Do you Believe?

2010-09-02

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I am a mom. I am a wife.  I am a teacher.  I am many more things….but the thing that ties them all together is that for each role, I believe. I believe in what I do, and in my future. Or at least I try to.  To believe, is to live.  I admit, that I have gotten caught up in skepticism at times, as well as pessimism- it is hard not to at some point.  The important thing though is remembering, that despite everything, you must believe.

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I suppose that believing is what gets me through the tough times.  It helps me focus on what is important, as well as to prioritize what is going to get me to where I want to be.  Not believing, is not an option.

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I have a little brother.  At almost 31, he is not really so little anymore.  My dear, sweet, brother is a kind soul.  He is, now as an adult, probably more than ever, a symbol of what it means to believe.  Except that with my brother, I am not sure we ever truly believed- or gave him credit for all that he could do. You see, my brother had severe learning disabilities and cognitive limitations.  His special needs kept him from feeling the types of success that I felt at school, or even within social circles.  His difficulties were (and to some degree) are many, but, somehow, someway, my little brother always believed.  But now, my little brother, is in the hospital, with his wife….awaiting the birth of their first child.

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I admit, I never believed.  I talk a good game, but when it came to my brother, I think that I discounted his strengths.  And he has many.  He has a heart that overflows with love and generosity. He is poised.  He is passionate.  He is protective. And now, he is almost a father.

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My brother reminds me of the story, Cowboy and Wills, written by Monica Holloway. In this book, Monica, the mother of a child with autism, tells the story of how her family believed.  And how Cowboy, a dog, inspired and transformed the life of Wills.  Wills lived as many children with autism unfortunately do, closed off from many opportunities as a young child.  But his parents believed. His therapist believed.  Eventually, Monica found a school that believed.  And as Wills grew, with the help of his trusty Cowboy, he emerged from the cocoon.

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I have always said that being positive and believing is crucial to life.  I was able to get myself through cancer (ok wait, I should clarify, my family and friends got me through cancer) by believing.  I survived a divorce by believing.  I endure the day to day feelings of failure as a parent by believing. And now, my brother and sister in law will do the same.  They will look into the eyes of their son, with hopes for his future.  They will believe, even before he ever says a word, that he will be able to do anything he wants in life.  They will teach him to believe in himself.  They will….as a family, believe in all that can be.

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And so will I.

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xo

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C.Mom

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This post was inspired by the book Cowboys and Wills, by Monica Holloway.  I received a copy of this book as a mem­ber of the From Left to Write vir­tual book club.

Tagged as: From Left to Write