Well...
Im terrified, I do not know what will happen, nor do I know how well it will go. I will meet people I do not know, I will encounter situations that could be sketchy, and I could even run into trouble with less than savory folks. What am I talking about? Me and my trusty Fedora are setting out on a journey that makes all my previous journeys look so very tiny. Also, Im not talking about what others have done... Not that what they have accomplished is anything less than fantastical. I along with my handy Fedora will set out, by foot, on a journey across the United States and as I journey, I look forward to showing the world that those with Disabilities are not any less capable. How? By shining a light on amazing accomplishments of those who are disabled and/or those who work with those with disabilities I meet along the way.
How on Earth am I going to do this? I actually do not really know how. I am, at this point, going to pick a start point, I am going to set my direction, and let the rest happen all on its very own. I will walk, I will hitchhike, I will camp, and do a lot of pondering. So why... why me?
I myself have faced tremendous struggles of my own from being hit by a drunk driver that caused me some PTSD, I have lost my brother in an accident that to this day struggle with, I wish I would have been there to maybe save him. I also have my own disability. Depression, anxiety, and other stresses that are no less or no more, challenging than physical disabilities.
Im facing my fears, taking on a world that generally stigmatizes disabilities, and I am doing this all without support in the beginning. I do not know what will come of my journey, I do know that it will not be a simple saunter across the country and thats it. I am going to go where fate takes me. No planned route, just... that way. I will welcome anyone who wishes to wander with me, I will encourage people to reevaluate their perception of those with disabilities all the while reevaluating my own outlook on my life and how my disabilities play a role in my life. As of now, I am not in control of my disability, it is firmly in control of me.
This journey is in part about me breaking the bonds that bind me, the bonds that hold me back, cause me fear and anxiety, and just all around tie me up and bind me beyond any movement. Also, I hope to break some, if not a huge amount or better yet, all the stigma of disabilities. So many people know so little. The media does not really help in a lot of ways, they seem to not mind all that much that portraying a person who is experiencing a psychological episode tends to cause people to assume that must be what it is like for everyone who fights disabilities of the mental variety.
Gosh, Im scared to death. I don't know anyone, I actually have so little support, and it feels absolutely freezing to me. I am going to push on though, one step at a time, forward, forward... forward.
I hope as I journey, not only can I reconcile my own life, but I can set people with or without disabilities on a path that helps them reconcile their own journey. WE all live on this third rock from the sun and its only going to get smaller... its never to soon to start sharing a message of more acceptance, love, kindness, and progress.
I'm starting at a cold time of the year but I am ok with that. I will start in the southern parts of the country and press on from there. I imagine some conversations I have early on may be a bit awkward at first but I hope it catches on. Im planning now, got my pack, a tent, a sleeping bag for cold nights, and a mission. The rest, I will let fate fill in the blanks. From coast to coast, border to border, and anywhere the road... fate... takes me... there is where I will go.
I hope my journey lasts at least a year and I can cross the country at least twice spreading my goal of bringing an end to disability stigmas and an end to my own fear, isolation, and cold.
Why Fedora? because... why not? Its a fun hat and maybe, a great ice breaker?
So... if you see me trekking along and I got my handy Fedora on, stop and lets chat, give me a lift, and maybe I can change your life and maybe you can help save me as I trek across our mighty nation... as I wander... just me and my fedora with a message of acceptance, hope, love, sharing, and strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment