When someone resonates

I believe it makes a real difference when someone can relate to and clearly understands what we go through.

It happened this week in a conversation that took place about me having Cerebral Palsy and being born in the 1960’s. In the 1960’s in the UK, disability was often brushed under the carpet and totally ignored.

It really is a wonderful feeling when someone identifies and resonates with us on what we deal with and reaffirm all the things we’ve had to deal with. Of course, it doesn’t change how we cope and get on with our life, but it does somehow makes it seem that little bit easier.

Back then, people with a disability were often stigmatised, so were unable to fully take part in mainstream education and employment. That didn’t happen to me, but it would have done had I not been overlooked, so in hindsight that turned out to be a good thing.

Hating Cerebral Palsy isn’t something I constantly think about, but as I continue to make sense of where I am emotionally, my Cerebral Palsy often becomes the catalyst to all my other problems.

At that moment, for that split second; I felt as though someone finally understood my life and how things were for me. I felt exonerated.

27 Dec, 2011

8 thoughts on “When someone resonates

  1. I was lucky. I went to a regular school and did not get teased that much about my CP.

    You are right only someone who has gone through a similar situation could understand about living with a disability.

    That is why this site is so important. It brings like minded people together to share ideas and to help each other out to cope with different situations.

  2. Yes,the 60’s was a time when a lot of things weren’t talked about, so having a disability made things difficult.

    I know how my depression was never fully treated or even discussed, so I have a vague idea of what it would be like.

    I’m just grateful that in this day and age, people are more open in talking about what’s really going with them and in the world.

    1. I totally agree with you on both your points. It’s nice to know there have been some positive changes, particularly where disability is concerned.

      It was a shame for you too dealing with depression, but hope that you’ve made progress. I’m here for you.

  3. Yes it does make us feel better when someone else can really relate to our own problems.

    Type 1 Diabetes in the 1970’s was kind of rare in children so they had no hope of a future for me at all. I had no-one that I knew of with it. I related to Mary Tyler Moore, a famous actress that has it and is chairperson of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation now.

    As a child knowing of a celeb with the same problems as me made me feel better.

    1. Ditto Lisa. Glad you found someone you could relate to, even if it was a celebrity. I know how much that will have helped you emotionally.

      I believe that makes all the difference.

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