A Different Kind of Inspiration

We usually hear a lot of different inspiring stories about people overcoming certain odds.  I was watching “The Jeff Probst Show” yesterday and they had a story about a dad and his daughter who has Cerebral Palsy.  As I started to watch the show, I was unsure of the message they were trying to send to their audience but kept watching anyhow.  The father started talking about how he felt like he was being punished by having a child with C.P.

If you have read my blog before, you know or have gathered that I do not feel that way about having a disability at all.  As I continued watching, I realized how Maddy (the daughter with CP) helped her family (and dad) overcome their negative feelings about disability.  Even though Maddy isn’t able to talk or walk because of her CP, she has overcome obstacles of her own in the sense of her family’s outlook on her life.  She also participates in different sporting events, most times with her dad and even sometimes with her whole family.  This is definitely an example of living the most independent and fulfilling life you can given your situation.  After telling the story of his daughter, Maddy’s father said that he no longer sees her and her disability as a punishment, he says that it is now seen as something positive.

It has been my experience that some families who have a family member that is disabled sometimes have mixed emotions about the disabled family member.  I know the difficulties and obstacles that come with having a disability.  It is certainly not an easy feat to live with a disability but, I feel like in this story, Maddy helped her family have a better outlook on her disability.  As a result, she has brought her family closer together.

How has an experience changed your outlook on life?

Thanks for reading…

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