We may look different...

but we're not

Published on August 6, 2004 By Sally jacobs In Misc

I have done things over the years I am not proud of, as we all have. Or I have had certain viewpoints that have changed overtime as I've grown as a person, and learnt better. When I was a very young child, I had a 'thing' against handicapped people. People who looked different to me, who acted different. I had a fear of them I guess. I was a kid though, I didn't know any better. I have since learnt alot about this, but I do remember one story that sticks in my mind. There used to be this little boy who I saw every night when I was walking home from school with my Mum. Now this boy was deaf, no big deal right? Except this boy had deformed ears. They were kind of tangled up. I don't really know the correct terminology to use here, so I don't mean to be rude. Now I didn't want to go near this boy. Because he was different. My Mum used to stop and talk to his Dad, and I used to squirm until we could get away. One day we was walking home, and my Mum was giving me a speech about how though he looked different, he was no different to her or me and I should give this boy a chance. I blatantly refused, and in my own childish manner, declared I was never going to look at him again. So when walking past his house, and I saw him, I firmly looked in the opposite direction, and went marching on. Good plan, huh. Except, because I wasn't looking where I was going, I walked right into this boy as he was crossing my path. We collided. I was so embarrassed, and he looked rather bewildered, as I think I looked close to tears. My Mum said that should teach me a lesson. It certainly did. Ever since then I never had a problem with him. Not that I should. Who said banging your head against a brick wall doesn't work?

When my sister was pregnant with Maddy Mae, she had to have a test to see if there what the chances of Madison being Down Syndrome was. My sister was so worried about this test. Declaring she wouldn't be able to cope if it came out that there was a high chance that Madsion could be. I didn't understand all her worry, I really didn't. You see I have a very good friend who has a down syndrome baby called Daniel. Not that we think of him as Down Syndrome. He's just Daniel. My friend has had a hard time, with him to learning things. He isn't very strong, and his eye sight is pretty poor. She is blessed though. She says it just makes him all the more special. It doesn't take away from anything, everything he achieves is that more special. She doesn't love him any less. He's just her special little boy. I guess we are all special to our Mums huh.

Which leads me to the inspiration of this blog. Lin and Ralph. There is a documentary on about them soon, which is described here;

Real Life: Lin and Ralph - A Love Story

Documentary about 54-year-old wheelchair user Lin Berwick, who has been blind since the age of 15 and had cerebral palsy since birth, and her husband Ralph, now aged 70, who has recently been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. Film-maker Marilyn Gaunt follows the couple through a particularly difficult period of their lives as they struggle to keep their charitable organisation afloat, try to figure out a way to keep living independently as their health deteriorates and take up a legal battle against an airline whose manhandling allegedly worsened Lin's condition.

They may look different, but one things gets them through everything. Love. It's that simple. They have so many problems, health issues, disabilities. Yet their love for each other gets them through it. It makes them that bit more determined. They laugh together, talk to each other, they make each other happy. Soon they won't be able to play off each others strengths, soon someone will have to come and help them. I think it's beautiful, how they've almost become one person, just by supporting each other. Love gets you through anything huh. They go through everyday things anyone else do, they just have added challenges. We all may look different, but the fundamental things are the same. It took me a while to learn that, but I'm glad I did

Comments

Janders

on Aug 06, 2004

Beautiful Sally, just beautiful....

Sally jacobs

on Aug 07, 2004

*blushes* Thanks Janders.

WiseFawn

on Aug 07, 2004

Another lovely post. Love can be a miracle worker. Sometimes just a smile,a kind word, or a bit of encouragement can change a person's world.

Sally jacobs

on Aug 07, 2004

Sometimes just a smile,a kind word, or a bit of encouragement can change a person's world.

It certainly can. It takes so little effort, but means so much. People forget the simple things in life. I'm glad you liked it, thanks WF

WiseFawn

on Aug 07, 2004

You are welcome. I did.

The Crusaders

on Aug 24, 2004

Sally,
I love reading what you have to say it's always very insightful!

What makes people so interesting are our diversities and differences.....can you imagine the world if we were all clones of each other....shudder........how mind numbingly boring would life be?! And though people born with disabilities and handicaps can have certain disadvantages they still lead happy and fulfilled lives and are valued members of society who love and want to be loved and deserve to live as any other being on Earth. I think we all need to all drop the angst to be perfect in an unatainable sense.

Sally jacobs

on Aug 24, 2004

I love reading what you have to say it's always very insightful!

*blushes* Thanks...

What makes people so interesting are our diversities and differences.....can you imagine the world if we were all clones of each other....shudder........how mind numbingly boring would life be?!

I couldn't agree more. We'd never evolve if we were all just stuck in the same place!

I think we all need to all drop the angst to be perfect in an unatainable sense.

I see what you're saying, some levels of perfection are ok though!

The Crusaders

on Aug 24, 2004

Sally,
You know...it's a shame we can be so blind to the obvious in life.....one of the greatest examples is how we judge each other by an outer shell that doesn't really show who we are as our thoughts, words and actions do. I think we do that because it is concrete...solid......we can caress a face.. an arm....run our fingers through hair....look into eyes and touch lips to sweet tender lips..........and we are physical beings so it makes sense for us to behave this way. But for our next level of evolution to take place we have to begin the task of shedding these values and looking inside others to their mind, soul and spirit. Only then will we find peace and freedom.

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