"Growing up with a disability I didn't know I had, meant I was different. Dealing with being different, wasn't easy. With skirts on, you could physically see I was different, how I mentally and emotionally presented also made me different.
But through my blog, years on being different has brought about a source of connection and belonging that has changed my perceptions on how people see me, around my disability and my lack of abilities.
I know what it is like to be judged. I know what it feels like to be an outsider. I know what it is like to be different and wanting to fit in. It's taken me time to work things out, but I don't need to fit in, or belong.
What we all want is to be understood. We want to be heard, for others to listen and to understand. Through my blog, my writing and understanding, I have invited readers to also understand for themselves. As I take pride in what has made me different, I am finding more hidden values in being different."
You are a role model for us all. It’s an enormous relief when we can be ourselves. Much more fun being you than worrying what people will think about you.
We should all let our true self shine through and find genuine peace and happiness.
That's kind, thank you. Yes, I think it's important to be ourselves, but we must also take others into consideration too, so that we're more selfless than selfish.
It's what makes the world go round. Being ourselves allows us to find inner peace and happiness, us not having to be what others want us to be.
Yes, you have definitely been a power of example to me. I spent most of my life knowing that I was different and trying to figure out how to deal with it.
My issues weren't quite as obvious, but being intelligent and having mental health issues has worked against me. It has taken me a long time to become comfortable with being different, since I was brainwashed as a kid to do what was expected, so I fitted in.
People don't have any idea of what I'm really like, since I don't advertise being different, but I'm no longer ashamed of that fact anymore.
Thanks Randy. Yes, embrace you being different. It's not a stigma, it's a stigma if we choose to see it as one. The right people will stick around.
I couldn't be happier being who I am, with my difficulties. I think people, society and the world must come together through our differences.