Life is like a box of chocolate

"Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what  you're gonna get." Yep this quotation is of course from "Forest Gump" (Kyle Soderman's favorite movie) but it  also has a special meaning for me...This is it.
In January of this year I traveled from California to Florida for Kyle Soderman's wedding. Kyle is the amazing twin brother of Korey (my ex-boyfriend at the time and now the love of my life forever.)  Anyway, as the hours passed by on the flight there, I wondered how I would feel after not seeing Korey in a year and a half. Would I still be so stubborn  about not being in a  long distance relationship or might I remember why I had fallen in love with Korey in the first place? I didn't know "what I was going to get." That is, of course, until the rehearsal dinner. When I saw Korey dressed as Lieutenant Dan, decked out in army gear, a brown wig, a red bandana, and a smile across his adorable face, as part of his parents Wendy and Kris' surprise Forest Gump themed rehearsal dinner, I knew Korey was the guy for me!! Korey in that ridiculous costume stole my heart away again! Then, the following night, at Kyle's wedding, Korey,who can't speak due to having CP, did an amazing best man speech via a video. In it, he thanked Kyle for introducing him to me. I fell deeper in love. I didn't want to tell Korey this yet though. It was so busy with his family in town for the wedding. I waited until the day after I got home and told Korey I was in love with him on facebook. I didn't know how he would feel or how he would react...i again didn't know what i was going to get. Korey did  tell me he loved me and the  rest  is history.
so for all the Carrie Bradshaws of the world who analyze every aspect of a relationship, we should just stop and enjoy. Life is messy like a box of chocolates but if you have love like Korey and I do, you can get through anything!

Many Ways of Doing Art!

Many people think of doing art as painting a picture on a canvas with a paintbrush in hand or molding a sculpture out of clay. But what about people with disabilities who don't have the dexterity in their hands to hold a brush and create a mural? Can they be considered artists? Yes they can!!! In fact, on January 26, 2013, I went to the festival of human ability at the Aquarium in Long Beach, California, and I saw a man named Tommy Hollenstein paint with the wheels of his wheelchair! It's amazingly inspiring to see a wheelchair create something beautiful. The festival of human ability is a really cool event to go to overall because you get to see the creativity of people with disabilities through wheelchair art, wheelchair dance, and a signing choir.  Throughout my life, I've also seen artists with disabilities who use mouth pieces to do art and even a man with Cerebral Palsy by the name of Gille Legacy who uses his nose as his vehicle for his artistic masterpieces.  I believe that being an artist is not about ability, but about the person's intense desire to express himself or herself in a creative way!!!

Hardest thing about being disabled

So I left off by telling people to get involved in politics but then I didn't even write a post about the 2012 election. Sorry but I'm a crazy busy college student! Oh well, the man who is the best advocate for human rights won the race.

Anyway, today I'm talking about something much more near to my heart.  It's something much harder than dealing with the stares that come from students on the college campus or trying to fight against the stigma of people with disabilities. On August 10, 2012, my aide of 2 years, Brittany, left to go back to school.  Having to say goodbye to an aide who's your best friend and who you do everything with is the hardest thing ever about being disabled for me.  I almost had to go on a twelve step program to get over it but THANK GOD! it didn't take twelve steps. It only took 4! First, I went through that horrible period of anticipating Brittany walking into my house like she did everyday, and then getting disappointed when it wasn't her anymore. Next, I went through a few months of numb loneliness and sadness.  Then, feeling tired of feeling sorry for myself, I tried to explore more of my own hobbies and tried to evolve my life! Now, Brittany and I still hang out together sometimes but I have come to accept that we have different life paths.  This is hard, not easy, but I've realized that the only true way to be happy is to find something I love to do for myself!  Hope this helps someone out there!

Disability Capitol Action Day

California is awesome because there are many Independent Living Centers here that serve people with disabilities everyday.   One of the Independent Living Centers, SCRS,  located in Downey, California,  has a fanatic youth group and the coolest  event we attended is Disability Capitol Action Day.  Disability Capitol Action Day happened on May 30, in Sacramento, California, and it was such a great way to learn about self advocacy. First, thousands of youth with disabilities marched down the street and in front of the state capitol, shouting, “What do we want?  A fair budget!  When do we want it? Now!!!'' It felt incredible to send the message to the law makers that funding for programs that serve people with disabilities is just as important as any funding for other governmental programs.  After the march, we all congregated in front of the capitol building where we listened to a bunch of speakers, including the secretary of state who talked to us about the importance of voting and letting our voices be heard.  Hearing the secretary of state speaking to a group of young advocates with disabilities was one of the most empowering and powerful experiences of my life.  Then, after a short lunch, my SCRS friends and I ventured into the capitol building for our meeting with the assistant to legislature.  There, we explained to her how important it is for people with disabilities to be able to choose their own,  even if In Home Support Services are the ones paying for the aides.  Advocating on behalf of myself as well as countless others with disabilities made me feel prouder than I've ever felt before!  On Disability Capitol Action Day I realized that it takes a lot of politics to change the world, so we need to be better informed about politics if we really want to make a difference!  

Coolest Guy I Know

I know that i've been talking a lot about heroes lately, but I'd liked to think that this next one is the coolest person I know.   His name is Andy Arias, and I saw him do stand up comedy at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, California, on July 15, 2012.  However, the catch is that he CAN'T stand up because he has Cerebral Palsy and is a freaking wheelchair user.  Andy is a hilarious comic who makes cracks at the challenges that he faces with dating other guys  while in a wheelchair.  Oh my god, Andy is the expert in pushing  the boundaries in every way possible, and that's what I LOVE MOST ABOUT HIM!!!  So, let's change the standards of comedy and take the stand up out of stand up comedy, because someone's ability or inability to stand up doesn't equal their talent to entertain a crowd!

My Friend Brent Michelle

On July 22, 2012, at the Orange County Fair in California,  I saw a wonderful singer songwriter, and friend, Brent Michelle preform. Being at the OC Fair on a beautiful summer day and listening to Brent Michelle's awesome tunes made me feel so happy that I felt free of the daily challenges I face with having a disability.  Just like the counselors at Rocky Mountain Village, Brent Michelle is a  hero to me because she devotes her life to making people happy through her music, and as a byproduct, she is making the world a better place.  In one of her biggest songs, she says, "I'm a lover.  I'm a fighter.....I fight for what I love and I love that I fight for it.  This song inspires me to fight even harder to achieve my dream of opening up a creative arts program for young kids with disabilities.    Anyway, Brent Michelle is incredible, so look her up on youtube and I hope her music can brighten up your day.

Rocky Mountain Village

Most people would argue that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, and as much as I love this magical park, I believe that Rocky Mountain Village Easter Seals Camp in Colorado is absolutely 100% the greatest place in the entire world!!  Each summer, a group of the most loving, caring, compassionate, people who volunteer three months out of their time to make sure that people with disabilities can enjoy a wonderful experience at camp.  To me, those are the true heroes of the world.  I personally have rubbed shoulders with these amazing peeps as I have gone  to camp for five years, usually during the week between July 29 and August 3; they offer us the incredible opportunities to go horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and zip lining.  Ah zip lining...something I never thought someone in a wheelchair would   be able to do, but let me tell you, flying so high in the beautiful forestry I feel so free and far from society's judgments. However, that's not even the best part of camp.
What I love most about Rocky Mountain Village is something extremely rare to find.  It's a certain type of attitude that everyone shares where we all accept, care about, and love each other as individuals, though everyone has varying levels of disability. Yes, camp is all about 100% acceptance and 0% judgment of people with disabilities.  So much so that camp proms are the only dances in my life where I don't feel like a lonely wall flower, because there, I do have real sincere friends.  To put icing on a fabulous cake, this year at prom, my beautiful best friend Hope won prom queen!!!  Needless to say, I  LOVE CAMP, and for all the parents of sons and daughters with disabilities out there, your kids will love Rocky Mountain Village too!! Check it out on Google and I promise your kids will be happy you did!