As a child, I experienced grand mal epileptic seizures. By the age of 18, there were no longer any signs of epilepsy, and I was able to live my life without medication.
But I’ve learned that a history of epilepsy is still part of my story.
Just because something has been quiet for many years doesn’t mean we should stop listening to our bodies.
Today, I try to look after both my physical and mental health as best I can.
And I’ve learned something important: Listen to your body.
Living with cerebral palsy can sometimes make this more complicated, especially as you age.
Some signs can be clouded by the symptoms of CP. Pain, fatigue, muscle spasms, unusual sensations or changes in how I feel can sometimes be easy to dismiss as “just my CP.”
But I’ve learned not to automatically do that.
Your body is communicating with you — even when the signs are subtle.
And this is especially important when you live with an invisible disability.
Just because someone looks fine on the outside doesn't mean their body isn't working incredibly hard behind the scenes.
- We need to learn to listen.
- We need to learn to ask questions.
- We need to learn to speak up when something doesn't feel right.
And most importantly, we need to give ourselves permission to take our own bodies seriously.
I cannot predict what tomorrow may bring. None of us can.
But I can choose to take care of myself today.
Listen to your body.
Listen to your mind.
Listen to those little signs.
And never be afraid to ask for help.
Because you know your body better than anyone else.
I live my life with Abilities Without Limits — because disability may be part of my story, but it does not define my possibilities.