“If you park in this spot again, I will call the police and have your vehicle towed. This spot is for people who have a handicap. Not you!” This was on a note that was carefully placed on the windshield of my vehicle a few years ago. I didn’t really have time to process it or even get mad about it at the time because I had simply run to Harvey’s to grab a flower arrangement to surprise one of our elder church members and I needed to get back to the church before the program was over. And I kicked myself for being irresponsible because in my hurry, I failed to put my handicap placard in the window. After all, I was on a mission to bless somebody else at the moment.
“It can’t be that bad cause you don’t look sick!” How many times have I heard that one? Sometimes I want to shout back, “So you PREFER that I look sick?”
“At least you are alive. So many people are dealing with things way worse than you.” I typically nod and smile and humbly mumble, “You are so right.” And while that is absolutely true, it does nothing to take the sting away from what I am currently facing.
I believe in my hearts of hearts that people genuinely mean well and that they simply operate from their level of perception. Most times their level of perception is completely different from the person’s who is actually fighting every minute of every day of their life just to maintain what we all know as health and wellness.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is an invisible illness that is characterized in simple terms by the inability of my body to continue performing it’s automatic jobs. You can’t see blood pressure. You can’t see heart rate. You can’t see digestion. You can’t see balance. You can’t see headaches. You can’t see breathing. You can’t see heart beats. You can’t see oxygen levels. You can’t see consciousness. And if you’re at least somewhat normal, you don’t need to see it and you don’t need to do anything extra for your body to handle those things for you.
So the next time you encounter a POTS patient or maybe even any person who is battling any invisible illness, just try smiling and saying I’m praying for you. And if you aren’t praying, just smile. Because if you ask me how I’m doing, I feel obligated to say “Fine”. And I’ll bet you money that that is a complete lie.
What the world needs is love, and compassion, and empathy. Every person you meet is fighting some battle. So just try smiling more and praying more. Stop being so quick to judge and so quick to hurt feelings. They are probably already dealing with enough without the added pressures of your criticism.
And matter of fact, if they are actually outside of their house- that is probably one of the biggest accomplishments of their week. So celebrate with them and stop raining on their parade. And by all means stop rolling your eyes when you see us in the scooter at the store. I promise you, if I didn’t need it, I wouldn’t dare be caught in it. It took me a very long time to put my pride to the side and drive one without crying.
But you know what’s so ironic? I would give anything to be back at the day that the note was left on my truck. Because I could drive then. And I could walk. And even though I have all faith that I will walk and drive again someday, the reality of my situation is not always the easiest to deal with. So in the morning when you rise, if you don’t have to wait for someone to take you to the bathroom, remember that there is somebody somewhere waiting ……and it is probably a bigger deal than you could ever imagine.
Signed,
The Real Trendsetter
#dysautonomiaawareness #JUSTLIVE #fightingcute
#itsjutgoodtobegood #itsjustnicetobenice #ifyouaintfightingshutupandpray #sickofit
Leave a comment