1.) The little things that affected my life in such a big way, weren’t really important to begin with. They were all just preconceived notions that I let hold power over me.
2.) A world in which disability is accepted in all forms is not quite achieved, it’s sad really, and I had never thought of it prior to my accident which further proves my point. As a “normal” walking, talking human being you never really stops and thinks about how the world treats others unless it immediately affects you, such as having a child, a mother, or a father with a disability. Taking into consideration that there are so many wonderful advantages of being free of disability that you aren’t thinking twice about how little things are done for people who have a disability. For instance, in February of this year, The House passed legislation that would amend the Americans With Disability Act that, if passed, will create a world in which ramps, handicap accessible parking, motorized shopping carts, automatic door buttons, handicap accessible movie theater seating and so much more are not required of businesses.
3.) PTSD is real. It’s not some kind of fiction only portrayed in movies. And it not only affects people who have been/are in the military. It’s a real-life thing that takes a toll on anyone who has suffered through a traumatic event and it is not fun, at all.
4.) You will always have a purpose. Living life pre-amputation, I never really thought of myself as someone who had a purpose. Which more than likely contributed to my psychological downfall and hatred for myself – leading me down paths that weren’t suitable for, well, anyone. The thing is, is that throughout life you will have a purpose, multiple purposes. My purpose now is to raise a beautiful, brilliant, and kind little girl, it’s to finish school, to counsel and reach out to those who need/want it, it’s to be there for my family, my purpose is to make the world a better place for people with disabilities, to work towards a cause, and to bring happiness into the lives of others, just as others have done for me. It is hard, to think that even after you’ve lost so much that you still have a purpose, but you do, maybe even a greater range of purpose than you had before.
5.) Family is everything. Family – a word that can describe those who have fought for you, who have loved you, who have been there for you. People who don’t have the same genetics as you, people who were born into different families, yet somehow, they found you out of the billions of people in the world and chose you to love and cherish. Family is a community that comes together to pray over you, to show you the light that hope brings. Family is life’s necessity, don’t take it for granted.
6.) To be grateful. I was never grateful. I took things for granted and took advantage of the good deeds that were done for me. Be grateful. It’s hard not to be when you can’t physically wipe your own butt, yet. It is such a rewarding feeling being grateful for the things that others do for you, showing gratitude to others gives them the appreciation that they deserve and it’s also a sure-fire way to let them know that they are needed, that they also have a purpose. Kindness goes a long way, it’s contagious – traveling from one person to the next, so far that it spans out over the world and what is left is a beaming map of light.