What is normal?
Hey! Its Dwarfism Awareness Month! I missed yesterday’s post… the day got ahead of me, but its Oct 7th and it’s a new day to spread awareness!!! My question of the day is “What is normal?” Many times we base what we know on some sort of a “norm” and we compare thoughts, opinions, maybe even decisions based off of that “norm”. I’m here to tell you my opinion… There is NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL. My whole life I feel like I have been compared to that word; every surgery, doctor visit and social situation is based off of this word… and to be quite honest, I’m sick of it! The biggest problem in this world when it comes to this word is that when we see something that is “ab-normal” or “different” we immediately shy away, look away, and perhaps judge that “different” thing… or person.
The reason I bring up this point is because I deal with this judgment every day of my life. Every day as I walk around NYC, there will always be one person that see’s me and is confused. Perhaps they are stunned, shocked, thinking many things in their head… “Why is she alone?” “I’ve never seen anyone so small” “Is she an adult?” “How cute is she!” Then they will look away or tell their child to stop looking and run out of the room. The more we instill fear in something or someone who is different looking, the more it will continue to be a problem for the rest of our lives. This is a stigma we MUST break!!!! We need to teach children that if something is “ab-normal” or “different” that doesn’t make it a threat… let alone something to be afraid of. Rather it should be something to learn more about or perhaps embrace? These feelings of fear, uncomfortably, awkwardness comes from the history of DISABILITY. How people like me used to not be able to leave their house, or would be killed at birth, or given away. People like me were not wanted in this world. I know it sounds morbid… but it is true. This is something that is ingrained in us and must be changed. We have come too far in embracing all other types of minorities, but the disability community has been the last to be recognized. So my next request is this…. I encourage you all to ask a question next time! If you ever see anyone different, and you are feeling afraid or uncomfortable, I encourage you to ask that person a question, rather than stare and figure it out in your head. 90% of the time, I am sure that someone would be more than willing to share some knowledge than be stared at.
