So today is a crappy day at work. Somehow I messed up my pinky toe, it's swollen and hurts like hell. It's like some kind of blister from hell. It has me hobbling around like Golum and making noises similar in nature.
Walking with a limp really changes peoples attitude towards you, especially the perception strangers have of you. Friends and family are concerned; they offer tips and advice.
Strangers are the complete opposite. You get a look of disgust or pity from most, as if your lameness is contagious. For myself, this is temporary, so it's not too big of a deal. It has me thinking about those afflicted with permanent conditions that leave them limping or crippled.
I remember in middle school there was a girl who walked with a severe limp, it had something to do with her spine but I never found out what exactly. I remember finding her to be pretty in spite her condition and generally nice to talk to, but I recall her not being the happiest person. She transitioned over the years from being a goth-ish girl in middle school to a girly girl in high school, and found that to be a good thing. As a kid I was super observant, but always from afar. I didn't look at her with pity or disgust like many others did in school, but with intrigue and curiosity. Not the kind of curiosity that leads someone to disect and dismember, but the kind that says "how strong do you have to be to live life like this". I hope to never have to overcome a physical or mental disability, but if I had to I really wonder if I'd have the strength to push through the adversity and make the best of it. Maybe I'd let it consume me, become bitter and hurt; lashing out at the world. I respect these types of people who can overcome the challenges and make life worth living with sheer attitude and gusto alone.
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