There is a train of thought that if you’ve never known anything different, then it must be easier to live with what you have. In reality, I feel it’s very different.

On the contrary, we live amongst people with abilities, who don’t have a disability. That makes it harder for us, because we see a more perfect normal, when we know for us that can never be.

I have constant reminders lurking from my past. When I was growing up, I was aware that I didn’t walk heel toe like all the other kids. It used to bother me that my shoes wore down differently.

It also bothered me that my father kept telling me to pick my leg and foot up, because I constantly dragged both. He seemed to stand behind me reminding me constantly.

Creating and running  my site has been a tremendous help, being able to explore and understand my experiences in the way they happened, has been the catalyst of me being able to accept certain aspects of my life.

But most importantly are the friendships I have made along the way, with friends who are keen to explore their own difficulties through my blogs.

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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