Thankful Thursday: The Power of a Strong Support System

Thankful Thursday Thought: "Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller

Who is in your circle? When identifying my own community, I asked myself two important questions:

1. If I had bad news to share, who would be the first people I would tell? Would they support me?

2. More importantly, if I had good news to share, who would be the first people I would tell? Would they be genuinely happy for me?

   
   

We all have—or should have—those people who make our faces light up when we see them. Human connection and community are essential for us all to thrive. These are the people with good energy, the ones you want to spend time with, even when you're doing nothing at all. No matter how self-sufficient we may be, we all deserve a group to belong to.

Throughout my life, whether it was being involved in my high school's track team, participating in American Sign Language classes, attending Bible study, or engaging with various disability organizations, I've been blessed with a wide and diverse group of friends. These friends have allowed me to expose many people to life with a disability and have enriched my life in countless ways.

Many people have commented on how much grit I have or how much I’ve accomplished, but in reality, my support system deserves much of the credit. I’ve developed my work ethic because my people haven’t let me quit; they’ve sat with me in the pain. Though I may appear to have an amazing attitude about situations, it's because I have people who listen to me and understand the pain behind the smile. So, while I may have accomplished a lot, I wouldn’t be here without my circle.

I haven’t always had many friends—I struggled a lot growing up, trying to make connections. But now, I’ve learned that quality always matters more than quantity. I hope you’ll focus on the quality of your relationships rather than the quantity.

Take a moment today to reach out to those who have stood by you. Let them know how much they mean to you.