“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” -Maya Angelou

Learning to live in the face of adversity may not be easy and it certainly isn’t impossible. Here’s the thing – easy doesn’t last. Being authentic and open about life’s hard little intricacies is my call to arms for those around me who are also stared down by hardship, pain and judgment.

We are born knowing how to trust our instincts; breathing deeply, living without reservation and loving without holding back. Then we learn from our surroundings and replace our inherent understandings with negative beliefs, fear, guilt, shame and self-doubt.

One of the most terrible diseases that plagues this world is indifference. Here I am, standing on little legs, with a big heart to remind you to stop, take a moment, and remember how mighty you are, no matter what your story is. Be brave and tell yours just as I am telling mine. Don’t deny the world it’s one and only chance to bask in your brilliance.

Know you are beautiful. Indifference is a monster. Challenge it. Declare your truth and feel it with every ounce of your being. Stop judging and start loving. Hold yourself accountable. Be the bird sitting alone on the wire – in awe of your own authenticity.

Whether you have dwarfism, like myself, or you are overcoming other obstacles along your journey, I am here to support you. With little legs and a big heart, I march into the unknown with an open mind. I walk through the fire. When I chose the mantra, little legs big heart, I uncovered my purpose and my true identity.

We are limited only by what we think our boundaries are. So, let’s erase them. Honor the soul suit you’ve been gifted. My little legs have carried me through a lot in my life: meeting people, sharing stories, giving hugs, shedding tears, absorbing wisdom; all forms of love and all reasons why my heart is bigger than my legs are long. There are as many shades of different as there are of people. That is beautiful. 

Here’s to breaking barriers and eradicating stereotypes.
Here’s to progress.
Here’s to L O V E.

 

“It doesn’t matter how long your legs are, you can only take one step at a time.” –Me