yoocan - Gabriela Szypuła - Inspiring? Miserable? How about human?
חיי היומיום וניידות

Inspiring? Miserable? How about human?

חסר תרגום בשפה עברית. מוצגת שפה אנגלית
שיתוק מוחין

Gabriela Szypuła

What do you really mean when you say I'm "inspiring"?

My name is Gabriela, Iโ€™m 25 am I'm from Poland. I was born with Cerebral Palsy (spastic diplegia). Even a few years ago I didnโ€™t think I would be able to say it out loud with confidence, let alone post it on the Internet. Thatโ€™s because I never wanted it to define me, but it took me years to actually believe that itโ€™s just a fact about me. As much as I wish I could say that Iโ€™m grateful for it, I donโ€™t think I ever will. But I am truly grateful for the person it helped me become. For the clarity it allowed me to have about whatโ€™s important. For how it shaped my attitude towards challenges. For everything I achieved despite the difficulties it placed, and continues to place, on my way. For being one of the things which allow me to say that Iโ€™m quite content with the woman I see when I look into the mirror today. And a bit proud of her too.

Fighting for Equality

Butโ€ฆYes, there is a big but. My disability and the physical challenges I deal with do not mean that I am inherently inspiring. I know that when people say โ€œyouโ€™re so inspiring/strong/braveโ€ they generally have good intentions. But, to be honest, I often find it quite patronizing.  I cannot help but notice that people with disabilities are most often portrayed by the media and in public discourse in one of two ways: we are either miserable/tragic or inspirational. But itโ€™s pretty rarely that we are seen as equal, valuable human beings. As people who are capable and who want to have equal chances and live โ€œnormalโ€ lives.

Goals

Thereโ€™s truly nothing I want more than to be treated like the grown, intellectually and emotionally capable woman that I am (and not, as it often happens, like a child). To be able to work outside of home (I currently work from home as an educational content creator and, as much as I enjoy what I do, I would love to do it in a more โ€œinteractiveโ€ environment). To help others as much as I can. Finally, to one day find a partner and start my own family.

I’m human

My goals and dreams are not extraordinary and neither is my life. Itโ€™s all Iโ€™ve ever known and I just want to make the most of it. I have passions, ambitions, strengths and shortcomings. I also happen to have a disability and it doesnโ€™t mean that Iโ€™m inspiring or miserable. Iโ€™m human.

תגיות:

העצימו אחרים!

שתפו את הסיפור הזה כדי לעזור לשנות את חייו של מישהו

ברוכים הבאים ל-YOOCAN

הקהילה מספר 1 בעולם לשיתוף חוויות וידע לאנשים עם מוגבלויות, כך שאף אחד לא ירגיש שהוא לבד. יחד אנחנו יכולים לעשות כל דבר!

על ידי יצירת חשבון אתם מסכימים לתנאי השימוש ื•ืœמדיניות פרטיות.