Okay, I really, really didn’t want to have to do this. Don’t get me wrong– I think some people’s naiveté is so gosh darn cute!

But lately, I’ve seen an onslaught of “disability is so-frickin’-inspiring” stories that have made me roll my eyes and, sometimes, want to log out of my computer for a while. 

So, whether you’re ready for it or not, here’s the truth– the brutal truth. Granted, some of it may upset you, but I’m okay with that.

1. I don’t cry myself to sleep at night, lamenting that I have spina bifida. 

I hate to break it to you, but most nights, I crash into bed and sleep, non-stop, for eight hours or so, after either blogging till the wee hours of the morning, or watching a funny video or doing something else that helps me unwind. So do many of my non-spina bifida peers.

2.  I drink. 

Yep. I don’t mean the “stumbling-out-of-Walgreens-at-3-a.m.-after-buying-a-cart-full-of-junk-food-and-tuna-fish” drinking, but yes, I drink socially. I always drink with trusted friends, or family members around. I never put myself in situations where the person I’m riding with has been drinking. That’s just not cool.

3. I don’t just automatically become BFFs with everyone who has spina bifida, like me. 

It just doesn’t work that way. I love connecting with others with spina bifida, of course, and many people do befriend me after visiting my blog. But I don’t necessarily “click” with everyone who has spina bifida, and that’s fine. It would be like saying, “all Latinos have to get along,” or “all African-Americans have to get along.” Are you kidding me? What century is this?

4. I have many friends who don’t have what is perceived as a “disability,” and we have a great time together. 

I’ve been blessed to meet people at so many different events and conferences. Most of them have very different characteristics, and you can’t lump them into one category. I love that! When I meet people for the first time who only know me through blogging/social media circles, I am often struck by how insignificant my “disability” is to them. It’s because they met me online first, without seeing the wheelchair or other things that people might otherwise see first. They value me for my qualities, and I value them for theirs. We have intellectual conversations. We have inside jokes. We have a true bond.

Coffee = Bliss. :)

5. While romantic love would be nice, I don’t necessarily seek out people “just like me” as potential partners. 

Yep, it’s true. Believe it! I don’t aspire to a “matchy-matchy” relationship where my partner has spina bifida just like me. I look at intellect, personality, common interests and future goals as criteria for potential partners, and not their physical abilities/disabilities. I expect the same from a potential partner, too. I don’t want to be disqualified because of a perceived “disability.” It’s always a mystery why certain couples are attracted to each other. I don’t think I’m supposed to question why “some opposites attract” and others don’t. Please, don’t question me, either.

6. I can open doors, tie my own shoes, go to the bathroom on my own, fix myself a sandwich, etc. etc. 

While my cooking abilities are still questionable (LOL!), I do a lot of things for myself, on my own. And I’m still learning. Aren’t we all?

7. I can probably out-spell and out-edit you, or anyone you know. 

Writing is my thing. Spelling and grammar are also “my things,” I suppose. Name the time and place. Chuck Norris and I will be waiting.

8. I use a wheelchair part-time, when needed. And hardly ever inside the house. But I can dance like nobody’s business. 

I’m not talking Gangnam Style here, but I like to think I can salsa dance circles around most people. :)

9. I suck at giving directions. No seriously, I can’t find my way out of a paper bag. 

During road trips where my father asks me to read a map, I usually toss the map away and reach for Google Maps on my iPhone. Siri is becoming my best friend, a.k.a. navigational device.

10. I don’t just think about the spina bifida cause 24-7. There are so many wonderful causes that deserve my attention. 

I love social good, and I have a feeling that I live for social good. Whether it’s through a blog post, a Tweet, a Facebook update, or a donation, I enjoy supporting many different causes. I feel strongly about supporting LGBT rights, charities that give to the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and organizations that help children and adults with different chronic conditions. I think social media provides us with some of the best tools ever to support and spread the word about great causes. It’s awesome, because social media makes it easy for us, so we don’t have to choose just one cause to throw all our support to.

 **Bonus Tip/Fact: If you ever need a favor from me, try bribing me with coffee.

Nine times out of 10, it works. And the other 10 percent of the time is unaccounted for. I just made it up. :)

Originally published at Holdin' Out For A Hero. Published here with permission of author.