I am a black man with cerebral palsy who is also a physician. Thus, over the years, people have told me I am an inspiration. They say this because they know how hard it was for me to overcome several obstacles including physical challenges and the grinding education to become a doctor.
I have spastic fingers and legs as well as difficulty speaking, dressing and walking—all due to my cerebral palsy.
But I am a doctor and in America; and doctors here are known to have poor penmanship.
So, when people see me, they say, ”Dr Pone, you are such an Inspiration. Look what you have accomplished.” Then, after viewing my penmanship (often in the next sentence), they exclaim, “Dr Pone, your handwriting is horrible! You doctors have terrible handwriting.”
So, I get blessed for overcoming cerebral palsy and becoming a doctor, but a few minutes later, I am cursed for having the same disease because it causes poor penmanship. Most people simply don’t realize my poor penmanship is due to having spastic fingers from cerebral palsy, which is a big part of why I inspire them in the first place. They never think to ask if my poor penmanship is due to having cerebral palsy.
*sigh* Handwriting insults are the worst.
When have you been blessed and cursed for the same action?
© 2019, Dr. Darrell Pone. All rights reserved.
