“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance.”
~Robert Quillen~
Misunderstanding, misperceptions...common social miscues outside of the disabled realm. I encounter misinformed and misguided, often, well-meaning people while I daily vie for the prized coping crown, wearing my practiced smile of Miss Congeniality to deter pity.
I continually learn how to cope, but I still have moments where I look back on years of living with the fallout of disability from my illness. My future still looms with an ominous uncertainty. It amazes me how others assume diagnosis longevity lessens my grief of loss? - especially from those who share my diagnosis.
An individual 'assumed' since I have had Stiff Person Syndrome for years vs. someone newly-diagnosed that I was beyond the 'coping' phase of initial diagnosis. (A big girl.) It was an unintelligent remark, not worthy a reply.
If anything, the years have deepened the pain of loss for me, not just my own, but shared through others...symptom progression and death of friends. Loss has also deepened my appreciation for life's blessings and strengthened my resolve to live forward, but sometimes, big girls do cry.
“There is no reply to the ignorant like keeping silence”
~Proverb quotes~
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