Hello TeenCP!
Before I start, what do you guys think of the new latout? Some of my older posts won’t have a featured image, but I’m still working out all the kinks (with all the tech skills that I have of course, ha!)
Anyway, how awesome is this: United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County is now having me write a monthly post on their blog talking about being a young adult with CP! It is great to bring in such a unique aspect of having CP than most people at UCP are used to…many of the visitors are parents of young children with disabilities, so I am interested to hear their reaction from my thoughts and experiences. I am feeling pretty excited about this, because it brings forth a whole new spectrum of people within this community I would have never had the pleasure of writing to had I not started this blog two years ago! And really when it all comes down to it, I am only in this position because of you all who continue to read my blog! So I thank you for keeping me motivated to keep on writing even when the goings get tough.
Here http://ucpoc.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/lifes-a-journey-with-cp-and-me/ is a link to the little feature for you all to read, but just know that you guys are my number ONE go-to people in the blogging world! I have been doing a lot of writing about CP on OMF and now UCP-OC, (see blogroll on the right) but TeenCP always has been and always will be my home base 
No one knows any better about living with CP as a teen than you all on here, right?? Anyway, what I am truly getting at is, I am feeling truly blessed right now, to be able to speak out to so many people on so many different levels.
Most importantly, I feel I owe this all to the TeenCP followers and all the moral support you guys give me…I know there is never much action going on in the comments, but some of your emails that I receive make me smile and make this all worth while. Your words help me when I am down just as much as you think that I my experiences help you.
I had a thought jumbled up in my mind all day after I spoke with a friend yesterday about my transition from my home life to college life… and I translated it into this:
The truth may be shameful, it may seem bleak… But recognizing that truth shows that you are not weak.
Over the past few weeks, I have definitely enjoyed the process of transitioning into college, don’t get me wrong here… but lately I’ve been just having some troubling facing some truths of my own. I have been making things so difficult for myself I think, at school…It’s like once the semester came I immediately wanted to crawl up in the fetal position and say NOOOO life is starting!! When instead, I couldn’t see the exciting part of that (YAYYY life is starting!! I am free to be ME all on my own!) And slowly, I am turning my thoughts into positive ones…I am still learning that life is not supposed to be easy, life is about challenges and overcoming those challenges, and living it to the fullest more importantly… change is not always going to be easy… and CP doesn’t make it any easier my any means. I worry about my health, stretching and all of the other fun stuff about having CP brings forth. This dramatic change that I am experiencing as I begin life on my own is making me realize all of this in the truest sense.
Back to what I was saying earlier, once I got off the phone with my friend, it was almost as if a wave of relief washed over me… My friend is right, this is my time, I am free to become who I am meant to be….I am not tied down by anything or anyone! The freedom is intimidating, but it is refreshing. I think that in order to make the most of this newfound freedom, I have to let go of any self doubt I hold, let go of my CP, let go of anything that is holding me back from being strong and CONFIDENT and go for it. Do any college CP friends have any advice out there? Anything you guys learned during a tough change in your life that you would like to share? I think we would all love to hear about it! I hope my honesty allows you to feel like you can be honest on here as well… we are all in this CP thing together, right?
Alright, I am mentally, emotionally, and physically tired now…
Goodnight all!
-Katy
