This is the Day Where I Finally Realize...

[SophiaGrace]

that how other people view me because of my disability is NOT my fault.

I didn't realize i was internalizing how other people felt about me until now, thinking that it was my fault that they saw me as subhuman, that it was my fault that they were uncomfortable being around me, that it was my fault that people didn't want to be around me because of how I looked.

But, that is not my fault.

That is their fault, not mine.

I'm glad I can move past this now and realize that i am not subhuman because of my disability, that i am not of lower worth because of it.

I do admit it does make me feel kind of pissed off towards them though. Pissed off and bitter.

I do wonder if their aversion to me has evolutionary basis. Like, if in prehistoric times if a prson saw someone that was disabled, they would be less likely to be attracted to them, thus keeping the gene pool more healthy. Or, they felt aversion because the person might be sick, and it was their instincts way of preserving them.

Either way it's still not my fault.

Your thoughts would be appreciated on this matter.

 

[Luna]

Wth! I can't even believe the very thought of YOU - Miss SophiaGrace - ever even believed or even faulted yourself with the wild thought that you are subhuman!

You are in no way of less value because of your disability!
I'm glad you know that now - but I always thought you knew all along that it's you that's not the problem and you're awesome the way you are.
You're cute, funny, intelligent, knowledgeable, strong-minded and am so much more than your disability.
It's like a pebble in an ocean in the grande scheme of things...you have so much more ELSE going on for you.

Truth is, some people will always have a snobbish, piss-poor attitude (Ex. A recent thread (of mine) about how my now ex-friend who wanted to only be seen with people that meet the media's standards of beauty etc."); these people are obviously superficial and not worth any decent person's time.

I just want to point out though that if a person acts strangely around you - it's not always because they think they're better than you.
Do not make the assumption that a person is looking down on you unless they've proved it to be true. Sometimes, the person may be unsure as to how to respond to such a thing that is new or different to them. Combine that with the possibility that the person with the disability may not want it to be acknowledged...however, it may also could be that the person may actually be excited to raise awareness and share information to us who are ignorant!
I think if I were a stranger and walked up to you and started yapping off and firing questions...you'd think I was a ******* because well, I'm not communicating properly to you. How would I know unless I were informed?

I recall one incident where a relative of mine opened the door for a man in a wheelchair...he was so, so, so hurt. He was so upset. He was brought to tears and was yelling because he thought my relative was looking down at him! It wasn't the case! Most people - out of common courtesy - hold the door for the person behind us. If not, holy smokes...there'd be lots of broken noses! But you see - the way that he viewed himself negatively impacted how he THOUGHT others viewed him.

I think it's easy to jump to the wrong conclusions so try not to do so.
If a person has a problem/ is a jerk - move on.
It's the same for everyone else really...we could be disliked for a plethora of trivial reasons, but the important part is to focus on the people that like us the way we are.

 

[IgnoredOne]

Congratulations. Your grace in the face of aversity makes you stronger, not weaker. Every day will be better now.

 

[nerdygirl]

Pft. The only problem I have with your disability is how guilty it makes me feel for not knowing sign language. At least the odds are kinda slim that we'll be hanging out in person for me to really need it!

 

[SofiasMami]

Good for you Sophia! I think half of the world's problems would be solved if everyone had the same attitude as you. There's no reason to let others define and write the book on who we are and then take ownership of others' poor attitudes and ignorance.

Teresa

 

[SkuzzieMuff]

People are ****. I can understand their mating instincts, okay whatever, but that shouldn't keep you from making friends. I'm disappointed to hear that you ever thought it was your fault, that's like blaming yourself for being born, it makes no sense. But I'm glad that you've come to terms with it, and you know that you can point the finger at the morons that are passing up their chance to meet an amazing person because they don't "like" your "looks". I can empathize with you, though I understand the extra difficulty in your situation. I think you're an amazing person, you're brilliant, and if people can't see that beauty that could shine through a thick black fog, that's their problem.
I hope that came off as flattering as it's supposed to be, but I tend to be really bad with this ****. :/

 

[Callie]

Good for you, soph. That's an amazing thing to realize.

The only fault you may have is that you let it bother you. What other people think is none of your business. Remember that, it'll take you a long way in the right direction

 

[Limlim]

I dunno I always thought you were cute. Their loss.

 

[Doubt The Rabbit]

I dunno I always thought you were cute. Their loss.

Agreed.

 

[Callie]

I dunno I always thought you were cute. Their loss.

Agreed.

what they said

 

[VanillaCreme]

I find that a lot of people with disabilities think this way. My mom, for example, since she became sick, and is now in a wheelchair, she believes she's less of a person. She also has said she thinks that me and my brother don't care about her or want to be around because of it. And it's simply not true. She thinks we're embarrassed by it, and we're not. Her being sick or in a wheelchair doesn't embarrass us.

 

[Peter Lorre]

I'm glad you started to feel this way, as you are so much more than just a person with a disability. People should learn to look passed this, as they'll discover a friendly and intelligent person.

On disability in Prehistoric times: a professor once told me that even in Prehistoric times, certain tribes took good care of their wounded and disabled. He backed this up with findings from Prehistoric graves, where they discovered the skeletons of adult men with disabilities sustained at a very early age/birth.