How to make the most of your differences.
I was born normal and healthy. Or at least what is considered “normal” under doctor’s criteria. And then, a spoiled vaccine caused me an infection that made my shoulder disappear. One case in 10 million. And a chance in 100 million that a 10-day-old baby will survive such an infection.vaccine made my shoulder disappeared.
This fact changed the way I would face life’s setbacks in the future.
Despite the doctor’s recommendations about how this injury would affect my my development, my mum had it clear that she would raise me as if I had a “normal” arm.
As a consequence, I grew trying everything harder: from figuring out how to crawl with only ‘3-support-points-, to doing a handstand, playing volley ball, playing tennis …even play guitar or crawl swimming (despite my 30% beneath average arm’s mobility).
I never brought a “doctor´s note” to gymnastics class to excuse myself of any activity because my mother taught me that “there is always a way “- maybe not so obvious and easy but, they never said life was easy right? . So childhood passed by quite easily and mostly happy.
At that time, I was not conscious that all these experiences around my ‘short arm’ were the perfect training to develop such critical skills as RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY. Both the baseline of a growth mindset.
But with ‘teen-ages’ came all physical insecurities. I suddenly became aware of my “short and twisted”left-arm, so different from my friend`s; so weird compared to others. I started to avoid short sleeve T-shirts, to adopt postures that hide my arm.. I guess I suddenly became aware of the differences.
Fortunately I did not fall in the trap of mental illness to distort my self-image. I had my ‘lows’ but my family, friends and teachers helped me to moved from the gap (why me?) to the gain (this happens for you to learn something).
So thank you to my environment, I stayed in the gain and developed the right kind of awareness and the right kind of attitude: show up everyday and be kind to yourself and others.
The attitude and the mindset that years after, when a middle age crisis arrived, has allowed me to see beyond barriers and turn those into and opportunity to deep dive into my true self and find my purpose, my Why.
Now that I became a mother(of three), I have embraced the responsibility to lead by example and help my children develop this mindset. The one that leads to a meaningful life.
Let´s see how the story goes.
