Under the Surface

“It’s easy to look at people and make quick judgments about them, their present and their past, but you’d be amazed at the pain and tears a single smile hides. What a person shows to the world is only one tiny facet of the iceberg hidden from sight. And more often than not, it’s lined with cracks and scars that go all the way to the foundation of their soul.”

Sherrilyn Kenyon

When we were all children our parents would tell us that we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, and yet, as adults, we still struggle with this. We live in a very judgmental society, and because we post a lot of our “surface” lives online, people are quick to make judgments. You cannot just look at someone or their social media and know what they’re truly going through. After all, we are all just trying to put our best foot forward. Even though a silent war may be raging on inside of us, we don’t ever want anyone else to know.

We need to break this cycle. It is ok to not be ok. We need to stop judging ourselves and one another. We need to be more accepting and open. We need to lend one another a hand, and show each other that we are not alone.

A very important point I’d like to make is that not all disabilities or illnesses can be seen on the surface, but that doesn’t make them any less serious. Invisible disabilities and illnesses are disabilities that the naked eye cannot see. Mental illnesses, ADD/ADHD, Autism, Cancer, MS, Diabetes, Celiac Disease, Lupus, Migraines, Chronic Fatigue syndrome – these are just a few serious disabilities that you would never know a person has just by looking at them

My goal is to lessen the stigma around invisible disabilities and start an open dialogue.

That young seemingly able-bodied person who just parked in a handicap space – they have MS and just the walk from the car to the entrance of the store is an immense struggle.

That little kid in class who can’t stop talking or moving around – they have ADHD and just trying to sit still takes up all their energy and concentration.

That person falling asleep at their desk again has chronic fatigue and no matter how much sleep they get they are still exhausted and can barely function.

We know that you may not always know how to interact with us, and that’s ok. However, if we all work together and have a basic understanding of how invisible disabilities can affect a person, we can start an open dialogue. Too many people suffer in silence and feel like nobody understands what they’re going through. It is my intention to educate people more on these ailments and create a community so no one feels alone.