“If everyone was the same, then no one would be special.” You
never really know how true this quote is until you meet and incredibly special
person who is just a little bit different from everyone else.
I first met James when I was working at a local radio
station. Right off the bat I knew he was nice, and a jokester. I did not know
when I first met him what and incredible friend and inspiration he would become
in my life.
James is in a wheel chair. He has no feeling in his legs,
due to a surgery gone wrong when he was a child. But that does not stop James
from living his life to the fullest and inspiring the people around him. James
is the type of person who does not see his wheel chair as a disadvantage, but
as an advantage to inspire people.
I was very privileged to witness James inspire people, when
he decided to ski down a mountain. Yes, a kid with no use of his legs skied
down a mountain as part of the Adaptive Ski Program, not only for himself but
to show other people it could be done. This blew my mind, considering I am
scared to ski down a mountain with two functional legs. But James taught me to
be fearless in life and to take chances.
He also taught me just because people are different we are
still the same. We go through the same shit in life: Love, loss, friendships,
work and most importantly adventures.
James and I have had many talks about Energy Pirates and
other issues that arose at work, and also about life. One of the most
meaningful issues that James brought to my attention was the issue of his
wheelchair. Sure I noticed that he was in a wheelchair, but after hanging out
with him and getting to know him, I noticed him and not his chair.
James had asked me
one night, “Would you have come to talk to me if we were just in a bar, and not
co-workers?” As I really thought about my answer and as I was truthful to
myself, I said NO. It was hurtful for me to think that I would have never
talked to James if we met in a different circumstance. It was also hurtful to
me to think that I was so judgmental to people who was different. James inspired
me to write this post, to bring attention to people being different, and how we
judge people based on their differences. This question really made me think, I
would have never gotten the opportunity to meet James if we were not
co-workers, and how many other people was I overlooking based on differences?
James is an incredible human, who I am lucky enough to call
a good friend. He inspires me to be better and less judgmental to people who
are different. He also encourages me to keep smiling, to stay positive no
matter what the circumstance. James is moving, to follow his dream and I wish
him nothing but the best. I know that he is going to be inspiring other people and
changing the world one person at a time.
I hope that sharing this story about James inspires other
people too look past differences and give people a chance. Get to know people
for who they are, because you wouldn’t want to miss out on a special person
just because they are different.
