They say everyone with a disability has the responsibility of creating their own layer of “you can’t hurt me” skin. It’s a must when you live in a world of humans, where no one is perfect and even a loved one can flub up and say hurtful things. It may sound pessimistic, but when you have a disability and live in the world freely, you’re bound to run into someone who will get annoyed and say something about your disability. They key is how to handle it.
I’ve run into some pretty rude people through the years. I was once at Target and was yelled at by an old woman for “bringing my bulky thing into the store and getting it in her way.” 
I’ve had people roll their eyes at me (multiple times) whenever I got on the city bus. I’ve even had people tell me I drove crazy and bitched me out in some hallway (ok maybe that one was true). It can be a pretty harsh world out there. That is why developing a thick skin is so critical. It’s the only card in our deck, without sobbing like a crazy person of course.
I even had to develop a thick skin for dealing with family (or should I say especially). People who love us even have their moments. Lord knows my mom has had a few herself, but at the end of the day I know she still loves me despite any mean things she‘s let fly. Does that make it ok? No. But I forgive her. I am just as guilty of doing as she is. I may not be yelling at someone because of a disability-related thing, but I‘ve been critical of someone because they’re stupid, forgetful, too loud. No one is perfect.
Maybe it sucks we have to make ourselves a thick skin to survive in this world, but we all do in our own little way.
How do you protect yourself from hurtful words?
Photo courtesy of DonkeyHotey
I brushed up against a lady at the postoffice..I was hitting my knuckles on the railing couldnt get over anymore…she put her leg back as I was going by…I should have accused her of trying to kick me