14 6 / 2012
Very rarely does someone impact my day to where I am grateful for just living a normal daily life. I cannot get a girl out of my head who I met today at work. My usual work day is nothing crazy, usually just tracksuits being thrown around and restocking handbags. This morning was so dead I could hear the seconds on the clock ticking. The clouds finally cleared and the sun shined through our window, finally a beautiful summer day to get our spirits up! After a few hours a family of three entered, I noticed immediately two sisters; one in a wheel chair and one who walked with a limp whose leg was bent inward. I greeted them and told them if they needed any help not to hesitate to ask. The sisters came up to me within two minutes asking about sizes and styles. I later learned that the girl with the limp had a paralyzed leg bent inward and arm, her sister will never be able to walk. They were dressed in very simple neutral colors but the most bright and cheerful shoes I have ever seen.
When asking about what size she would be in bottoms, it was easy for me to see she would take an extra small. She displayed a look of shock and asked me what size I was. ” Small” I said. Another shocked look she responded with, ” There is no way you can be larger than me, you have a perfect and small waist. If i had your figure I would dress in cute outfits like what you’re wearing. If I could walk normally I would wear your amazing wedged shoes. You’re so lucky! I have a ton of nice clothes but I cant really go out anywhere, It must be great to enjoy life in that way.”
I stared at her dumbfounded, what do you say to that? I felt my eyes start to water and I almost broke down right there in the middle of my work place. After pulling it together I managed to put together countless outfits for the girls and ring them out. When leaving they both said ” Goodbye Abbie! Thanks for all your help!”
They walked out and I just stood there leaning against the jewelery table when I started thinking. Why were these two girls born paralyzed and not able to walk? Why cant they enjoy life the way I do? I thought about all the “problems” I thought I had in my own life which soon seemed very small and comical. I felt instantly grateful for being able to run on the treadmill, walk through the city to work and school everyday, go out to dance with my friends and navigate over cobblestone sidewalks in high heels. What makes me so different from her? Why doesn’t she have this simple privilege of living a normal life? These are questions that I will never have the answer to and I quite honestly cant get her out of my head.
She showed me to be grateful to have two feet to walk with and two arms to lift with. You’re short on money, have family drama, relationship problems, friend problems, poor grades, or maybe you’re not happy with your place in life you will move forward and things will get better. For someone like these two girls, they will have this unfair burden for the rest of their lives.
It isn’t fair, but they had great spirits and awesome personalities. I am grateful for my life and the simple opportunity I have in being a healthy and strong person.
Sometimes, life just does not make sense to me.
-Abbie
