Unlike my last design story, this one if you couldnât tell by the image, has a more upbeat theme...and with Valentineâs Day inspiring the design above, it seemed appropriate to tell a story about the personal, hidden meaning behind it.
If there is one thing everyone in the world can relate to or aspire to find, itâs love. No matter who you are or where you come from its one of the biggest and most common abilities that links us as human beings. Further more, no one is exempted from this, even yours truly.
Growing up--especially with a disability--created its hardships yes, but none was more trail-inducing on a personal level, then trying to fit in and be socially accepted by my peers. This was especially true for my academic years.
Now popularity was never anything that was ever attempted to be reached, but an attempt at everything under the sun that was popular at the time (weâre talking between the years of 2000-2006) to get into social circles was a goal of mine back then.
Needless-to-say, it proved difficult to do, but my constant change in interests in an attempt to fit in was eventually very fruitful in the form of existing as a âFriend of all Circlesâ. That is, being someone that didnât really belong to any particular nicheâ or click but that everyone knew.
Being high-fived or told âhelloâ in passing within my high schoolâs hallways was pretty much the extent to what being a âFriend of all Circlesâ entailed.
However, it wasnât necessarily something that bothered me...at least in the beginning.
Eventually once the mid to late teenage years hit (15-18 years of age), I found myself desiring to belong to something more intimate and close-knit.
But with my high school years closing, it was becoming obvious that it would be hard to do...or so I thought.
During my late teens and early twenties, the concept of âOnline Datingâ and âOnline MMORPGsâ was really a new and exciting thing, and for someone who lived with mobility issues, it honestly was a welcomed venue.
The ability to use both those venues allowed me to achieve something that at the time, was thought unreachable:
Meet people from anywhere in the world with similar interests.
Fast forward to 2012 and eventually a person entered my life from a particular MMORPG, who had become both a love and dear friend for 7 years. While the romance in that relationship only lasted the first few years of the seven, their love showed me that it was possible to achieve.
The confidence that was gained in that part of my life, soon paved way in my present day, to finding what I believe to be a real, genuine love:
Unconditional admiration from someone else that not only doesnât see your short-comings, but helps you become more than what you were before they entered your life.
This person is a kind, generous yet determined soul who thus far, in the span of a year has helped me gain confidence, more independence, and drive toward all aspects of life....and the best part is, they came into my life when it was least expected.
They know who they are and it is my hopes that through my new-found independence and drive to be and achieve more out of life, that their love means the world to me...
...because theyâve shown that love can be found at the most unpredictable time and can be found by any, single, one of us...no matter who we are.
and that my friends is the story behind what inspired me to create the design before you for valentineâs day.
Every one of us has something precious to offer someone else, no matter what are abilities or orientations may be. We all are Able to Love.
https://tinyurl.com/ABLEtoLOVE