Acceptance is the way. It has allowed me to reach my mobility potential. Maybe even my human potential. I don’t know much for sure, but I do know that when you surrender, you actually win. And that’s how this Assistant Principal of the Academy has improved his ability to run around the house, without fear. With scissors in my hand. Ok. I made that part up. I can’t run. And I can’t find the scissors. Because after all, I don’t see the world the same way as you. Just the top half. Of one side. Straight ahead. Which is good, because as I have said before, I like to keep my focus on what’s ahead. Great things lie ahead. I know, because the gratitude of Thanksgiving and the Spirit of Christmas are vibrant in the castle.

But, I want to tell you about my new found freedom. Freedom from fear and falling down. And it came with acceptance. You see, (punny, huh?) I finally accepted what happened to my vision a few years ago. Granted, a lot has happened in the last 2 years, so it kind of got lost in the shuffle. Literally. But I found the courage to accept my limitations, and got myself a walking cane for the visually impaired. Of course, I have experience with crutches and canes for my knees, but I hadn’t considered a cane for my eyes. That seems weird. But, maybe I am weird. My siblings have called me weird for years. Come to think of it, I have heard many people describe me this way. But, my dad gets it. He knows I am just being me. Mom too. (They don’t judge. Just love.)

Accepting that I am weird is freeing. And using a cane to help me see, and to let others know I don’t see things the same way as they may is a breath of fresh air. And now that I have my confidence back, I think I am ready to move to the front of the line. As a matter of fact, I went out for pizza with the Marvelous Maeve and her Do It All Mom last weekend and used my new superhero device. The cane. And sure enough as a middle aged man hooked on seltzer water, I soon had to pee.

I walked to the bathroom line, found that people were helpful and kind and told me where to stand in line. And then, the unthinkable happened…

The guy in front said to me, “Go ahead, here- I will open the door for you”. Wow. He let me jump TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I mean I have been trying too hard all my life. And I suddenly realized that even though I am capable of going to the bathroom in the restaurant…I can now move through the world without appearing to be completely inebriated or weird or cuckoo, as I stumble and bumble and try to find my way. And the last became the first. Someone go tell Leo Durocher.

In fact, the freedom that came with the acceptance may have lifted my spirits to the point that I can now see the world around me in a more confident manner. I like to tell students that they can choose to “crush the day” or be “crushed by the day”…and now I feel like I can crush the day. Every day. Because I don’t have to worry about explaining my awkward movements and bird like scanning of the environment. I can just relax. And be me. Now, I accept that I am different. And I hope the world does too. But, hey we all need to realize that we have gifts to share, no matter what burdens we carry. And we should not let 37 knee surgeries (slight exaggeration), or vision loss, stand in our way.

Life presents problems. We can solve them. And acceptance is a powerful tool for me to keep moving and grooving in my own weird way!

As we head into the holidays- slow down. Accept yourself for you who are. And then be happy that you have gifts to share with the world. Got it? Good. Now, let me watch the students here shine their lights on the waiting world. In their own way.