On being different ... with an attitude!

March 26, 2004

So .... I are " different " .... are I?

I may not *look* the same as you do .... but I *feel* the same!

I feel hurt when someone discounts me! Does that make me " different " ?

I feel happy when something good happens to me. Does that make me

" different " ? I feel sad when people reject me. Does that make me

" different " ? I feel angry when someone forces me into a mold. Does

that make me " different " ? I love and am loved. Does that make me

" different " ? If, by feeling, I am " different " ... then I choose to be

" different " !

Now .... look at me. I am not yet 5 feet tall and, being generous to

myself, my hair is salt and pepper. I am overweight. I am diabetic. I

have a very marked and unusual ptosis. I tire very quickly and I get

nasty things happen to my body when I choose not to listen to it because

of exercise intolerance. I have bowel " issues " and repiratory " issues " .

My dysautonnomia is significant. I " crash " and that definitely isn't

what I choose for myself often ... however, I reserve the right to make

the choice on special occasions. I am 60 years old. I celebrated 40

years of marriage last August. I was a " sickly " kid ... and my one

pregnancy was " difficult " .... so it's a good thing I had twins! I have

been unABLE to work since 1985. I am considering purchasing a means of

transportation which will make it easier to move around ... so perhaps

then I will be " different " ?

So ..... am I " different " ? Except for the ptosis, I " look " fairly normal.

I have had a diagnosis of Mitochondrial Encephalopathy (hard achievement

in the early days!) in 1991 but a tentative diagnosis in 1987. I have a

diagnosis of Complexes 1, 3 and 4 in the Respiratory Chain with COX.

Now ... am I " different " ?

Sometimes I wonder, as I read here, if I were non-verbal, in a power

chair and blind or deaf ... if then I would be " different " but I know,

in my heart, that I would still *feel*!

I am human after all. I feel, therefor I am! I don't *feel* " different " !

Jean Shepherd, List Owner

Adultmito list

Mito granny ... or granny with Mito!

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