| One of the amazing things about the internet is the | | | | everything in his power to make sure no one thought |
| way it brings us all together. - You hear of people | | | | of him as handicapped. |
| you never would have heard of before, you're | | | | There is a massive attitude problem with the people |
| introduced to new things and new ideas continuously. | | | | of this world today. Everywhere I look, I notice more |
| The other day, I was surfing the web and stumbled | | | | and more people acting as if they want to be victims. |
| upon a freely hosted website that had been created | | | | There are people out there desperately searching to |
| by a boy with Down Syndrome. When I looked upon | | | | find reasons that life should be made easier upon |
| all that was inside this website, I was amazed and | | | | them just because they feel like they are "owed" it. |
| impressed by this person. I got to read all about a | | | | It seems that more and more people are slapping |
| boy who, by this world's standards, was considered | | | | handicapped stickers on their cars, at younger and |
| severely handicapped, and yet he speed skated, | | | | younger ages. People want to be pandered to, and |
| played tennis and soccer, and rock climbed. He had | | | | treated with a different set of standards because of |
| pictures of himself competing at sporting events with | | | | their claimed "disability". They want to be |
| teams and numerous medals that he had earned | | | | sympathized and pitied, and this completely blows my |
| competing in the Special Olympics. He didn't hide his | | | | mind. I never in my life want to be pitied, and I never |
| differences from the world, but instead embraced | | | | want to feel like I need anybody's handouts. |
| them, proudly displaying on his car a bumper sticker | | | | I've come to the conclusion that there are very few |
| that read, "Powered by an extra chromosome!" | | | | truly handicapped people. The only handicap I see is a |
| Here was a person whom everyone in the world | | | | very poor mindset. That boy with Down Syndrome I |
| would consider handicapped doing things that even I | | | | believe is one of the very least handicapped people |
| couldn't do. He was a person with natural | | | | on the planet. There is nothing on this earth that isn't |
| determination and resolve like I had seen in few | | | | available to him because he wants to earn things |
| people in my life. This kid literally knew how to do | | | | himself, and wants to prove to the rest of the world |
| nothing but set goals and achieve them, regardless of | | | | that he is an equally capable member of society. |
| how much work was involved. He worked hard | | | | There is a lesson here that the rest of the world can |
| every day to make sure no one thought he wasn't | | | | learn. All of these people that want things handed to |
| capable or handicapped, proving that he could do | | | | them, who try to find ways that make them less |
| anything that any other person could do. | | | | capable than everybody else need to wake up and |
| Later that week I went in town to the local | | | | get some dignity. |
| Wal-mart. I pulled into a parking space, and made my | | | | I am firmly convinced of the amazing things that |
| way to the store. On my way past the end of the | | | | people are all capable of. Average people do |
| Handicapped spaces, I saw a woman pull in with her | | | | extraordinary things every day by doing nothing else |
| handicapped sticker and tag. I watched as the | | | | but their best, pouring their hearts out into their jobs |
| woman easily got out of the car, closed the door, | | | | and their lives and trying to be the very best person |
| and walked straight into the entrance of the store. | | | | they can. When people set their sights on goals and |
| Once inside, she spent a few minutes searching for | | | | decide that nothing is going to stand in their way, |
| an electric cart. When she didn't find it, she asked the | | | | truly inspiring things happen. One boy out there has |
| greeter about it, and he had one brought to her. | | | | inspired me to do my best and live my life with |
| After standing in wait for a few minutes and | | | | everything I've got. When people look at me, I want |
| commenting on a pain she developed if she wa son | | | | them to see my abilities, not my disabilities. |
| her legs for too long, she put her purse in the little | | | | I charge the rest of the world to get off of their |
| basket, sat down on the electric cart, and shot on | | | | butts and be the people that God made them to be. |
| past me and into the rest of the store. | | | | Right now there is a kid with Down Syndrome |
| I have to be honest, something about this didn't sit | | | | overcoming the odds and doing things that people |
| well with me. Before me was a woman who | | | | have for all his life told him he couldn't do, so why |
| practically announced to the world that she was | | | | can't anyone else? If you really care about yourself, |
| "disabled" in order to get a closer spot to the store | | | | stop asking what other people are going to do to |
| and a little cart to ride around in so her legs wouldn't | | | | make your life easier, and start finding ways to work |
| hurt her. At the same time, however, there was a | | | | around your problems and overcome your obstacles. |
| boy who was born with a condition that made | | | | The world will look at you differently, and you will be |
| everything he did more difficult, and he was probably | | | | surprised at who you'll inspire. |
| splashing along in a kayak or something, and doing | | | | |