What have you learned about yourself that you never would have discovered without going through hard times?
You have to fight for your rights, no matter what.
That’s something I’ve learned the hard way.
Going through a brain injury, stroke, and disability has changed the way I see a lot of things. It has also put me in situations where other people, institutions, and circumstances can start making decisions about my life.
You learn pretty quickly that if you don’t speak up for yourself, sometimes nobody else will.
And fighting for your rights doesn’t necessarily mean fighting with everybody.
Sometimes it’s filling out the paperwork.
Sometimes it’s asking the question again.
Sometimes it’s saying, “No, that’s not acceptable.”
Sometimes it’s insisting that someone listen when you’re being dismissed.
Sometimes it’s knowing what you’re entitled to and refusing to let somebody talk you out of it.
And sometimes the fight is much simpler.
It’s getting up the next morning and continuing to participate in your own life.
I’ve learned that being disabled doesn’t mean giving up my voice. It doesn’t mean automatically accepting whatever somebody else tells me. It doesn’t mean I stop asking questions, stop challenging decisions, or stop advocating for myself.
I’ve also learned that there are days when fighting takes more energy than I have.
That’s when the fight might look different.
Maybe I make one phone call instead of five.
Maybe I write down what I need to say before I say it.
Maybe I ask someone I trust to help me get my point across.
Maybe I take a break and come back to it tomorrow.
That still counts.
The important thing is that I don’t simply disappear from my own life.
I have had enough things taken out of my control already. I’m not going to voluntarily hand over the rest.
You have to fight for your rights, no matter what.
Not because every fight is going to be won.
Not because every system is fair.
Not because every person is going to listen.
You fight because your voice matters.
You fight because your life matters.
You fight because you are still here.
And sometimes the strongest thing you can do isn’t swing a hammer.
Sometimes it’s simply saying:
“No. You need to listen to me.”
That’s a hell of a lesson to learn.
But it’s one worth keeping.
