| You wouldn't believe the website I found the | | | | People have a severely wrong mindset. The |
| other day. It was a free website made by a | | | | more I pay attention, the more I find people |
| boy who has Down Syndrome. I was curious, so | | | | who want things handed to them, people who |
| I clicked on it, and was immediately in for a | | | | look for any little obstacle that makes |
| shock. Inside was the story of a boy who had | | | | things harder on them that they can use to |
| Down Syndrome who rock-climbed, was an avid | | | | get hand-outs from others and ask for an |
| speed-skater, and played sports like soccer | | | | easier life. I keep seeing handicap tags on |
| and tennis. There were pictures of him | | | | cars driven by people under fifty, people who |
| overcoming obstacles and competing with | | | | want a different set of standards applied to |
| teams, as well as a picture of the dozens of | | | | them so that they don't have to put forth as |
| gold medals he had won in the Special | | | | much effort. They want the easy road, and |
| Olympics. On his car he had a sticker that | | | | they want others to look at them as |
| read "Powered by an extra chromosome!" | | | | handicapped, and I just don't understand |
| | | | this. The last thing I want to be is |
| By this world's standards today, this boy | | | | handicapped, and if I was, there's no way I'd |
| would be considered very handicapped, and yet | | | | announce it to the world. |
| he was out there participating in things that | | | | |
| even I myself couldn't do. This boy had more | | | | I've come to the conclusion that there are |
| natural resolve and determination than most | | | | very few truly handicapped people. The only |
| people I had ever met. All he knew was how to | | | | handicap I see is a very poor mindset. That |
| set the bar higher, create goals and | | | | boy with Down Syndrome I believe is one of |
| accomplish them, despite how much work or | | | | the very least handicapped people on the |
| effort was needed on his part. Every day this | | | | planet. There is nothing on this earth that |
| boy worked to make sure there wasn't a person | | | | isn't available to him because he wants to |
| in this world that would consider him | | | | earn things himself, and wants to prove to |
| handicapped, and that despite what had been | | | | the rest of the world that he is an equally |
| thrown his way, he could not just accomplish | | | | capable member of society. There is a lesson |
| normal things, but exceptional things as | | | | here that the rest of the world can learn. |
| well. | | | | All of these people that want things handed |
| | | | to them, who try to find ways that make them |
| Just a few days later I took a trip to my | | | | less capable than everybody else need to wake |
| local Wal-Mart. As I was about to make my way | | | | up and get some dignity. |
| inside, I noticed a car pulling into the | | | | |
| closest space reserved for handicapped | | | | I know that every single one of us is capable |
| people. The driver was a woman who looked | | | | of incredible and amazing things. Every day |
| about thirty-five years old. She had the | | | | people are doing inspiring things just by |
| handicapped sticker, tag, the whole nine | | | | simply being themselves and putting their all |
| yards, and I was amazed as I saw her step out | | | | into everything they do. When a person |
| of her car unaided and walk right past me | | | | decides that there are no obstacles they |
| into the store. She seemed to have little | | | | can't overcome, and that no one on this |
| problem getting around, and easily began | | | | planet will ever see them as less capable |
| searching through the shopping carts. It soon | | | | than others, miracles happen. That young man |
| became obvious to her that what she was | | | | with Down Syndrome has left me with a lasting |
| looking for was not there, and she confronted | | | | and inspiring impression that makes me want |
| the greeter about. She asked for an electric | | | | to accomplish everything I dream of to the |
| cart, claiming that her legs grew painful if | | | | very best of my abilities. When people look |
| she had to stand on them for any length of | | | | at me, I never want them to notice my |
| time. The greeter, of course, had a cart | | | | shortcomings, but instead see my |
| brought to her immediately, and she drove on | | | | accomplishments, my abilities, and all the |
| into the store with her purse sitting in the | | | | incredible things that I am capable of. |
| little basket mounted on the front. | | | | |
| | | | I charge the rest of the world to get off of |
| This bothered me. Somewhere out there was a | | | | their butts and be the people that God made |
| boy who was born with an extra chromosome | | | | them to be. Right now there is a kid with |
| that made nearly everything in his life more | | | | Down Syndrome overcoming the odds and doing |
| difficult, and he was probably somewhere | | | | things that people have for all his life told |
| riding a bike or jogging or something. Nearly | | | | him he couldn't do, so why can't anyone else? |
| anything he wanted to do was made more | | | | If you really care about yourself, stop |
| challenging by a natural birth defect, but he | | | | asking what other people are going to do to |
| persevered, and here was a woman who was a | | | | make your life easier, and start finding ways |
| normal person with a handicapped sticker, | | | | to work around your problems and overcome |
| tag, parking space and scooter because her | | | | your obstacles. The world will look at you |
| legs hurt if she walked a lot. | | | | differently, and you will be surprised at who |
| | | | you'll inspire. |