From Argument to Advocacy: My Journey of Healing
From Argument to Advocacy: My Journey of Healing
There was a time when I was quick to argue, always ready to defend myself against anyone who misunderstood me or dismissed my perspective. I carried so much pain, injustice, and frustration that it spilled into the way I communicated. If someone challenged me, I pushed back — hard. Looking back, I can see that this was less about the discussion itself and more about my own need to be heard, believed, and validated.
But healing changes you.
Today, I no longer argue for the sake of it. I state my points, calmly and clearly, and then I leave it there. Not because I don’t care, but because I’ve learned that not everyone listens to understand. Many people simply talk at others, desperate to push out their own view without really absorbing what’s being said. And that’s okay — healing takes time, and not everyone is there yet.
When something doesn’t make sense, I will still challenge it — because I believe our communities deserve better. But I don’t need the last word anymore. I don’t need to prove myself or force people to agree. My words will find the right people, the people who are open to growth, to change, to action.
A shift in purpose
In the last few years, I’ve shifted from needing to be believed to simply standing in my truth. I’ve faced adversity — abuse, exclusion, being misrepresented, and living with disability and trauma. I know what it feels like to be silenced, dismissed, and written off. And yet, instead of letting that break me, I’ve turned it into fuel.
As a disability advocate, I work unpaid and pour energy into supporting vulnerable people and challenging systems that exclude us. I’ve spoken out about the barriers we face in employment, social care, and even everyday community life. I’ve written, shared, and campaigned not because I want recognition, but because I want to see change. That’s work I’m proud of.
The power of healing
Healing isn’t quick or simple. It’s messy, painful, and full of setbacks. But it is also transformative. In a couple of years, I’ve gone from feeling reactive and defensive to being steady, purposeful, and strong in who I am. I don’t need to argue in comment threads anymore because I understand something deeper now: the real change we need in this world doesn’t live online. It has to be actioned in our communities, in our workplaces, in our policies, and in the way we treat one another.
I write and speak because I know words can plant seeds. But the seeds only matter if we water them with action.
Stronger together
We are stronger when we work together. Healing has shown me that I don’t have to carry the world on my shoulders, but I do have a role to play. My journey from argument to advocacy is proof that people can change, that pain can be redirected into purpose, and that even when life feels impossible, you can rebuild yourself.
I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I know this is only the beginning. Because the truth is, our communities deserve better. Vulnerable people deserve better. And together, with real action, we can make that happen.
Sarah x
#disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights
#healing #action #support
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