Normal Nancy

           The question that intrigued me the most from the reading of "Disability" by Nancy Mairs was the effect of how one sees or values themselves. How one views themselves... perhaps that is apart of their own identity as well? Someone like Nancy Mairs, who has a disability, is also extremely self-confident. She is able to overcome her disability and see herself as a normal individual. It is her disability that gives her such strong determination. So is the key all about mentality? How one chooses to view them self? It is apparent that one's own thoughts and feelings are, to some extent, influenced by one's own surroundings. It is also apparent from the looks and stares seen in public that disabilities are not normal. But what about mental disabilities? Qualities such as one's own self-esteem or personality. Surely those may not be as extremely obvious to the everyday commoner, but they are also disabilities. Those, I believe, may be some of the toughest to overcome. Someone who lacks the fiery passion of Mairs will have a much more difficult time accepting who they are. The Media, as Nancy Mairs explains, is responsible for much of this. It is difficult for one to accept them self, if they are not accepted by somebody else first. As humans we are always insecure. About our looks, our personality, our relationship with others... our everything. The Media, either directly or indirectly, continues to perpetuate images of beauty standards and "normalcy". It is from this that we continue to widen the gap between an actual human and their idealized images. As time moves forward, society will continue to chase after the intangible, perfectionist views that are portrayed on magazine covers and TV ads. It is from this that we continue to follow this upward trend of the idealized image, and aim to prove to ourselves that we are "normal". We are not. To be someone who you are not is the exact opposite of what it is to be normal.

"In the extreme, you might feel as thought you don't exist... Everyone else is "there", sucking breath mints and splashing cologne and swigging wine coolers. You're "not there." And if not there, nowhere."