Welcome to your Mental Monday update on a Tuesday, sorry I didn’t get this in to you on time, life happened which will require another blog by itself.
So hi, I hope when you read the Title you actually gave yourself a deep breathe, a really deep breathe. That is for life that happens all around us and recognising that life is uncertain is both an anchor from the storm while freeing you to truly test the waters.
I watched a touching movie recently called, The Peanut Butter Falcon about a boy with Down syndrome trying to live his dream of being a pro wrestler, he runs away from the retirement home that takes care of him, in search of his dream.
I thought it was a beautiful depiction of what being human is about. We are contextual beings, each arriving at our context of life through our personal experiences.
These are the symptoms of Down Syndrome now imagine how hard life is already for you, imagine on top of that, that all the battles you were going through were visible for all to see. This isn’t an accurate description of what they go through, but I hope it gets the point across.
When everyone can see what pains you, that becomes a target to hide their insecurities by and because it is in our nature as beings to love interaction. It hurts when others would rather shun than embrace us.
So we now have to sit alone and build fantasies in our head. When they walk past they call us names and make us feel worse than the plague and eventually we believe them, because “I’m alone and no one wants to be friends with me so what they say must be true”
We reason with ourselves so much we start to fight the enemies fight on the enemies behalf. Because they all can’t be wrong, can they?
What if they can? What if they are? Now I do realise that most people have not taken the time to read the Mental Health Act but it has a portion that speaks on stripping the rights of those with Mental disabilities.
It strips them of their rights to dream and accomplish, but who are we, to claim we fully understand the life of others to sit and dictate what should happen to them, on their behalf. Like we sat, pointed and laughed with ignorance before.
Down syndrome isn’t a curse, it’s a problem like we all have problems. It’s a different problem but knowing what we go through in regards to our own problems we must learn to be more empathetic.
Today’s PSA is simply be more understanding of those who are different from you. I understand that labels are natural to life but some labels create a stigma because we expect that another’s noticeable condition makes them more vulnerable or weak as opposed to us.
In reality we all are vulnerable and that is enough to help create a better Mental health environment for everyone. Regardless of the condition, we are all miracles in our own wonderful way and we must stake a claim to bask in our differences. If we can’t say or do something that is good for someone else then it’s best to not say anything at all.
Spread love until it fills every action you take, especially towards those with whom you interact, your words can ultimately alter their self perception. Instead of breaking and tearing things we should be more inclined to heal. Until another Monday post, take care of your mental health and look out for those you interact with.
Breath out! Let your mind rest at ease as you learn to love yourself, flaws and all.
I will never apologise for being me. You should apologise for asking me to be anything else.
– Anonymous
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