Don’t talk to me about “real strength”.
Don’t talk to me about “real strength”.
People don’t see the struggles that happen behind the screens.
The pain. The breakdowns. The tears. The days where simply existing takes everything you have.
People might look at disabled people and think we’re weak, but some of us are the toughest people you will ever meet — because we endure. We adapt. We stick around. We keep going, even when our bodies are screaming at us to stop.
Tonight, I’m in tears. Peter made me a coffee, I’ve got the TV on, I’m doing my pain management, and the sofa has basically been my home for the last fortnight.
My hair is knotted up. I’m exhausted. I don’t know how much longer this pain flare is going to last.
And this is the side people don’t always see.
Chronic illness and disability don’t just affect the person living with them. They affect relationships, plans, routines, independence, confidence, intimacy — and the people who love us too.
They affect all those tiny, everyday things able-bodied people can often do without even having to think about them.
We’re not always easy to date. We can’t promise what our bodies will allow us to do tomorrow. We are often at the mercy of conditions we didn’t choose, while also having to live with the judgement, assumptions and perceptions of people who have never experienced them.
But we are still worthy of love.
Still worthy of opportunity.
Still worthy of joy.
Still worthy of building a life.
That is why I choose to speak out.
I speak up for everyone out there just like me, who fights with every fibre of their being to create a life for themselves amongst the chaos, the pain and the unpredictable nature of reality.
Sometimes strength doesn’t look like conquering the world.
Sometimes strength looks like being curled up on the sofa, crying into a coffee, managing your pain — and still deciding you’re going to keep going tomorrow. ❤️🩹
Sarah Wingfield
Actor • Author • Advocate
KawaiiDollDecora.uk
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