| "Luck" |
| by Natalie Abbott |
| Luck! Is it unfortunate that I was born with a disability called Moebius Syndrome that halfway paralyzes my facial muscles? Should I spend the rest of my life focusing on the "what if" and not on the present? I am who I am due in large part because of being born where I was born, to whom I was born, and in my case, what I was born with. Many people do not like to say that your disability shapes who you are, but I strongly believe that I would not be the person I was if I had been born "Normal" (whatever normal may be). Of course, I become frustrated with myself, but there are much worse things in life than only having half of a smile and talking different. People with disabilities tend to spend more time focusing on what we cannot do, or that we have a hard time doing, almost to the extent that we forget how lucky we are! There are so many things that I am able to do . write for the school newspaper, ride horses, perform well academically, get up every morning without fear of violence . that I have every right to feel lucky every moment of every day! To a certain extent, luck is what you make of it. Example: last week, I had a barium swallow test. basically got x-rayed while eating this nasty white stuff that tasted like chalk (not that I've ever eaten chalk, but I can only imagine.). Back on track. the test basically showed nothing new, and I tasted barium for the rest of the day. Now what is positive about that? I got to get out of school early, eat a nice lunch out, and learned that I don't have more medical problems to worry about. The previous anecdote was just an example. there is something positive that can be extracted from every experience, no matter how awful it was at the time it happened! There are so many life lessons that I would not have been able to learn if I had not had the many unique and interesting experiences due, in part, to having Moebius Syndrome. This makes me different, and I am proud of that difference. I have much more wisdom to share with the world than somebody who has not had my wealth of experiences. And someday, the world will see me through my own eyes. |