1
June

A Clumsy TeenCPer!

Hi There,

So much has happened in this past week, It is hard to keep up! Hope you all are fine and dandy on this June Day!

Sooo, I didn’t make it to the finals of the 17magazine cover contest…I am disappointed, but still somewhat happy I made it as far as I did. Instances like this, just make me want to try that much harder on the next opportunity. You can check out the finalists on www.seventeen.com/prettyamazing …these girls are still doing great things, even if its not as cool and “amazing” as TeenCP :p

In other news, I will be meeting with Bonner Paddock and a few of his team members at OM Foundation in the coming weeks to discuss working toward raising money for the centers for children with disabilities that he is building in Tanzania, Africa..and even here in OC, California! Yay! So excited to become more involved. I’ll be writing on their web soon, so keep an eye out!www.1man1mission.org… and while you’re on there, feel free to donate or order a copy of Beyond Limits. :)

I have a quick story to tell you guys…. is it just me or does being nervous AND having CP make matters just that much more difficult?? It seems like whenever I am around a guy I find the slightest bit attractive, my muscles tense up sooo much, and all my ideas of walking smoothly go out the window. Is that just a CP thing? Well anyway, I ended up almost tripping over my own two feet as this guy and I were walking into class the other day, and I felt like such a lame-o! He kind of just awkwardly sat down in his seat and we didnt really speak after that. During those moments, I keep trying to get myself to just loosen up those legs, but the message just gets lost in translation and I am left with the coordination of a sloth…. Any TeenCPers out there who feel my pain? It makes me feel sucky sometimes… like my CP gets in the way of just having everyday, easy interactions… I know I work myself up too much about it, but I cant help it! My nerves just kick it up an extra level and make my gait worse,  and I feel a bit let down when things like that happen. Why can’t we all figure out how to skip all that awkwardness and just find that person who gets you? Someday, right?

Anyway, that’s all for now. I have to practice my grad speech [poem]… the speakers will be announced Friday, and I have to present myself in front of the selection committee today… wish me luck! The more I think about it, the more I just want to laugh a little about this whole thing… I mean really, me, the type of person who is more comfortable sitting quietly in the back of the classroom…trying out for a speech in front of my entire graduating class and their friends and family! I guess I’d regret it if I didn’t try. Here goes nothin!

Take care, have a great start to your June month! Summer is just around the corner, yay!

-Katy

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22
May

Understanding a transition…

Hey Guys!

Whew! Finally I get on here…

Can you believe the end of the year is right around the corner? I can’t!

So prom was very fun, and very elegant. :) Instead of dancing in the big main room, they has a little jazz band in the back playing old swing music, so that was much more fun! Good news: my shoes worked out great! I wore a pair of dressy sandals with ankle straps and little diamond studs on them to match my dress. I am still trying to get some of the better quality photos from my friends, but he lags sometimes :p Ill post a few though!

Anywhoo, I just wrote a grad speech in poem form that I might submit for reading…I am a little hesitant because I get nervous in a crowd of 30, whereas our ceremony will have 1,000ish people in our huge outdoor stadium! Yikes… nerves are not an options. I feel like this poem is indicative of my high school experience, both as a teen with CP and simply as a young woman nearing a transition in her life. Really, this is just how I envision myself and others like me growing into adults, and into our futures, and choosing to perceive the world and ourselves in a constantly changing light until we ultimately accept ourselves. Let me know what you think:

Identity.2011

Today.

Not four years from now, not two, not 180 days

Today is the day we commemorate a past

Today is the day we celebrate a future

Today, I hope you take a moment to revel in all that you have accomplished

What does this mean for you?

Some of us will honorably fight for our country, prove their courage

Some of us will enter a trade, travel the world, seek out a charity

Some of us will be a freshman again, in an entirely new way

Here on in Pacific coast, near the Great Lakes, or off the Atlantic shore

In foreign countries, near new waters and everything in between

This time is pivotal

This time is exciting

This time is oursI hope we all look back on the rest of our lives

With pride in our personal and universal achievements

With happiness in our growth as individuals

Inevitable, is change

A change of knowledge, beliefs, relationships, and opportunities

It is all laid out for us, just beyond our reach

So that one day we may understand

How to reach out and grasp the unknown

As we live, we must learn

How to test our limits

We must also learn

How to go beyond them

And when we do

We will thank our families, our teachers

For ridding of the doubt

For the love we once thought was hate

But really

We will praise ourselves

For all the struggles

For all the insecurities

Within this search for identity

So that we may appreciate

All that each of us overcame

And all of who you became.

Prom photos!

 

Happy Sunday :)

-Katy

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4
May

I have a question!! {and some news!}

Hello hello!

My, My what a wonderful week this has been. I’m telling you guys, going for what you want PAYS OFF! I just received more scholarship money for college (YAY!) and am in the running (fingers crossed–time will tell!) to be on a cover of Seventeen Magazine! How cool would that be! It would be such an accomplishment to be on the cover representing not only TeenCPers, but everyone with something that may have held them back at some point in their life! It has been my favorite magazine for all my teen years…who doesn’t love style and health tips?! I love 17 because when I read it, I always feel good about myself after..not like, “oh gosh I need to improve the way I look, or I need to go out and buy expensive things…” Because 17 caters to the REAL girls out there :)  Check out the “Pretty Amazing” Contest in the latest issue of 17mag, or on the site www.seventeen.com/prettyamazing. What do you guys think??

And as for the question(s) I have… I am wondering if you (if you have CP and are a teenager) let your CP kind of control your lfe–so to speak… does it hinder you from making friends, from doing the things you love? I ask this because I want to know to what degree CP “controls” your life…do you let it? Is it an insecurity of yours? Do you have anything about yourself that you’re insecure about that has nothing to do with your CP? I think that is enough for now, thank you! I hope you don’t mind me asking these types of questions…I guess I just am curious because I have been asking myself these questions for the past few days and they have been turning in my head, and I want to hear a new perspective. Thanks! I appreciate you simply reading over my blog, even if you dont feel comfortable answering questions, who knows–you may find out something new on here that is useful! You guys are all “pretty amazing” yourselves! (ha, get it? the seventeen contest? :p) Enough with my silly jokes already geesh…

Anyway, in the coming months I may be posting about various activities for The OM Foundation–a non-profit organization dedicated to building centers in Africa and the US for peoples with disabilities! How awesome is that? The founder is a good friend of mine, Bonner Paddock. Remember him? The crazy & cool guy with CP who climbed an insanely tall (20,000 ft) mountain in Africa?  He is off to Africa and in mid-training for an Iron Man in 2012…I know, right! So in the meantime I am going to brainstorm to help throw some ideas around about how to really get everyone pumped up for his Iron Man… he is doing this to not only be the first person with CP to finish, but to raise money for the foundation. So since you are all the wonderful people that you are, I urge you to visit www.1man1mission.org and really get a feel for OMF and Bonner! This is a big deal and I think us TeenCPers need to turn it up a notch by having a voice! Let’s get people out there to understand what CP really is…and even for people with CP to know that there is help!! That is the mission of not only OM Foundation, but UCP’s and organizations alike across the world. To go Beyond the Limits…whatever limits those may be (physical, social, mental)…so please, take a second and “like” this page on facebook…. one dollar will go toward these centers! http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/omfoundation

Thanks Guys! I have to knock out some studying…. summer is almost here, yay!

Take care, Happy Wednesday!

-Katy

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29
April

Prom Anyone?

Hey out there!

Hmm soo here’s the scoop…. prom is just around the corner (May14th) and I need to find some shoes….and possibly a date….any takers? Haha, just kidding, I think my sister and I are going as dates this year :p Any ideas for shoes though, my fellow TeenCP lady friends? I can manage possibly the slightest thick heel or cute sandal-flat type shoes but that is about it. My heel falls out easily, and I need to find a pair that would last on the dance floor, and  be fashionable because our theme is “Old Hollywood” so think vintage- glamour-esque (CP style)! :) Thanks!

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24
April

Catching up… College, CP Advice, Spring Break (is over!)

Hello hello! Finally getting back into the swing of things back home… time for some homework and family time on this nice Easter Sunday :) Happy Easter for those of you who celebrate today! Oh, and before I forget– I replied to your guys’ wonderful comments on my last post…. I love hearing your experiences with college and how CP may be affected by it all…it’s nice having those of you who do read and are in college, share some advice and stuff because most of what I hear is just from my friends who are in the same boat as me, or from adults who are 20+ years older than me. :p And no offense to them, but it is just nice to hear advice from teens and young adults who have the recent college hindsight AND have CP… double plus. :) So thanks, I really take your words into account…. especially now that I have made my decision!!

I, Katy Lea Fetters will be attending Soka Univeristy of America in August! Me, college?? I love saying that, its just so exciting, relieving, and wonderful all at the same time. It just feels right. I went there early last week with my friend and I just felt like I could really see myself calling this place home. It is an amazing school, (for lack of a better word im just going to continue) that offers an amazing program, with amazing people,  in an amazing place! I was lucky enough to receive a generous scholarship too. I am set!!

I do hope that you all enjoyed your spring break, even if it was weeks before mine…Easter just came late this year! I relaxed in the desert sun a bit, saw some some neat things in downtown San Diego, and now am ready (yet slightly dreading) returning to school….can’t I just be done already?? Haha, I know, I know I am going to try and cherish these last few weeks of high school….but I can’t help it, the future is just too exciting! Graduation in June, Europe this summer, and then I am off to the rest of my life! :p So please forgive me if I sound all too hyped up about 2011 haha. I am sure all you TeenCP seniors know what I am talking about, and the rest of you lovely readers can relate to this feeling in some way or another. Enjoy the rest of April as we spring on into yet another month

Hold tight, and stay happy and healthy TeenCPers…. summer is almost here!

I wrote a poem about the full moon I saw in San Diego, and ended up complimenting it with the sun I saw in Palm Springs… Enjoy :) (Here’s also some pics I thought I’d share)

-Katy

The beautiful Korakia in Palm Springs!

The beautiful Korakia in Palm Springs!

Overcast day, but downtown San Diego on the SS Midway!

Overcast day, but downtown San Diego on the SS Midway!

 

Had to buy a sweatshirt of course! :)

Had to buy a sweatshirt of course! :)

 

Ominous moon sits in the sky
Awaiting the nurturing blanket of clouds
That are nowhere near
As the sky is clear,
And the stars are dull

The ominous moon frowns upon the shore
As the tide grows low
And the lunar light dims
A slight sadness fills the southern night
Alright, alright, he says
And glows for us
A soothing sight

Searing sun sits in the sky
Exudes this desert heat
Calm stoic breeze
Invites the shadows with great ease
Ingratiated, do I feel
In the presence of her vibrant existence

The searing sun smiles upon the earth
As the people come to soak up her rays
And envelop themselves in her nurturing warmth
Up in the sky, midday
Too hot, you say?
Alright, alright, she says
I’ll come back some gloomy day

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10
April

Going to College with Cerebral Palsy

Hi Everyone!
I hope you’ve all been well and enjoying our transition into the spring season. :) A lot has happened since I’ve last posted… most of all I’ve had a few family discussions on my college options. I would be lying if I said this has been an easy experience deciding on where to go… it’s a major decision that affects many people more than just me and I tend to put all this unnecessary pressure on myself over something that is out of my hands..at least until I receive more info about costs and stuff of that nature. (The fun part about looking into those small private colleges..wink wink) but rough feelings aside, I feel fortunate to say I got into some great schools in Orange County, the Bay Area, and even one small school right in Manhattan! I am still noticing how many factors play a large role in choosing a college. I mean after all, this place is not only where you will receive your education that sets the standards for your career, but it is also your home for the next four years!  So yes, I am still undecided but not for long! May first is the deadline…still awaiting some financial aid info for a two schools and then I make my decision. :) If NYC wasn’t so incredibly expensive, I’d be there in a second…but as luck would have it I may have to put this school on hold for a few years. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up in grad school! I would absolutely love a city experience for a year or two, and as ready as I would be to pick up and leave now, the costs are just not too realistic for us right now. I am bummed, but I really believe that everything happens for a reason, and I have some other great options that I know I will be just as happy with. Plus, having CP in a city as busy and pedestrian-like as NYC might not be so great for me (physical health wise)…I could be jumping to conclusions, but I feel like all that walking would just make my feet fall right off! Even here after a ton of walking I catch my legs getting extra tired and not to mention the shoes situation…knowing me, I wouldn’t wear the most practical walking shoes on a day to day basis even if it means sacrificing my comfort (that’s such a girl thing to say, huh? :p) Well regardless, if all falls into place, I am fairly certain I am going to Soka University in South OC, so only about a half hour down the coast. :) The location attracted me more than the curriculum at first…but then I looked into what they are known for (international liberal arts) and I was smitten.  take a peek for yourself if you are curious…. www.soka.edu
Any last minute advice on choosing a college? It’s hard to weigh all the pro’s, con’s, and other factors, as I am sure some of you know…. I feel like a small part of me even wants to go to a place where my CP wouldn’t really be a defining part of me. Not that it ever really was, but growing up and going to school in a place like Orange County where appearances are a bigger part of high school…this nature of judgment as taught me to really accept myself and the way I am early on. I look at that as a catalyst of sorts for others to accept me CP and all....I’ve learned that if I don’t let my weaknesses show, no one will really question me. Having confidence, and the ability to carry yourself well and have self-esteem (this goes for anyone, really) will take you so far in life. There will be times, and maybe you already know this-when your esteem for yourself and others will be tested and it will be up to you to work through that hardship and prove to yourself that emotionally, you are powerful and nothing, not even your physical abilities can challenge that emotional strength. To kind of loop that long tangent around…. I have to make sure that I could see myself walking around campus, feeling a part of the residential life, and be able to learn things about myself and acquire and education that I will be able to carry with me the rest of my life.

I think I may have rambled on a bit too long today…I apologize, I think that is just a result of getting all that doubt and deep inner thoughts that are hindering me from making my decision…ahh good times. I know I will look back on this and wonder why I was such a stress case. Lack of sleep, school, work, gym and the big one college…yep, that’ll stress ya out for a good week or two. Pardon my minor absence, I think I just needed to clear my head a bit and get off the computer for a while…between all this social networking that goes on these days, and school work that requires technology, computer use might as well be an extra class! I took some time to write (poems, thoughts, question…even working on a short story too) and exercise! I’ve kept up a great work out regime for the past few weeks…trying to lean out for spring break and summertime! And that is just the fun part about working out…I love how good working out makes me feel! I know from psychology physical activity releases certain chemicals in the brain (endorphins, serotonin, adrenaline…) but these chemicals give you that rush that is hard to feel if you laze around all day and get all groggy… I think now that I am slowly getting back into running shape, working out has become more enjoyable for me. My right (non-CP) knee has been bugging me a bit after this gnarly hike we did last weekend, but I’m just staying aware of it and listening to my body. Still, I struggle to balance out the work load between my two legs, but I will always have to work on that..it just takes a conscious effort to tell my leg and foot to relax, so I can get a fuller running motion with my left leg and give my right leg a break! After about a mile my right quad muscle starts to burn like crazy but it is all a mental game and after a few more minutes I don’t even think about it that much. Is this what you experience for those of you who are active at all? I’d love to hear some experiences you’ve had with exercising…and even if there is something you’ve discovered about how to run better, or anything that a fellow TeenCPer may find helpful about working out…your fav types of cardio…anything in general. Which remind me…I need to get a bike! I am having bike riding withdrawls :( I miss feeling the wind on my face and the sun on my back..who knew working out could be so enjoyable… whenever I bike ride, my CP is hardly affected because it forces you to use other muscles that may not be as weak from regular walking, since it is not such a direct form of contact with the joints and pavement. That is just my experience with biking anyway…may be different for you!
Well, as I meant to finish up a few paragraphs ago, here I am still rambling on :p I’ll hopefully be on here more as school is winding down (I graduate June 16th, finally!) and I can see a bit more clearly now that I’m coming to a conclusion about my college choice for the fall….exciting times ahead…. I hope you are all well and that you get off for spring break soon as well! Easter is late this year…
Well, take care my lovely TeenCP friends and readers
-Katy

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17
March

Happy St. Patty’s Day TeenCP

Hi Everyone!

Gosh, what a busy week! I started my new job as a receptionist at a hair salon…and let me tell you, working downtown Huntington Beach (bars galore) on St. Patricks Day is craaazy. People running in and out and the phones ringing off the hook… no wonder why they say girls are better multi taskers! Just kidding :p

I just wanted to stop in an say hi to all my TeenCP friends all over the world! I hope you had a fantastic week, and are looking forward to a great, relaxing weekend. Can you believe it is mid March already? Wow, I sure can’t..pretty soon it will be summer time and I will be off to France for the summer with my sis, yay! Any fun summer plans for you?

Ahh well aside from all the fuss about my busy life…I just went for a jog today, and I have been noticing that the top of my ankle (on my non-cp side) was killing me…I could not tell if it was my bone or muscle aching, but it was in the oddest spot, and the only thing I could possibly conclude is that my right leg is over compensating too much, and now all my different joints are feeling the effects off it. :( I think I should take up a consistent yoga class…that should do the trick. What do you think? Anything you could recommend I do to lessen the pressure on my joints, muscles ectt? It makes me sad that I cannot run the way I used to. Hmm…I think my soreness may also be due to the fact that I went on an extremely strenuous hike this past Sunday. (Pic up top is from the hike–so pretty– the scenery is a part of what keeps me going!) I don’t even know where to begin, I was so not mentally prepared for the inclines and the slippery gravel. But I did it, and I was limping around extra bad the rest of the day…it was worth the accomplished feeling I felt afterward though…because there were some people who were “normal” and they didn’t even finish. So ha! There’s dis-abilityfor all those underestimaters. ;p Haha I hope you know I am not completely serious…but I mean c’mon, you have to admit its at least 3x harder for us CPers to do any sort of physical activity, I can’t help but point out how great I feel when I am more physically able than someone who does not deal with CP. Empowering, almost…to accomplish something unexpected like that. It’s like when I saw the hill before me, I told myself there was NO way I was going to make it…but I surprised myself, and that is the greatest form of self-motivation ever. Have you ever had that moment where you just WOWed yourself? I hope so! It is an incredible feeling to push yourself past failure.

Well, I told myself I would not ramble on, I need some sleep before another busy day begins! Gotta love Fridays though…and speaking of tomorrow, I am going to meet with some great interns from UCP-OC to talk about some media awareness “stuff” for CP. I love to “represent” us teens and be apart of something big like that. How exciting this all is…even if it is just eing able to share my experiences with how this website has come to be what it is today..so honored!

Well, goodnight and stay lucky all you Irish TeenCpers! ;)

Happy Friday & Take Care.

-Katy

*Such an incredible view from the top of a park in Orange, CA last Sunday with my family and friends!*

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6
March

Thinking, Thinking…

Hey out there!

Just wanted to give a quick thank you to all my readers…TeenCP wouldn’t have been this wonderful without all you other teens and supporters out there that take time out of there day to read my posts. I LOVE your emails…keep sending them my way if you have the slightest desire. :) It really makes my day hearing your guys’ stories, and knowing that some of you feel comfortable enough to vent to me, and relate with me as well. I feel so lucky to be a part of what we have going on here, it has truly impacted my life more than most may think. So thanks TeenCPers…I smile because of all your support. :)

Anywho, just wanted to say I went on this GREAT hike this morning with a nice group of people from our gym. I got a pic, yes– but its from after the hike, off of Pacific Coast Hwy in Laguna Beach. So beautiful. The hike had a bit up an uphill, complemented with a downhill (thank goodness) and there were some slippery rocky pathways, but nothing my sturdy legs can’t handle. :p Although…come to think of it, I did almost trip over my own two feet in the market today out of no where. Clumsy me haha…I’ll blame it on the muscle fatigue from my hike how about that? Okay where was I…ah yes, so the hike went great and the weather was nice and cool off the coast. Perfect for a morning hike. On the uphills, I always have a problem with my shoe sliding off my heel if I don’t tie it tight enough, my foot just wont have it! Its frustrating but its a quick fix luckily. I would walk everywhere barefoot if it wasn’t so socially unacceptable and unsanitary! Haha, I would get around so much faster that way, wouldn’t you agree?

I was talking with my mom the other day about having CP and all that good stuff, and I rememer telling her that I sometimes that because I have CP as mild as I do, I wonder if there are some of you out there who feel almost “bugged” by me talking about my experiences with CP. Like maybe, there’s some one with CP more severely saying, “oh she doesn’t have it that bad, what’s there to talk about….” and I guess what I am trying to say is that, I want you to know that even though I may not have CP to the extent that you do, or whoever that may be, I still feel like it’s important that I relate to you all in some way or another. Maybe not in the physical aspect of dealing with CP per say, but the emotional, and mental health of it all is just as important to me. I am aware that some of you have CP 5 times worse than I do…and yeah maybe me talking about my hike is irrelevant to you, personally…but I still want you to know that I want to still be able to be on the same level here, and say that Cerebral Palsy is something we ALL can talk about openly. If you think about it this way, we are all humans and CP is just something that we happen to live with. Sometimes it’s our insecurity, and sometimes it’s our motivation to go beyond the norm. Without CP, I don’t think I’d ever be as intrinsically motivated as I am today…. and that goes for everyone in the sense that maybe their insecurity isn’t that they walk funny, maybe it’s that they have a nervous laugh or tick, or they don’t do well in school. We all have something to share, and its just as all as valid as someone else’s story, right? So I hope some of you don’t feel like I’m just some girl who wants to talk about my life…I’m just a girl who wants to get people thinking. I want you to see something positive about yourself you may have never noticed, just by your own self-reflection. I believe people who self-reflect become so much happier, and well rounded…because like I’ve said before, life is all about perspective. :)

Have a nice week!

-Katy

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2
March

Bring on the Change!

Hi Guys!

Happy March! I hope you are all having a great week…can you believe its almost spring?

So..hmm, I’ve been trying to work out more but it has been a frustrating experience because my muscles aren’t allowing me to run like I normally do. I can do a nice light jog, but I still feel a strain on my “good” leg after about 5 minutes (UGH!). I am going to really try to wear my night brace more because I need to if I am going to continue to work out at this pace. Whenever I run, I always feel a slight pain on the outer edge of my foot…do any of you experience this? I just am feeling super tense and sore in the morning when I wake up, and it is almost a struggle to get moving. This is obviously a sign that I am not stretching as often as I need to :/

Aside from my little problem…. Big things are beginning at the TSpot! (my parents gym) We are fundraising for The Wounded Warriors Project once more! We are going to put on the “push-ups for charity” event again, but this time we are trying to involve a little competition between the local fire dept. and police dept… and maybe even the marines! How fun would that be to watch? The goal is to raise as much money as we can by having people donate money to the cause, or sponsor each person “per push-up” in a 90 sec time frame. Hopefully I’ll knock out a ton so we can beat our last years price of $17,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project. Also, our 7th 6-week weight loss program, The Takedown Challenge has begun! Which means…. healthy healthy eating, lots of exercise, and fun group Sunday hikes! I will hopefully get some pics on here of the next few hikes that we do over the course of the program. About 130 people signed up, so we want to get a big group going for the hikes around OC…yay! :)

Let’s see, what else is going on… ahh well I have been receiving acceptance letters (finally!) from a few colleges in San Fran, and one really great liberal arts college a bit south down the coast from here (the pic on this post is the campus, Soka Univeristy of America.) Beautiful!! I can’t wait to hear back from all my colleges so I can make my final decision! I’ve also been taking into consideration the campus size…and being in San Fran because I am going to have to walk A LOT if I end up there. Luckily  there is good public transportation, but knowing me I am going to want to just  get to places by my own means. That is one of my hesitations because my feet get very tired, very quickly…and after a long day running around I definitely start to feel the effects of that. So, yes there will be a lot of very very big decisions to make in these next couple months for my future. It’s all so exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. TeenCPers…is there anything that helped you decide on a college or anything similar? What factors did you take into consideration, knowing that you have CP?

It will be bittersweet leaving my twin sister Sara as well. We have always planned on separating in college because our interests are very different, and we feel like it will be a healthy change for the both of us. But now that the time is actually coming up quickly, we are really trying to make the most of the time we have together. (I don’t realize how convenient and comforting it is to always have someone by your side until I think about the prospect of being on my own!)

All in all, I am coming to understand that CHANGE IS GOOD… and it is also very necessary to learn and to grow stronger as an independent person. Whether that be a change of health, a change of mind, or a change of place…it’s all in the realm of wellness! 2011, keep on coming! :)

Thanks for listenin! You guys rock, take care.

-Katy

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17
February

Cerebral Palsy, Finding Resilience

Hello Friends,

So I heard the word resilience used by the health teacher I aid for, when describing pretty much the components of being a healthy person, and it just got me thinking.

“Resilience” in psychology is the positive capacity of people to copewith stress and adversity. (Wikipedia)

Resilience is defined as a dynamic process that individuals exhibit positive behavioral adaptation when they encounter significant adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress. It is different from strengths or developmental assets which are a characteristic of an entire population, regardless of the level of adversity they face. (Wikipedia)

I felt l like I really wanted to break this word and its meaning apart because I think it applies to so many things in life, especially those who deal with some sort of disability, trauma, or set back. What I first noticed about the definition is that it continued on to say, “Resilience is most commonly understood as a process, and not a trait of an individual.” I wanted to stress this because even I mistakenly thought resilience was a personal character trait, not really a “process” or something that occurs due to the effect our environment has on us as individuals. Certain events, people, and other healthy stimuli lead us to not be resilient, but to have the stability and optimism that causes resilience to occur.

You may be thinking, Okay, so what?

What I am really trying to get at is, we are all capable of positivity, of emotional strength…but it all comes down to our environment. Agree or disagree, but I believe that we are who we are in part because of our nurture, who and what we surround ourselves with. Although CP may not be as adverse as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (among many examples)  I do believe that to be able to deal with the challenges that CP brings each of us, we should really try to have a comprehensive understanding of how to go about that in a healthy way. By creating a world that brings forth all the good things about you, you’ll start to notice your stresses diminishing. This, I guarantee. It may be hard to admit that you feel depressed or stressed out because of how you walk or can’t do certain things, get a certain person to like you…but it is also another form of resiliency in process. To have the ability to take yourself outside of your situation and address your own problems and how to cope takes an immense amount of strength and skills many others who live a very comfortable, sheltered life simply cannot do.

In a way, I am writing this post just for me, these words are just my thoughts in second person…as weird as that sounds. I have to convince myself a lot of the time that I am capable of so much more that what my CP negates me physically. I figure, since the way I walk is not really going to change, I am going to have to change. I’ve become a pro at putting on a smile and saying I’m fine, but that is just not going to cut it. I am learning how to smile for myself and be proud of what I have ahead of me, the CP in me is just along for the ride. Life is exciting, life is a process and I think only time will tell how each of us will come to understand the possibility that life in itself holds for every one out there who feels like they are flawed or scrutinized.

So here’s to you, TeenCPers and all those times you saw your CP as a part of your downfall. Think of it in a way that it is all a part of your journey toward the process of finding resilience.

Happy almost Friday!

-Katy

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