I have a journal too! I always write when I’m frustrated, or any intense emotion that I know needs to be released, turning my jumble of thoughts into words and creative poetry is not only fun, but I feel like it keeps me in line! I have quite a few poems, and a file on my computer titled ‘daily thoughts’ and sometimes if I dont have my journal in front of me, ill write on there, or on my phone haha, I cant wait to explore my creative writing abilities in college!
Oh totally, when I go hiking it takes A LOT out of me! I feel like I get tired way too fast sometimes, and it’s not that I’m out of shape, but my actual leg muscles get WORKED. Most people I go hiking with are fam and friends, but there was this one time when I went with a new group and I was soo nervous because I was afraid of not being able to keep up with them, but they were super understanding and even were surprised with out able I was in keeping up with them. One girl was super curious about how I get around so well, and how CP really effects me. So that was a nice experience I climbed Yosemite Falls with my classmates which was an 11 miler, and it seemed like some of the kids were simply ‘proud’ of me and impressed, so its great that I am able to do well and show that I am strong. But there are times when I just can’t continue for sure, I struggle with running and hills but its just something I’ll always work at.
Ahh yes, my ankle gets soo tight, and almost every morning i have to take a second to stretch it out and get my joints working fluently or else I’ll almost trip out of bed! That is a totally ‘normal’ CP feeling in my opinion, because your muscles have to work extra hard to keep up with the rest of your body. Just keep on stretching and youll progress.
Aww that is adorable about your bros standing up for you! My sister is very protective of me, and really anyone who is close to me is because they don’t want to see me get hurt. haha.
From the way you describe your CP and running/hiking…I feel like we have it very much the same! I wish we could have like a big TCP hike your somethin! Maybe we’ll have to plan an event one day
I am so glad you feel that way about my blog, it makes me happy, and even fascinated that we can relate so closely!
Happy weekend, woo hoo!

And there is a very honourable tradition of “street psychology” as well. (which you could do on your stretches, walks and runs).

Yeah, I spend a lot of time with my schoolwork as well! :p It’s kind of similar to piano for me in that it’s not any harder for me than it is for anyone else, which is nice. I think that’s the great part about CP: you appreciate your talents more because you have to deal with your challenges.

What kinds of things do you like to write? My favorite is creative writing and poetry but all writing is good. I’ve found that writing in a journal is really helpful when I’m frustrated.

Ooh, hiking is awesome!! But I know where you’re coming from there..haha. Do you find that you get tired more quickly than other people? For me, I do sometimes. Whenever I go hiking, after a while, I take a break for a few minutes to sit on a rock or something. It’s not that I get out of breath faster, but my legs get sore more quickly. It’s not a huge deal, because I notice around the time that I’m getting tired, other people say their legs are a bit sore as well, but I just think it happens faster for me. I weight train often but do you think that’s a CP thing or just that I need to work out harder? Also, I notice that if I don’t stretch for a while, my ankles hurt…does that happen to you on the side that you’re affected? I don’t mean to ask 20 questions, I’m just curious as I’ve never really known anyone else with CP before.

Ouchh!! That must have hurt. I hope your nose feels better soon!

Nope, my brothers do not have CP. We were born about 3 months early so that is probably the cause of mine. They are wonderful though–I remember, there was one day in kindergarten when I was climbing up those giant steps on the school bus, being extra careful so I wouldn’t fall, and the girl behind me shouted, “WHY ARE YOU SO SLOW?” Hahaha I was speechless, but one of my brothers was nearby and he stood up for me…that girl never bothered me again…:p

I can’t really run; usually I just walk fast/jog instead of running.

I hope to hear back from you soon! I really appreciate your blog…it makes me feel not quite so alone in my struggles.

Have a great school year!

AP Psychology sounds like a wonderful class.

Wow, thank you Courtney for all the nice things you have to say about me. Sometimes it is hard to see myself as a “good example” and you help me realize that I can help a lot of people with my words

Hey, who needs vacay when you have your mind to wander about?! :p What is it that you write about mostly? If you dont mind me asking.
Oh yay! Happy early birthday m’lady! Doin anything exciting?

Things are lovely, I am going to post in a sec

Ahh my first day of school…I’ll post again in a moment, so you can read about that in a few! How was YOUR first day of school (if its not too long gone? Haha)

Haha yeah soccer is so much fun, especially since I’ve played with the same girls for prob since we were around 8 or so so 10 years at least! Crazy.
Yeah music and writing go hand in hand to me at least, I’d loooove to pick up piano one day, I just need a few extra hours in the day then I’m set Maybe when things slow down after I apply to college I’ll invest in a keyboard or something. I totally know what you mean about having that one thing you are good at, when maybe physical stuff pose as a challenge as you compare yourself to others. I focus on school and I get caught up in the competitiveness of it all with my sis for sure :p Plus, writing is my thing too! Love it, and I cant imagine how I’d wind down without it.

Haha yeah Ive had times like that..like allll the time! Everytime we go hiking, ill just come home with some new bruise or scratch hah. But its okay, I feel tough! :p I fell in the shower the other day, it was totally scary and I got a gnarly bloody nose. Haha, see what I mean? Oh wow, but breaking your femur sounds so painfully scary Im sorry, that was prob not a fun time for you.
So I have a question for you: do your bros have CP as well? And can you run at all?

Talk soon!

Glad to know you had fun on your vacations and facinating destinations. What’d you think of the Midwest eh?

I love your resilience; even though your taken aback by your neglecting to exercise or stretch or whatever else it may be, you always bounce back and get right back on track. I really think your setting not only a good example but a standard of how people with disablities look at themselves. Not with a doubtful attitude but with a hopeful one! That’s so great to see.

Oy, unfortunetely, I didn’t go on any vacations this summer but spent it writing down ideas and thoughts that may come in handy later. Ha, that to me is fun!

My 17th birthday is on the 4th n’ I’m just thankful it’s on a Saturday

How have things been with you?

It’s also really good to hear about how your making connections within the CP community, that’s so great. Sharing your personal experiences with someone who gets it can be so exciting at times.

Last but not least I’ve got to ask you, how was your first day of school Katy?

Haha…yeah, being a triplet is a little nuts at times–birthdays are craaazy. Sometimes I wish I had a sister though; brothers are just so much WORK, always asking questions about this and that! :p They do have hot friends though (just kidding, haha)!

Soccer is a really fun sport–I used to play it a lot with my brothers, dad, and neighbors when I was little. I just think it’s so cool that you play on a team! How long have you been doing soccer for?

Ooh, poetry is cool too! I love to write stories and poetry as well. Yup, I take piano lessons once a week; I’ve been taking piano for about eight years now and it’s so fun! It’s a great way to relax. I also like how it’s not harder for me than it is for other people, which is the case for some things. You should try it out sometime!

Hahaha…yes, we do tend to fall a lot. When I was maybe ten years old, I fell into a river because I was standing at the edge and I tripped on a root. :p Whoops…you just have to learn to laugh about it though. As a little kid, I had chronically scraped elbows and knees. Actually, though, about two and a half years ago I fell and broke my femur…I was so used to falling and getting up again that I actually stood up on it until I realized it wasn’t supporting my weight very well. That was a scary recovery…I had to get surgery on it and everything, not fun, and it took a really long time to recover, especially because I have balance issues to begin with. Watch out for water on the floor and when you fall, try to land on your elbows and knees if you can!

Thank you so much for the advice!! I really appreciate it! I never see them staring which is nice but if they ever seem curious I will let them know.

Hmm….I think I better start on my homework soon…but thank you for your response!! I hope to hear from you again soon!

I understand what you mean about your friends and if you should tell them or not…I’ve had some people come right up to me and ask bluntly…and others out of concern…but it really is up to you whether you want people to know. Personally, I would rather my friends know than always wonder so I’ll just bring it up one instance if I feel like I’m ready for them to know. And truth is, your friends will feel honored that you let them in on your life a little bit. It takes courage to talk about something so personal and I know that by telling them, they will only treat you with more respect. And I have felt the same way before, where you think that they are afraid to ask you why you may walk differently, so if you catch em staring or something, just kind of give them an ‘okay’ to ask so they won’t feel like theyd be hurting your feelings with their curiousity. Hope to hear back from ya! -Katy

And Cassidy, great to have ya on here girl, hope to meet you soon!

Hi! I just happened to stumble upon your blog, I’m a sixteen-year-old triplet (I’m the only girl!) with mild spastic diplegia CP (it affects mostly my legs. My right leg is worse than my left). I’m going into my junior year of high school and still hanging in there! It’s awesome to find someone with so many of the same challenges that I have experienced.

I started to laugh when I read what almost happened to you at the beach with your friend…just because almost the exact same thing happened to me…except I DID fall in…hahaha! …and I wasn’t wearing a swimsuit, so I was DRIPPING wet.

I just want to say you are a major inspiration to me…I love that you do soccer! I’ve never been much of a sports girl myself (I’m a pianist) but I do exercise, mostly through weight training.

Thank you for this blog! I’ve always felt kind of alone because I don’t know any teenagers with CP. Most of my friends treat me the same as everyone else, which is nice but I sometimes wish I had someone who could relate to my challenges. I actually just realized, a bunch of my friends have never asked and I have never told them about my CP…I mean, it’s kind of obvious by my gait but no one has asked me since I was in, maybe, sixth grade? Do you talk about your CP with your friends? I guess since my newer friends have never asked it’s not a problem that I never say anything, but now I’m wondering if I should say something… hmm All of my older friends know because when I was younger, people were less afraid to ask me.

Anyway, I hope everyone is well! Welcome, Cassidy and good luck, Sarah!

I started to laugh when I read what almost happened to you at the beach with your friend…just because almost the exact same thing happened to me…except I DID fall in…hahaha! …and I wasn’t wearing a swimsuit, so I was DRIPPING wet.

I just want to say you are a major inspiration to me…I love that you do soccer! I’ve never been much of a sports girl myself (I’m a pianist) but I do exercise, mostly through weight training.

Thank you for this blog! I’ve always felt kind of alone because I don’t know any teenagers with CP. Best of luck with your wisdom teeth! I hear it’s not as bad as some people make it out to be.