First Time

Yesterday I went out to have dinner with friends. This is nothing out of the ordinary, and all my friends know more or less about my condition. But its the first time I brought my manifying glass out to read the menu.

Now this is something completely new to me. I've always relied on my friends to help me read the menu. What usually happens is if I can see myself then I will go through it, if not, then I ask my friends to read it for me. I hated taking out my gadgets in public, I dispised the feeling of being stared at like some animal in the zoo. It's no big deal that we have the things we do, but I typically try to use them outside of public.

I met someone recently that told me something which clicked in my head. She said "its only a problem if you see it as one" which we all know is true. Perspective is (to me) the determining factor of reality. If you are confident about yourself and the way you are, it shouldn't matter if you are different or not, it should matter even less what total strangers think.

So at the restaurant, I took out my magnifying glass and started reading the menu. It was a liberating feeling not having to rely on someone all the time. Don't get me wrong, I was terrified to do that, I was afraid that someone would start staring. But then I thought, who cares if they start staring, this is who I am, why should I have to pretend to be something else. I'm very proud of myself for finding this independence. For those of you out there, try it sometime, no one can hurt you but yourself, so don't give them the power to feel inferior.

Never let fear stop you, always try to break your comfort zones, that's how you will learn to better yourself.

(Yeah, I know easier said then done, but here's a tip, do it in small steps, you'd be surprised what you end up with)