Facing FUD And Winning

I keep reiterating ad naseum that limb differences don’t have to affect day-to-day living but then continuously find a way to parlay limb differences into every day life. What’s up with that paradox? I think it all has to do with FUD. You don’t know what FUD is? Trust me, you know what the substance of it is. What you may not know is that it’s the acronym for fear, uncertainty and doubt.

We spent Memorial Day weekend camping in mountain lion territory.  We never saw a mountain lion, but we did see plenty of signs reminding us that we had pitched our tent (metaphorically and literally) in their neck of the woods. We were advised on what to do should we encounter a mountain lion. The appropriate protocol is make yourself as big as possible by raising your arms and spreading out your jacket. You should also put small children on your shoulders. If the mountain lion approaches, you should make loud menacing noises to convince the animal that you are not prey but are instead a potential danger.

Here’s a double dose of honesty – do you know what one of my biggest fears was about adopting a child with a “significant” disability? That it would shake up my crazy beautiful life. Has having a child with a significant disability shaken up my life? You bet. But not in the ways one would imagine.

Most people fear that something will happen to them or someone they love. Having a limb different child  certainly isn’t catastrophic, but it is life changing for everyone involved. It’s the biggest fear realized.

We walked to the edge of the deep abyss, held hands and jumped. The biggest hurdle wasn’t learning to navigate the limb difference waters, it was leaping out into the dark unknown.

Do you know what it feels like to mud wrestle FUD and win? It’s freeing and invigorating.

When you’re in the belly of the beast, whether you are there by your own accord or by life’s “happenstance,” it can be a frightening place. Stand tall, make yourself as large as possible and scream like your life bloody well depends on it.

It’s many steps to the edge of the cliff, but only one to leap off.

You’ll be glad you did.