I’m Samantha, and I have CP. So, what!
Do you have a disability? There’s lots of kinds. Temper, impatience, arrogance, poor-listening, over-talking, laziness, excuse-making, complaining, lack of acceptance, bias, prejudice, addiction, unfaithfulness, lust, you pick it!
Now that we’ve established that we each and all have a disability, let’s get down to earth.
Our job, is, like it or not, to overcome whatever it is that limits us, but in no way defines the essence of who we are!
For instance, I most humbly accept my CP and roll with it. I’ve built Paradise Shells & Fine Jewelry by Samantha from scratch. No pride here, just a reality check for anyone with CP or any other disability, to say anything is possible.
Your issues do not define you! That’s the good news. But it is each of our individual responsibility to overcome our stuff. With our chains broken, we become transformed, released, completely alive, and connected in love.
So, who am I to give you this advice? No one special. But I read this once.
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”
– 1 Cor 10:13
You might want to print this quotation and put in on a Post-It note and slap it on your bathroom mirror, and/or keep a copy in your purse or wallet and read it a few times each day.
Guess what? Life will get better and better every day!
If you are agnostic or an atheist, then why not just see the Bible as a historical book of collective human wisdom? And take this verse as human wisdom. It won’t hurt you.
Who doesn’t need more wisdom? I’m on board!
So back to our human condition. Get over it. Life is a tough joy.
Live every day like it is your last.
How do you do it?
Listen to the song, “Standing Outside the Fire” written by Garth Brooks and Jenny L. Yates.
Garth is my favorite performer, and this is my favorite song (lyrics below).
This should inspire you to examine your life and take an honest inventory of where you are and reflect on how you might better embrace the risks and rewards that life offers.
Otherwise, you are locked into “Ground Hog Day,” a movie with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. If you haven’t watched this movie, it is a must! It will ground you.
Anyway, to celebrate this Cerebral Palsy month of March, I post this blog as a gift to my followers and the disability community as a whole.
My call to action to my followers is to robustly share this blog from my website with anyone and everyone.
Peace, Love & Understanding
Samantha
P.S. Lyrics to Standing Outside the Fire are below:
We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk it the tables being turnedWe call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always come with getting burnedBut you got to be tough when consumed by desire
‘Cause it’s not enough just to stand outside the fire
We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fallWe call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it allThey’re so hell bent on giving, walking a wire
Convinced it’s not living if you stand outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fireThere’s this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can’t abide standing outside the fireStanding outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fireStanding outside the fire
Songwriters Credit: Jenny Yates, Garth Brooks
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you’re standing outside the fire