A few days ago I got some comments on my blog. The commenter(s) called me a retard and told me I should learn how to spell. I thought that this could be a good time to talk about my struggle with reading and writing. Hopefully I can inspire some people to face there challenges in life as well.
I've been a poor speller and reader for as long as I can remember. I have gone to special classes and schools to help me learn. I have no problems in any other subject. But, not being able to spell brought down my marks in all my classes. So, for whatever reason I can't spell well.
As you can imagine it can be very embarrassing to have troubles reading. Remember in class when the teacher asked you to read out loud? That would cause me anxiety to the point that I couldn't listen to what was being read. Don't ask me to spell ether. This blog would literally not exist if it weren't for spell check.
Why then, do I write when I know I can't? Well, it's for the same reason we all choose to accomplish seemingly impossible feats. As J.F.K said,
“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”
I choose to write not because it is easy but because it is hard. Making fun of me is easy, but I am stronger from it. By making fun of me and other people like me, you just show your weakness.
I know I am a poor writer but I also know that my ideas can still get across and touch people. I know that there are people who have been told, in some way, that they are inadequate. To those people, I promise you with every particle of my being, you are not inadequate. It is an illusion. Do what you love. You have the ability to make things grow, to change them. At some point in your life some one convinced you that you were bad at something or that you're ugly, unworthy or stupid... The fact is, that you are a part of a system that needs you.
Think about it. You do not make fun of a flower for not being able to walk? You are not a flower but you are the planter of the flower. Because a flower can not move on it's own, we move them. In return The flower gives us its' beauty, nourishment, herbs. This is called Interdependence.
“Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being. Without interrelation with society he cannot realize his oneness with the universe or suppress his egotism. His social interdependence enables him to test his faith and to prove himself on the touchstone of reality."
--Mahatma Gandhi, Young India, March 21, 1929, p. 93
To the people who hate:
Some have this idea that we are separate. That some how we exists in and of our selves and if the universe collapsed we would still be here. Until we realize that everything is interdependent, we can never achieve the greatness we are capable of. Every religion, every culture, every person and every being has a place. A right to live and grow with the world. Things should not die because we kill them. Things should die because they have fulfilled a purpose. When you use hate you hurt yourself because all things affect you. By hating you fill our system with it and it will eventual come back to you.
When you notice that I can't spell, realize that I know that you notice this. Then notice I continue to write.
Really well put Markus I dont thin anyone should ever be called names.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't accomplish anything other than really showing the true colours of the person who was the person calling the name.
We should all respect each other for who we are and not for who we arn't we need to learn to embrace diversity because if we dont this world will come to an end.
I appreciate you coming out and talking about your problem, I myself have struggled with writing and I was in special classes aswell, I write to get a point across to others I dont write to be grammatically correct. Well done MArkus and thanks for always Supporting me I appreciate it.
Mark, this is a strong and inspirational message that couldn't have come at a better time for me. I used to be envious of friends who became successful in school, graduated ahead of me, and now is obtaining the career that I also want for myself. But I've gone through tremendous hurdles in my life that affected my progress and pushed me back. There were times where giving up everything seemed much easier than continuing. But time and time again, I always seem to be able to get back up again. Finishing university is the biggest challenge for me. I have never been a student who always received A's. But the path that will lead me to what I want to be, a registered dietitian, has challenged me to the fullest. There are people out there who will tell you, either directly or indirectly, that you're not good enough. There were also times when I almost believed them. But no matter how long it may take me, I will continue because I know I will come out better and stronger than when I first started. Thanks Mark for writing this. Just think what a profound effect you have done to others, and what LITTLE effect the person who said "retard" has done to make the world a better place.
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