Molly's Zone

College life. A period of time that just about every teenager looks forward to. Life is overflowing with excitement, as your day to day life becomes something resembling a hot new teen drama television show filled with new friends, new classes, a routine littered with unfamiliarity. The descriptive word "child" that was used to describe yourself just three months prior suddenly becomes embarrassing as a new era of your life begins. You think you have life figured out. As a college graduate with a disability, I too look back and think "How crazy was I?" I dealt with some of the same types of newness that students without disabilities faced, just shone in a different light. Life taught me the greatest lesson: I am just like everyone else, and even though I was a legal adult, I did not know everything there was to know about life. And at almost twenty six years old, I still don't. I have learned a lot about what it means to be a responsible, sensible adult...

As a young woman with cerebral palsy, I have encountered numerous battles stemming from both the spoken and written word; in all of my life there has been some kind of inevitable challenge that always seems to be awaiting me from around the corner of wherever I may be. The shadows of my past casting a slight shadow over all of my potential. Every crevice of my existence. You see, this is the kind of attitude that hit me like a hollow point bullet post college graduation, working it's way through me and severing my confidence while simultaneously throwing me into a downward spiral that made me feel as though I had no purpose, no place in the world, and nothing of any value to offer to anyone. The attitude of which I speak is one you CANNOT have and you can't let your mind control your energy. I grew as a child with so much negativity surrounding me. People spoke hurtful words to my face without even realizing the pain they'd caused; perhaps they did notice and just didn...

A new year has approached us bringing with it three hundred and sixty five opportunities to begin perhaps what has the potential to be a most beautiful transition; a season of change that involves taking risks and making leaps; one that could unlock even better versions of ourselves, still possessing the familiarity of things old and worn; those things of the past still solidly present as the foundation of us mixed in with untouched territory, new discoveries and possibilities, and the uncovering of a boldness so fierce that it not only encourages and inspires others, but also ignites a fiery passion that enables them to make a positive change that is needed in the world. I have been deep in thought over "Molly's Zone" for the past several weeks, not quite knowing which direction to take it going into the new year. I am happy to announce that I have finally in all of heart, soul and mind made my decision.  I absolutely love where the Lord continues to lead me and throu...