This statement means a great deal in my life. I am my own worst enemy and biggest fan all at the same time. How, you ask? I have always been the first to lose confidence in myself or feel inadequate, however, I have been very lucky in my life to be surrounded by people who love and support me to the fullest. This is not to say that we all walk around high-fiving each other or are subjected to constant cheering, but we do know when to step in and when to let a situation take its course. Within my immediate circle of support, we are known to work hard and play hard. We all have differing personalities and skill sets which bring something individual to the table, which allow us to work well together and constantly learn from one another.
This translates into my professional life as well, where I allow children, to experiment with their world and learn by trial and error. I love the wide-eyed "Aha!" moments, complete with confident smiles and knowing smirks that I get to witness every day. Each time this happens, I tend to cast aside the struggles of daily life as I am certain that I am right where I am supposed to be.
In addition to the emotional support and advice I receive from loved ones, there are a few other items that I just can't seem to live without. My calendars and laptop are my organizational lifelines. Without them, I am pretty sure my world would come completely unraveled. These tools help me manage social obligations, my finances, work schedules, sports schedules, and professional information. I perform close to 100% of research concerning my family online, and supplement my children's educational experiences through certain websites, as well. My phone should also be included within my technical supports, since it and my laptop are major contributing factors to my ability to communicate. I love that I am free to roam, and don't have to feel that I am shirking any responsibility regarding business or leisure. (...but don't get me wrong--I love going "off the grid" and disappearing for short periods of time too!)
Without these supports, my world would become a completely different place. I imagine that I would feel much more isolated, and that even simple tasks would become much more difficult. I remember as a child being fascinated with Helen Keller. This led me to often pretend that I had lost my sight and hearing, and I would try to communicate with others and make my way around the house. I even took it upon myself to try to teach myself some basic sign language and braille. As an adult and educator, I took the task more seriously as I realized how much it could benefit those with and without sensory challenges.
I cannot imagine the devastation that would I feel if my world were to become changed so drastically at this point in my life, but I know that I would be able to overcome most difficulties that it would present. I would have to restructure the entire management of family life. I would have to find new ways to work and play. I think that the most tragic of all would be the inability to hear my children's stories and laughter, and view all of their smiles and accomplishments. My support system would need further support by those with more specialized abilities. I hope that I would have the strength to move forward to prove to myself and the world that beauty comes in all forms and that we all have something to give.
