FREE

We are not VICTIMS of Down Syndrome !!!

ELIJAH is NOT a VICTIM.

Elijah has not been victimized by the extra spark of a chromosome that is fused into his DNA.

Down Syndrome does not equal victim of....

Let me tell you why -A victim is by definition a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.

Elijah is not any of those things! And neither is our family.

Down Syndrome cannot make victims out of us unless we choose to let it. We have the capability and capacity to train our thoughts and how we view the world, and how we view Down Syndrome.

    

I think often we look at "disability" and see what "can't" or what is lacking (the whole idea of the word disability is "dis" - a lack of, apart from or away from the ability to do or be something) instead of seeing the ABILITIES in people who don't have the same skill sets we do. I think we often see those with disability as at a disadvantage instead of seeing the abilities each person has.

Elijah has so many abilities - things he is skilled at and can do well that I often envy. Elijah can dance anywhere and everywhere because when he feels and hears a rhythm that moves him, no one can stop him. He doesn't care if anyone is watching. Elijah can memorize and remember things that blow me away. Elijah has the ability to live in the moment like no body I've ever seen. (let me remind you I am talking about ELIJAH, not everyone with Down Syndrome. Elijah has a unique custom made personality just like everyone else!)

I gotta tell ya, when I first found out Elijah had Down Syndrome, I grieved. I didn't grieve because I had Elijah - Elijah was just absolutely perfect. I DID, however, grieve the loss of my expectations. I grieved what I thought (but wasn't)  was the loss of abilities. I processed and grieved, and then moved forward. Viewing Elijah, myself or my family as victims was never part of the equation.

    

To be free of the expectations I had,  I also had to let go of the Fear.

I had the choice to become a victim of FEAR,

or to LET GO of the UNKNOWN - the thing I FEARED the most.

Being a victim of our thoughts and expectations

has the potential to consume us more than any disability or circumstance ever could.

There is too much color and beauty in this life to be hanging onto ideas and thoughts that are driven by fear.

So lets be free - free from fear and false expectations, and in doing so lets free others to be all they were created to be, abilities and all.