I'm just so delighted to have the chance to write in my blog after hectic weeks. I just realized that I haven't wrote anything since my last post. So, today I want to share about the lecture on Intellectual Disability. The class was so awesome. I couldn't stop smiling after class.
What I want to share is about C (not the real name) who is diagnosed with Down's Syndrome since she was born. She was invited to share her life experience on how it feels to be unique and different from others in the lecture. I'm not going to share all her experiences because I couldn't even remember vividly everything she shared and since the lecture is not recorded due to privacy matter, so I'm just going to share what I have learnt from C :)
1. Focus on things you have
C realized that she was different from others, so she choose to be focus on what she has instead of bragging about things she couldn't do. She appreciates every little improvement she made. The way she shared her stories was so inspiring because she did not show any regret for being a girl with Down's Syndrome. Instead, she was proud on little things that mean a lot for her such as being able to speak in front of others, being able to do chores independently and many more. Maybe, for us, it is not a big deal. But, for her it is a great achievement. I just really love on how she can accept her disability and doesn't give up learning new skills.
2. Cope with difficulties
Of course, we are all have difficulties in life. So does C and she may have different difficulties from us due to her uniqueness. However, she said that she will develop strategies to cope in difficult situations. She acknowledge that sometimes, things aren't always work out but she said we need to be strong. If plan A doesn't work, move on to plan B and so on. How optimistic she is. I'm pretty sure that sometimes, life does disappoint us when we don't get what we want but I believe that everything that happens in our life is actually helping us to get to know more about ourselves and teaching us to improve ourselves day by day. How wonderful life is. Life never be easy, ladies and gentlemen. It meant to be hard. But, verily, with hardship comes ease (94:5) :)
3. Support each other
As a unique person, C really needs support from others to help her in coping with life. As for me, we all need to develop understanding about human. Respect differences and cherish the similarities. We all want a better world. So, let's work together :) Provide support and do not judge. We are all human.
At the end of her sharing, we were given an opportunity to ask questions. So, of course, I am one of them who was asking a question. But, my question was for her mom, specifically.
My question was : "It’s very inspiring on how you can think positive when you’re told that your child is having Down’s Syndrome which I think it’s quite difficult for some people to accept.
Would you mind to tell us what makes you think so positive and help your child to cope with life?"
And, her answer was just so lovely.
She said that she was lucky to have a positive nature within her and she is blessed with supportive husband and son. Of course, it wasn't easy. She said, sometimes family also don't understand. After all, we need to walk on our own shoes. She said that preservation skill is important.
There are times when she feels it's so hard. Yes, we all have a normal face that we wear everyday (happy face), but we also have another face we hide (sad, disappointment). So, she said sometimes, we just need to open up to people even though it is definitely not easy. Keep healthy physically and mentally and just keep on supporting the each other.
It was so wonderful to listen to others' stories.
It was such an inspirational sharing.
Let us develop compassion and mercy in ourselves towards other people.
Let us have an open mind and heart to appreciate differences.
Let us improve ourselves to understand human in order to be a better human.
"Let us be the change we want to see in this world" - Mahatma Gandhi
By the way, this is one of the examples of the idea of Human Library that I proposed yesterday in AGM HAKIM. This is one of the ways for us to be more open and appreciate differences in human.
Last but not least, I want to share a quote by Mimi Jazman after the class ended,
"If you think your life is difficult, think about other's life."
We are all struggling and we struggle on different things. I pray to Allah that for every hardship that we face in life, Allah will reward with greater an better things.
Till then,
Assalamualaikum :)
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