My spiritual journey began December 10, 1963. I am the youngest of five children. 3 brothers and 1 sister. My eldest brother is only 6 yrs old than me, Good old Irish Catholic family ;o)
Ultrasound was not developed yet so my arrival, though expected and wanted came as quite the surprise for you see I was born with Ectodermal Dysplasias which is a nice collection of rare diseases; in my case this includes anodontia, chronic conjunctivitis, endometriosis, low immune system, chronic ear infections, chronic rhinitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, missing 2 digits on each hand and the same digits on each foot. It is grand that I match and I thank God for my thumbs! Although all of these diseases have been painful in their own way none of them held me back from living an independent life a blessing I thank God for also!
Thankfully I was blessed with loving, accepting parents. My Mom tells me that the 1st day she brought me home from the hospital she set me down with my brothers and sisters showed them how I was different, allowed them to ask questions and answered them as honestly as possible and then my Mom told them that they were to treat me no different than they would each other. Man did they take that one to heart ;o) I developed "normally" without requiring any special help. I can do most anything anyone else can and have actually discovered a few things I can do with my hands that people with five digits can't!
Only problem with this is that no one really explained to me that others weren't used to being around someone who was different like me and this left me unprepared for entering the bigger world. I didn't really fully realize how different I might seem to others until I started school. No one had ever made a big deal about me I was just one of many kids that grew up on my block. That was all to change when I started school and there were other children there that had never experienced being around someone different. Kids can be and are sometimes very cruel especially to each other. Alien, monster, three fingered this/that. Some of their reactions left me sad, hurt and confused To be completely honest here I cried through most of my grade school and into junior hight until I finally stood up for myself in 8th grade but that's another long story. This is a perfect example of it starts in the home. I've found that the kids who teased me were the ones that had asked their parents why someone was different and the parents hushed them off or scolled them rather than honestly and lovingly answering.
I am 43 yrs old now and I'd like to say that I like me but I can't honestly say that as there are some traits I need to work on. BUT I can say that I accept me as I am and LOVE me! I am very out going. Far from shy! I love laughter and enjoy being a clown! I even enjoy helping others learn to be accepting of themselves as well as others! I've even have some of the kids from grade school apologize to me as an adult for being so mean when we were kids! Which I do accept and respect but it's not required to say your sorry as by accepting me as an adult your actions are speaking louder than that little word ever could!
Peace
Cailen