Patience

As a human being, patience is something we forget about when we want something right away.

As a person with a disability and advocate, patience can be a useful tool.

But to be honest, when we have rough times or a rough season, it can be difficult to maintain.

Like when you have to wait for people to help you do a task that is easy for others because they do it every day, such as getting dressed, getting out of bed, or taking a shower. 

As a person with a disability, I have things I need to have patience for. Waiting can feel like being in a hamster wheel going in same direction but really going nowhere. 

The systems that provide services are a great study in patience. They make you wait a LOT. Whenever I hear a response of, “I heard you and will get back to you”, often that’s all I need to hear to lessen my anxiety and further the idea of patience and cooperation later on.

As an advocate, patience is a necessary thing to function day-to-day when things don't go the way you need or want them to. Sometimes a lack of response creates doubt in your mind of your worth as a human being.

Take a little advice from someone who knows that being persistent and saying, “I'm still here” is sometimes what you need to do.