People often say, "Walk a mile in my shoes," as a way of asking for understanding. But before anyone else can truly understand us, we must first learn to stand in our own shoes. That's something I've had to teach myself through self-reflection and spirituality.
I'm not sure, given my experiences, anyone would have volunteered to walk in my shoes. Had I known everything I know now, I would have opted for something easier. It's been a hard life.
The CP Diary has made it easier.
There was a time when I measured myself against expectations that were never built for the life I was living. My cerebral palsy and autism went unrecognised for years, leaving me to question myself rather than the assumptions around me.
Like many people, I spent too long trying to fit into a version of life that wasn't my own.
Writing has changed that.
What began as a search for answers became a conversation with myself. Through writing, I found the language to connect experiences that had once felt isolated. Reflection brought understanding, and understanding brought acceptance.
"The CP Diary is my language with myself – it is who I am."
The diary does more than document my life; it helps me to understand it. Every piece I write deepens my awareness of who I am.
Standing in my own shoes means living from that understanding. It means no longer defining myself by misunderstanding, labels, or other people's expectations. It means trusting myself.
This is not simply a story about a disability or diagnosis. It's about identity. We all inherit expectations about who we should be, but authenticity begins when we stop living someone else's version of our lives. It's something I've had to learn how to do.
Standing in your own shoes is an act of self-respect. It's choosing truth over approval, understanding over comparison, and authenticity over conformity.
For me, that is the ethos of The CP Diary.
It's where I continue to stand tall and stay in my story – so that I can help others also.
