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On World CP 2020 I have 20 lessons for my younger self and reminders for my present/future self.
1. Keep laughing. CP is one of the more entertaining disabilities out there. Never stop looking for the humor in the good and bad moments. Learn how to get people to laugh with you.
2. Thank your parents. You may clash with them from time to time, but they're your biggest supporters and advocates and will always be in your corner. Your mom won't let anyone (including you) tell her what you can't do.
3) Your Physios are Your Friends. They may seem like enemies now, but all those exercises and stretches will help you in the long run and you'll miss it when you hit 18 and lose the consistent funding.
4) You can be an athlete. You'll find your sport and even though you'll never be a star, it'll open more doors for you than anything else.
5) Listen to your body. You'll have pain everyday but being macho won't help anything. Rest when you need to and learn when something's wrong. Don't walk around on a torn ACL or wheel with a numb arm for a month because "it's just spasticity" It's not!
6) Fall with your hands out. Your folks were right, all those falls on your knees will do damage. If you're going down, yell Timber and throw your hands out.
7) Challenge Ableism. Keep educating people and pushing for a more equitable world, ask questions and learn how to become more inclusive and intersectional in your language and actions.
8) Become your own advocate. Ask questions about everything. Ask your doctor about the pros and cons of each surgery, ask your university about what accommodations you need, challenge your camp counselors about strange rules. Each experience will help.
9) Disability isn't a bad word. Be proud of your disabled identity and your palsy power. Own it and use its power. Be an unapologetic cripple and make people question their assumptions in real-time.
10) It's ok to have bad days. Life with CP isn't all fun and games. You'll have tough days where you'll be mad, sad and/or frustrated. Feel those feelings and acknowledge when it's a struggle.
11) Make that move for school. Don't doubt yourself just do it. You might not feel like you belong there, but you do and you'll meet so many people that prove it you each day.
12) Give back! Be the person who you needed someone to me. Help the next generation. You don't have to be perfect or have all the answers, but you can help them see a future for themselves while still figuring out yours.
13) Love your friends and let them in!
You'll be blessed with many people who will want to be around you, support you or even just hang out. Each of these relationships is a chance to learn more and make memories. Cherish them.
You'll be blessed with many people who will want to be around you, support you or even just hang out. Each of these relationships is a chance to learn more and make memories. Cherish them.
14) Find Mentors. Quads are your friends! They will teach so much about how to live your life and how to adapt to different environments.
15) Alcohol isn't a cure. Yes, it's muscle relaxant but it also takes out what little balance you have to begin with. Be responsible and learn when to cut yourself off.
16) Accept Help, This is a hard one, but don't feel that you have to go it alone to be independent. Lean on your friends and lean on your family. They'll want to help and being stubborn can end up being selfish.
17) Walking isn't everything. It's a nice privilege to have and it'll get you out of a few accessibility jams but it's not all it's cracked to be. That wheelchair that you've been looking at will give you more freedom than your cane ever could.
18) Find Outlets. On the bad days it can be easy to slip into depression and you will once or twice. Look for healthy outlets for when the frustration becomes too much. Hit something in your rugby chair, lose yourself in a novel, binge watch three hours of HIMYM.
19) Ask that girl out. You're not as ugly as you think you are and it could lead to a really nice relationship that will teach you a lot because god knows you've got a lot to learn.
20) Love Yourself. This is the big one and the hardest one. It'll take effort and work every day but you need to do it to be happy. You don't have to prove anything to the world, Some people might still hate you but you shouldn't be one of them. Spasm proudly.
