy makes me “special”, and I refuse to carry myself in such a manner. While I put my heart and soul into everything I do, I’d like to think I’m no different than anyone else who’s trying to live a decent life. I’m also aware that dealing with cerebral palsy is a part of my everyday life. I don’t see it as something out of the ordinary or an obstacle I have to overcome because it’s always going to stay with me. It is, however, a vital, substantial part of my existence – just like writing is.
I might be a good writer, but being good doesn’t give me the right to gloat or force people to read a single word I write. Nor do I have the right to make others feel the same way I do. Or make them think my circumstances alone make me worthy of any kind of praise.
I began to pay a lot more attention to how I carried myself as I entered adulthood. I also thought about the message I was sending through my actions, and what impact it had on others.
I was on the cusp of starting the second half of my Bachelor’s degree in college, but other things outside of my academics were bubbling to the surface.
I started to sense that what I was doing resonated with people. Some stopped to take a second glance. Others told me, “I hope you know you inspire me!” I’d be driving my wheelchair down the hall on my way to class when this would happen – or strategically maneuvering my chair so I could fit through a door halfway open. People were kind enough to stop and help, but it felt strange – yet quite flattering – being called an inspiration for doing things that weren’t outside the range of my capabilities.
I didn’t know how to react or respond at first. I was simply trying to get through college and make the most of it along the way. It wasn’t my initial goal to motivate or inspire anyone, but I slowly realized it was a built-in responsibility. As long as I remained consciously aware, I was going to use it for something good and positive.
In the midst of all this, I joined the staff of Penn State Altoona’s newspaper – which proved to be another big step in the right direction. Everyone – my peers, classmates, and professors were still stopping me in hallways on campus. Now, however, were calling my writing inspirational. I was shocked and humbled at the same time. It never occurred to me I might have done something someone else deemed inspirational.
Someone stopped me again and said, “You’re the best writer this newspaper has had in years!” I now knew I had done something truly powerful, and the things that made me unique had nothing to do with my physical circumstances.
I was so used to doing everything with the extra weight of my disability attached to it. This wasn’t anything new, but I guess people looked at my life from a different angle – and still do. Maybe they say to themselves, ‘If she can live life and still overcome her obstacles, so can I.’
I had the respect I had always hoped to earn, along with the strong but gentle friends I thought I’d never have. Now, however, it was more about keeping this momentum going than anything else.
When you have momentum on your side, do everything you can to keep it. It will be what motivates you when nothing else does. Most importantly, it will help you get to the top of whatever mountain you’re climbing.
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Photo by Ash from Modern Afflatus on Unsplash