I have stared death down and won.<\/p>\n
I have accomplished things they said I couldn’t.<\/p>\n
I have exceeded expectations of success.<\/p>\n
I have proven that limits are nothing more than guidelines, that aren’t rigid and are ment to be tested.<\/p>\n
I have done all of this inspite of a TBI- that is traumatic brain injury for those who are curious to know-<\/p>\n
I have done all of this inspite of not always knowing what letters jumbled together in a space on paper mean.<\/p>\n
I have done all of this inspite of a headache with migraine proportions on a daily and continual basis.<\/p>\n
I have done my best to mask or hide my illness to make you comfortable.<\/p>\n
I have pretended all was well, when it simply wasn’t, to participate in your world.<\/p>\n
Those who know my story call me Wonder woman, a miracle- magic, even.<\/p>\n
For those that don’t, I’d like to introduce you to someone, who is fast becoming my best friend-<\/p>\n
And that is The Americans With Disabilities Act-<\/p>\n
Because obviously,\u00a0 you need to know that you can’t require me to push myself beyond the limits of my capabilities-<\/p>\n
And telling me to memorize these lines in order to participate, is discrimination in fact.<\/p>\n
And just so you know, I don’t have to explain what ails me so, just because your eyes are closed and you’re blind to what everyone else already knows.<\/p>\n
I have already decided that I am great- and this is true whether you agree or not.<\/p>\n
I don’t wear a Cape, can’t change water into wine and I will never levitate…<\/p>\n
But I am magic just the same<\/p>\n
And this time, I’m refusing to play this game.<\/p>\n
I must take a stand for others like me, whose voice hasn’t been found.<\/p>\n
Every disability isn’t seen and some come with no sound.<\/p>\n
And while I’m on this warpath of advocacy, let me just take a moment to remind you of some poetry greatness, who never memorized a line and always had a stand handy-<\/p>\n
Their poems neatly waiting to be read to crowds of thousands from near and far…<\/p>\n
Maya Angelou, name, name, name never memorized a stanza, yet performed to sold out stadiums and intimate settings- would you demand of them what you are of me?<\/p>\n
We are all great in our own right.<\/p>\n
Don’t take away from the things I have done, because they don’t fit into the circle of norm you have imagined or created.<\/p>\n
This time, I will not be abated.<\/p>\n
I will not let your words of sugar and syrup force me to be great outside of what I am capable.<\/p>\n
This time, I will read from my book and not be ashamed of what my brain simply cannot do.<\/p>\n
This time, I will collect what is due.<\/p>\n
I am Wonder Woman.<\/p>\n
I will yield this magic lasso of truth<\/p>\n
And you will soon see it too.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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