“Never judge a book by the cover.”
On the outside, this is a very simple quote reminding us not to look at a book from the outside, but to open the pages and find out what is inside. On the outside, this quote only relates to books and magazines. Once the pages inside are read, the true meaning, the true beauty, of the book is found. Sure, the cover can speak a little bit about what the book is about, but it pales in comparison to what the words inside speak. Not only does this quote apply to reading, it applies to everyday life.
Every person encounters their own obstacles throughout their life. Every person is different, just like everyone else. Throughout the course of any given day, every person comes in contact with a variety of people. Some of those people by chance, others by choice, and others because they are people who need to be seen. It isn’t always easy to break the ice and say a simple “hello” to a complete stranger. Trust me, take the time to break that barrier and you will find there are good people still out there, just waiting to be heard. Take the time to actually listen to someone and you will find plenty of interesting, heartwarming, caring, funny, and touching stories leaving you wanting to know more. Take the time to lend a helping hand because you actually want to. Take a few minutes to ask questions to someone because you really want to know what happens next. Just a few minutes at a time is all it takes to show someone you care. Better yet, you may even find the same people keep coming to find you because you showed interest in them. The few minutes of time you provide them can mean much more. This is one valuable lesson I have learned in my short lifetime and am fortunate that my job at Meijer allows me to come in contact with a wide variety of people.
I am a perpetual learner. I am a passionate person. I am a fierce advocate for equality. I appear pretty “normal” on the outside, with some fairly common interests: reading, writing, sports, music, and surrounding myself with friends and those who love me for me. What makes me different is what is found on the inside, within my pages. Unless someone asks me and I feel comfortable enough around them, they won’t know about my internal struggles. It isn’t that I am shy about my struggles. No, I tend to keep to myself because I don’t know how others will react. By definition, I have Bipolar Disorder. I don’t see it as a disorder, but an obstacle to overcome. By definition, I have Depression, but that is just another obstacle. By definition, I have a mild case of ADD., and that is yet another obstacle for me to overcome.
One more aspect which makes me different from others is that I am gay. That is not a disorder, a disability, a disease, or anything else with a negative connotation. I have been in a close, committed, caring, and loving relationship with my boyfriend, Luke, for more than five years; he truly is my better half. I want nothing more than to grow old with him and be able to see LGBT equality everywhere. I know being gay is a huge positive, although others try to tell me otherwise. It is that negativity which motivates me to overcome my hidden disabilities, perceived or otherwise. My determination will not allow these, or anything else, to deter me on my journey. My support system has always picked me up when I couldn’t myself, and they will continue to do so. My hope is tested on a daily basis, but one fact remains true: it gets better, for everyone.
Check out his blog posts:
A Road to Acceptance: In My Corner
A Road to Acceptance: Establishing Normal
A Road to Acceptance: Fighting Forward
A Road to Acceptance: Troublesome Times
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."
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