Whenever he would walk in the room, I would begin to cry. I mean, I would cry! Bawl like a baby!
He couldn’t even examine me!
Finally, the pediatrician asked my parents if they ever thought I wasn’t educable. What? All because I couldn’t stop crying!?
A psychologist was so stunned! Just couldn’t believe it!
“Amy doesn’t know what a frankfurter is?”
Mom matter of factly said, “That’s because we have always called them hot dogs.” The psychologist paused and said, “Good point.”
You see… there was something off with me. The medical professionals just knew it. They could just taste it!
After all the tests… want to know what was wrong?
Learning Disabilities.
Yep, I have learning disabilities.
Ever since I was five years old over 30 years ago.
Medical professionals have written me off.
The 9-5 life has written me off. No one would hire me so I ended up going the self-employed route.
I have been running my own dog sitting business for nearly 13 years and that has allowed me to focus more on my writing.
I couldn’t have asked for better parents. They have always encouraged me and supported me especially in my writing career.
For a long time, I could not understand what was so wrong with me that I would be written off the way I have.
But now as I get older I just give a hoot!
I am what I am. Take or leave it!
This is me.
And if you decide to leave, you are missing out.
Because I think I am one pretty cool person!
Amy-I must agree…you are one awesome person and writer! Thank you for sharing your talent with the readers of See The Good and for your inspiration. Sadly, there are too many people being treated as if they have something wrong with them, when that is far from the case. We are all different. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. And not only have you found the strength to overcome the rude behavior of others but you have become a beacon of hope and inspiration for others who are facing the same unkind acts. Even some medical professionals can be guilty of these behaviors and actions, so thank you for being a voice for those who are facing a similar challenge.
See The Good would like to thank Amy for her guest post. Amy is a Florida resident and has been self-employed in the dog care field since 2006. She self-published a memoir titled “I Am Not Stupid” which is available through Amazon.com/I Am Not Stupid.
She can be contacted at artemple95@gmail.com or through her LinkedIn profile page: linkedin.com/in/amy-temple-34254a167.
Amy – I sympathize with you. I’ve recently talked with several people via LinkedIn who suffer from PTSD. They have found that writing is the magic to bring out their inner beauty so that the world can know more about them. They also find that writing helps them to get those negative bitter feelings out. It’s a healing action that will relieve the most bitterness in our souls. Never ever quit writing!!
Amy, this is such an inspiring post and one that I especially appreciate because of my volunteering at our regional Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. We are working on a program titled One Kid Can Change the World, which will give every child who comes for care the opportunity to write their own story, just as you have written yours here. One child’s story can and will encourage another child’s story. Every child has special talents and gifts regardless of what health concern they are either born with or develop as they grow older. I’m saving your story to share with the team I’m working with to get this program going. So thank you, so much, for sharing this. We don’t always know the lives we touch by sharing our own stories, nor do we need to, but to trust that our ability to See the Good and passing it on in any way we can WILL make a positive difference for someone who needs a spark of inspiration. Cool stuff.
I think one of the most wonderful thing about anyone, is knowing themselves. Knowing who you are, and loving yourself no matter what anyone things, is BEAUTIFUL. I am called weird, ‘not ready,’ different and other names I can’t mention or remember. Thirty years later, all who mocked me, wants to be me. I am the same weird, not ready, different person, with a happier life than the normal, sane, ready people. Congrats Amy for loving who you are, and staying the way you want to, no matter what the sane, normal people think. Thank you for allowing no one to define who you are. You have helped a lot of us in believing in ourselves. Thank you Amy.