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My beautiful new job
March 12, 2018
“Abled does not mean enabled. Disabled does not mean less abled.” – Khang Kijarro Nguyen
Sorry I have been neglecting my blog. I went back to work. And when I say “back to work”, I jumped in head first.
I LOVED having a boutique. For 4.5 years my partner Maggie and I didn’t just sell clothing, we made hilarious memories together. I was blessed to have incredible people that supported our small business, and made every work day fun. The flip side was that when Maggie moved, it was just me. The boutique was a labor of love. What I loved most was having a partner, and learning how to run a business from the ground up. Once Maggie left, it became more work then play and when I finally closed back in May of 2016, it was with a heavy heart, and a sigh of relief.
We moved to San Diego and for a year and a half I was “gainfully” unemployed. I was blessed to focus on my girls, and Skee, and writing. I also realized that I LOVE to be busy, and I searched my heart for what I wanted the next chapter of my life to look like.
Maggie was the one who suggested working with people who have disabilities. Mackenzie, my oldest daughter, knew a non-profit would be the best fit. So those coupled together, I am now a Community Training Instructor.
I LOVE IT!!! My days are spent with amazing individuals who have “aged out” of “the system”. My participants are between 23 and 60. I get to take 3 a day out into the community to volunteer, work at their jobs, take long walks, go to the library, bookstores, the beach, and for lunch. Every day is different.
What other job do your participants tell you they love you? I get fist pumps, high fives and thumbs up all day long. I get to play bingo, and corn hole, and basketball! I make crafts and recipes. It is magical!
What I love most is that my participants are gaining so much independence every day. I have one woman who is my age who was born blind and plays the piano like Billy Joel. Another can tell you the capital of every single state! One of my new friends can tell you the day of the week any date you throw at
him. These people, my new friends, are incredible. Last week I we went to see baby seals at the children’s pool in La Jolla. Parking was tough so we had to park about 1 mile away. One of my 3 friends has a syndrome where he has a really hard time with walking and balance. He walked the entire way there, and back too! He never complained. I am so inspired by my new friends.
I found this quote, and it sums up how I feel. “When you focus on someone’s disability you’ll overlook their abilities, beauty and uniqueness. Once you learn to accept and love them for who they are, you subconsciously learn to love yourself unconditionally.” – Yvonne Pierre, The Day My Soul Cried: A Memoir .
So forgive me if I am going to be blogging much less. I am busy making memories with some of the most beautiful people I have ever met.