As a disabled person having someone to look up to, relate to, and ask disability-related questions or advice can be extremely valuable. Having someone in your life who understands the challenges you go through daily on a deeper level can be Life-changing.
On top of the fact that having a disability can be challenging to navigate, it also can be challenging to make meaningful connections with people. I know this from personal experience; I have struggled with making friends. Nine years ago, in May, I signed up for a mentorship program called Thrive through Easter Seals of Massachusetts.
I was a bit ambivalent about signing up because I really did not have the best relationship with my disabled identity at that time in my life. I hated being disabled, and I did not want to be a part of anything that had to do with disability. I am incredibly grateful that I have been a part of the program.
Thrive is a mentorship program for women with disabilities. I have matched with Holly, a woman with a similar degree of cerebral palsy as me. We both have spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Not only did we share a diagnosis, but we also shared pop culture books and so much more. Participants are matched based on their interests and disability. The program was only supposed to be about six months and consisted of both in-person and virtual gatherings. Each pair was required to touch base at least once a month. Although we could not do any of the in-person group events, including the major conference that the program hosted. This was due to unforeseen circumstances. Despite this, we maintained constant Skype calls and met up once during the duration of the program. At the time, we both lived in Massachusetts, although on opposite sides of the state, so it was a bit of a drive.
Little did I know nine years later, I had a friendship that would last a lifetime and that today we would still maintain a strong friendship. Until recently, we only saw each other once every few years, but it never seemed like much time had passed. We now FaceTime each other at least once a week and visit each other at least once a year even though I live in Florida and she lives in Massachusetts.
Funny enough, as I am writing this, she just left to go back to Massachusetts this morning. While she was here, we got matching tattoos to symbolize our friendship and bond as women with cerebral palsy. We decided to get a butterfly since butterflies are the cerebral palsy awareness symbol. When I look back at how we met and where we are now; I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and if things did not happen the way they did, we would not be as close as we are today. Through the program, I did not only gain a mentor, but I gained a best friend, someone whom I can count on. Someone I can say with no doubt in my mind will be in my life forever.
If you are interested in hearing more about the evolution of a friendship and the importance of having people in your life to look up to and relate to, listen to the episode of my podcast, Living My Best Disabled Life, which features Holly called The Importance of Having Mentors.
Until next time,
Liv
