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Anyhow in light of the many things I’ve been working on I wanted to share an epiphany I encountered. Sometime ago, I decided to take a stroll around my neighborhood. It was a brisk November afternoon as I found myself immersed in my surroundings. That being the figments placed in & around our city blocks that actually serve such unique purpose in their own right. These things are what keeps our commonwealth running like a well oiled machine. So I whipped out my camera/phone & started snapping.... Stop signs, mailboxes, chain fences, guardrails, benches, billboards & most intriguing.... Fire hydrants!!! Can you IMAGINE life without the mechanisms of these gadgets!? In a way, they ARE important, starkly imperative to our way of life. Which then made me think deeper. We pass these objects LITERALLY every single day & every second of each hour without giving any of them a second thought. Imagine how impactful it would be to society if these things no longer existed!? And while we don’t consider the presence of these silent objects, it’s important to recognize them for what they are.
So take a fire hydrant for example.... It stands at attention say & night, ready on command to serve the purpose of dispensing gallons upon GALLONS of water at once to extinguish a fire. No one pays attention to the mechanics of these magnificent configurations until we need them. I appreciate their existence for not only what it offers but for some strange reason connect with them on a personal level.
As a woman with a disability, I can personally attest to the emotion of feeling invisible. I live in a world where I’m immensely out numbered by the able bodied community. Often situations force me to assert myself among my peers in an attempt to prove to them that I’m just as worthy. Truthfully, it’s a tiresome task however it is a feat in which I refuse to fail. One can only imagine what a needle in a haystack feels like. Well if you ask Siri, s/he’ll pull up my picture!! At any rate, I digress. I’m not pressed by any means of my physical circumstance, on the contrary I’m motivated by it. I utilize every opportunity possible as a teachable moment wherever necessary.
Ever been able to connect or relate to an inanimate object? Strange as it sounds, I have. Fire hydrants are important in every sense of the word. They serve the most unique purpose, many of them possess a variation of physical features which sets them apart from all the rest. The characteristics alone create individualism among each one. If you haven’t already realized by now, that’s where the relatability comes into focus. Feeling ignored, invisible, harboring a physical difference alongside an immeasurable amount of pressure to perform at full capacity when needed is a daily emotional journey I face. I sat staring at these magnificent objects, posted, ready to perform on command & I thought “Hey that’s me!” Rusted & weathered from the elements of the outdoors.... With a bit of a gross moss even covering a portion of the base to no fault of its own, I still found that same quiet beauty that lives within a person with a disability; ignored for having a visible difference. I began to snap pictures!!
I now take photos of the fire hydrants in my neighborhood. Mostly the ones that are weathered & rusted, signifying that they have a past, a story like me & yet still they stand.
I learned a long time ago that people fear what they can’t relate to, they’re more likely to connect with what they see in the mirror. Anything outside of that is wrong & redundant. Among the many other lessons learned since having my Haley Jean, one specifically being how I view things very differently now than before. No longer do I stay above water, instead I scratch the surface to feel the depth of its truth. I tend to seek the wisdom that’s within all things or people, but hidden from the world out of fear for being vulnerable. This isn’t on purpose, I just can’t help myself. I think & think & think some more because I’m typically unsatisfied with my findings the first go ‘round. Perhaps it’s the intensivist in me.
With all that said, in light of today’s atmosphere let’s look beyond the surface of those around us who may be secretly hurting, who’s less fortunate than we are. Keeping in mind that while we may look different, it’s the virtue that defines humanity...,😉
