I often wonder what I’d be like if I had been born without Cerebral Palsy.

It’s an interesting thought. Would I be any different than I am today? I know that I would be able to walk properly, that I wouldn’t lose my balance quite as often. I would be able to work the buttons on my shirts with ease, ties my shoe laces with no problem at all. I’d be able to write neatly, have better developed motor skills.

But aside from all that, would I be different?

Having to fight an unseen foe all my life has given me quite the thick skin. It’s given me strength and made me stubborn enough to deal with life’s difficulties. I’ve had to learn to rely on myself for a lot of things because of my disability. I’ve had to learn to deal with anger at an earlier age than most people. I’ve had to learn to deal with disappointment and focus on the positives.

If I didn’t have Cerebral Palsy, would I be different?

Would I be less patient? More needy? More arrogant? Would I depend more on others, be more aggressive, less optimistic? Would I be a difficult person to deal with?

I don’t know, but it’s food for thought.

Despite my Cerebral Palsy, I’m happy with who I am, with who I’ve become. I think that, perhaps because of my disability, I’m a better person.