What to name my Facebook group and Blog…..
Who knew it would be so difficult to come up with a name for a new Facebook group and Blog. Granted, I was probably over thinking the whole process, but I wanted to get it right. I wanted to create a Facebook group for people with disabilities, friends of people with disabilities, advocates of people with disabilities, care takers of people with disabilities, and people who just want to understand and know more about the successes and struggles of people with disabilities. What type of disability would be represented? Really, in my mind, any and all. My first thought was that this group must be inspirational and positive such as “Possible Abilities” or “Infinite Abilities”. Or, maybe something more inclusive like “Our Abilities”. Or maybe it needed the word disability in the name for people searching for specific support. My thoughts were swirling!
But then I started thinking about my personal journey. I’d like to say I’ve handled it all with grace and a positive, go get ‘em attitude; but there has been a lot of fear and uncertainty there. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with CMT, Charcot Marie Tooth, a form of muscular dystrophy. It affects everyone differently, but it is chronic and degenerative. It impacts my ability to balance and walk, and my hands shake. It has changed everything. As time goes on, I slowly lose a piece of my old self. I find there is a certain amount of fear in the journey. I look for potential obstacles and I must plan ahead. I look at the world through new eyes, a sort of new vision. Hmmm…maybe the group could be called “New Vision Abilities”? But, then I figured people would think it was only for the vision impaired.
I find myself searching. I am searching for new ways to do things, searching for the strength to be an advocate for myself, searching for patience with myself and others, searching for understanding. So….”Searching for Abilities”? But, I liked the idea of celebrating when I discover a new ability. When I “find” that I am trying something new, overcoming a fear, discovering patience or the ability to advocate for myself and others. It is in this “finding” that there is strength. For a moment I thought of “Building Abilities”, but really, I feel we discover things about ourselves that may have always been there, and we are just finding it now. Or maybe we find new abilities that we want to build in ourselves. So, “Finding Abilities” it is. “Finding Abilities” in us, our family, our friends, our coworkers and our world is a lifelong journey. So, let us share and celebrate all of the abilities we find we are using in our daily lives, especially the ability to give gratitude for all that we have.
Finding Abilities 