Building Walls

Just a Thought: Ursula K. Le Guin

"The worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. The worst walls are the ones you put there...you build yourself. Those are the high ones, the thick ones, the ones with no doors."

They're too easy to build and they create a false sense of security but eventually they just keep out the people who matter the most...  who will help support your recovery. I find that I still build my walls.  If I feel embarrassed by my perceived failures I hide...or my fear of failing... I hide. Eventually I just stay hidden. Temple Grandin is an inspiration. She is an Autistic woman born during a time when institutionalization was the primary treatment. She was lucky enough to have a mother who had the strength to fight for the rights of her daughter...who taught her one small step at a time. Sadly enough her daughter grew up during  a time that had little experience and no real research to provide to the medical professionals. She experienced  the pain of being different in a world that is afraid of difference... is unsure... and has devised an unspoken yet visible system of boxes... labeled by society. If you're unlucky and don't fit into any of those boxes... there are societal judgements made, and there are those who stand clear because they're unsure of what to expect. Temple Grandin didn't fit so she built her own boxes. She experienced much prejudice in her life but she persevered. Since I have started this blog, I have had few of those painful experiences. I don't want pity or special treatment. I just want understanding... I wear my emotions on my sleeve like a badge which I'd rather keep hidden because the world isn't always fair. You play the cards that you've been dealt... you try to knock down the walls...to face everyone and everything that life throws at you.

The story of Temple Grandin is on HBO. It has received many awards and is one of the most powerful movies written about Autism. I think it is worth seeing even if you've watched it in the past. This time think   about all of those in this world who may be considered "different"... who don't want sympathy, just understanding and compassion.