7.53 billion people in the world. 7.53 billion different stories. 7.53 billion different lives, adventures, memories, loves, and losses. Each and every single person has their own story. We live in a world full of happiness and sadness, love and heartbreak, accomplishments and disappointments, and gains and losses. Going through things like cancer, miscarriages, deaths, surgeries, and mental illnesses are inevitable. All of these things may not happen to you, but you will go through something in your life and you may think that you will not get through it, or the pain is too unbearable, but you will get through it because your struggles don't define who you are.
As a college student, I pass by hundreds of people every day. And while on the outside it may look like they are happy and everything is perfect, we all know nobody's life is perfect. As humans, we are so quick to judge other people based on looks, actions, or words. We don't get to know them personally before we make our judgements against them. In a world filled with 7.53+ billion people, it's impossible to know everyone, so why do we act like we do? You may never know if the girl walking beside you who has makeup all over her face just discovered her mom has cancer, or the boy that's not participating in the group project just broke up with his girlfriend, or the coworker who has been giving you the cold shoulder for the past few days has been struggling with depression. Each and every single one of us 7.93 billion people have struggles that we go through. So, to begin, I thought I would tell you a little about mine.
My story is one like no other, literally, as I am told by every single doctor I have visited in the great states of North Dakota, Colorado, Minnesota, and my favorite, New York. This article isn't meant to be the story of my life, but with me telling you apart of my story, you might get a better insight into why this is important to people, especially those who have gone through things that nobody should have to go through. I have never really been the person who will go up to you and tell you my life story, so this will be a pretty surface level story, for now...
I was born with a so-called vascular malformation on the left side of my face, which led to 18 years of surgeries, injections, and procedures. Since no doctor in North Dakota or Minnesota had ever seen anything like it, my family and I were sent to Colorado to do alcohol injections and surgery. After my doctor there got in a ski accident, my family and I headed for the Big Apple. New York is truly one of the most magical places on Earth, but that story is for another time. I've been to New York approximately 10 times now for either injections or surgeries. I have worked with five doctors there and currently still going out there every year or so for different here and there things.
Now, as you can imagine, I most certainly do not look like an everyday person walking down the street. I mean everybody looks different but I think you get my point. The past 18 years have been no walk in the park, but I wouldn't change who I am or what I like look because of that. I have gone through things that some people will never have to go through and others will have gone through similar things, but it has only made me a stronger person. I totally know and understand that for the rest of my life I will always get stares and pointed fingers, but until you actually get to know me for me, you don't get to judge me based on what I look like. Having to live my life with a vascular malformation doesn't define who I am, it's just a part of who I am.
Life isn't meant to be easy peasy lemon squeezy. Life is a roller coaster with twists, turns, ups, and downs. You will go through things you may never think you will get past, but you will. Heartbreak might happen, but you will find love again. Depression may come, but you will find happiness. Cancer might get the best of a loved one, but know that they are in a better place. All of these things and whatever you are struggling with happen for a reason so instead of letting it take over your life, embrace it, grow from it, and most importantly let it become a piece of you, but don't let the struggle define you.
