You Are Your Own Hero

Because we are human, there isn’t one person in the world who doesn’t have some sort of handicap, impediment, insecurity, or “imperfection.” When I learned about ADHD, I realized I had several symptoms of it, especially as a child. It would have helped greatly to know how to deal with it, but at the same time, it could have become a debilitating mental crutch. Thinking, “It’s because I’m … ADHD inattentive type that I can’t do what others can,” it would have kept me shackled in its grip. However, by not knowing, even though it made me feel like I was not as smart as everyone else, it also made me work harder to catch up to them; no excuses to fall back on.

I had a blind girl named Maria in my class during elementary school. I pitied and was really sad for her at first, because loving the beauty and colors of nature I couldn’t imagine living in darkness my entire life. However, as I got to know her, she was no different from any other girl and wanted to be treated the same. Her attitude was, “Even though I’m … blind, I can still do and feel almost everything just as well as anyone else can. I just see in a different way.” I was deeply impressed and inspired by her courageous and confident attitude. It is the same when I see people pushing through in the special or paralympic games; where there’s a will, there’s a way. We just have to find the will.

From the wisdom of Chinese philosopher Laozi, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” From none other than Helen Keller, “Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world.”

How often do you think, “It’s because I’m ____ that I can’t…” ? Try saying, “Even though I’m ____, I can …” and see how it changes your character and destiny.