Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Your Journey Matters




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I wasn't planning on writing about this today, but I saw two things that led me in this direction.

This blog is filled with stories about how I'm not the perfect recipient of a child with Down syndrome. I guarantee that I am not more patient than you. I am certainly not nicer than you. I didn't set out to be an advocate. I am not more special than any other mother. You can go ahead and believe that I'm chosen if that helps you get through the day.

Down syndrome is random. It can happen to anyone at any age.

And like any other randomly-occurring thing, sometimes a hand is dealt to someone that isn't prepared to have their world rocked.

They may cry.

For a long time.

They may go through all of the stages of grief because, to them, it feels like a loss.

I admire the people that take an unexpected diagnosis like a champ. Really, I do.

But that wasn't me. And I know that it isn't at least a few other people either.

So let's take some time today to respect every journey.

If I'm talking to you, you're going to be ok.

I am. You will be, too. It may take time and that's fine. You'll get there. If you need to talk, I'm right here.

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Gillian elaborates on this point well here.

And if you feel like spending fourteen minutes trying to look unaffected while the lump in your throat starts to burn, leading you into an ugly cry, like I did, watch this:







3 comments:

Me ;-) said...

I love that concept . . . respect every journey ;-)

ckbrylliant said...

Yes, every journey is different. But I believe we all have events in our lives that will rock us to our core. For me that happened before Ds and therefore hearing Ds was not such a big deal. I love hearing ALL of the stories and relating to the raw pain that all of us have or will feel in our life. It makes us human, it makes us the same.

Though, Ds did not rock me to my core it has shaken up my contents and forced me into the wild unknown. My journey has changed and I feel whole for the first time in my life.

Plus I get to meet people like you along the way. Great post topic!

Molly said...

So so wonderful. I'm not crying. I'm NOT.