
The Daryl Perry Podcast
Living Between Two Worlds With Mild Cerebral Palsy
Living with mild cerebral palsy can sometimes feel like living between two different worlds. In the non-disabled world, people may immediately see me as disabled. They may notice the way I walk, make assumptions about what I can do, or even question whether I belong in certain spaces. Then there is another side of the experience. Within the disabled community, I have also had people minimize my disability or suggest that I am not disabled enough because some of the things I struggle with are not immediately obvious. That can leave you in a strange middle ground. In this episode of Living with Mild Cerebral Palsy, I talk openly about what that experience has felt like for me. I get into wanting to fit in sometimes, feeling guilty because other people have greater physical challenges, constantly feeling like I need to prove myself, and wondering whether the drive to keep accomplishing more can sometimes come from a lifelong fear of being behind. I also talk about something I think is especially important. Your experience does not have to be compared to somebody else's before it becomes valid. Someone else having a different experience with cerebral palsy does not erase yours. Your ability to adapt does not mean things have always been easy. And appreciating what your body allows you to do does not mean you are never allowed to feel frustrated, exhausted, or weighed down by it. Sometimes you can appreciate yourself and still wish you could blend in. Sometimes you can be optimistic and still acknowledge that this is hard. Sometimes simply giving yourself permission to recognize those thoughts is part of learning more about yourself. If any part of this episode connects with you, spend a few minutes writing about your own experience. You do not need a perfect journal practice. Write a few sentences, make a list in your phone, or simply put the thoughts somewhere outside of your head. You deserve to know how you feel about your own life. Get the journal prompts that will help you to continue to unpack your thoughts and feelings: https://yourlevelfitness.com/email

