Be nice because you can. Be nice because you would want others to be nice to you and because being nice strengthens relationships and it's the right thing to do. There is no getting away from my mental and emotional struggles, my disability. There was always expectation, and no appreciation on the things I struggled with. That's not nice.

Mentally and Emotionally Disabled

I am more mentally and emotionally disabled than I am physically. Where someone with normal thinking can rationale and things stay within the ‘normal’ range, nothing stays within the ‘normal range’ for me.

Anxiety and Bad Thoughts

As a child, I struggled with anxiety and bad thoughts. My mum was aware I did, because she'd sit with me before bed. I remember those struggles because they carried through to my adult years AND never left.

We should want to help

We should want to help and understand, and not make our mental and emotional struggles about others. As parents that isn't what you do. Many children have that too. Looking back, with the help, my anxiety and bad thoughts could have been reduced.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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4 comments on “Just be Nice”

  1. I'm a nice guy, but I used to be much nicer until something changed. I guess my concern for my dignity had something to do with it, since being a nice guy can be grossly misunderstood.

    But I'd like to remain nice and not let this world get under my skin.

    1. Thanks Tim. Whilst life changes us and we're hardened through childhood experiences, it is important we understand and allow for spiritual growth.

      People will always see what they want to see in us. It makes them less accountable, but the universe knows us.

      You make a valid point in your last paragraph. Seeing what goes on in the world, others making decisions for us can be the reason we change.

      Change from being bad is good, but changing from good to bad is disastrous. People do spiral down, through their inability to cope with life sometimes.

      Whilst experiences do change us, it is important we don't let 'this world get under our skin.' Thank you for reminding us.

  2. Isn't it just nice to be nice? It's the decent and respectful thing to do.

    Unfortunately our world is full of ignorance, greed and selfishness and it's hard to be nice to anyone displaying those traits, as they are undeserving.

    1. Thanks. Yes, it is, but it's not what we have. Where you say, 'our world is full of ignorance, greed and selfishness' - no matter what we deal with and it starts with families, they must be helpful, supportive and 'nice.'

      Being 'nice' must start with family and work outwards. No matter what stress any of us carry, it is important we all continue to be nice.

      When you look at what is happening in society, it is clear that is not what we always have.

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