And Her Name is Abigail
Abigail
Back in November I updated Bold Blind Beauty’s brand identity and as part of the process I wrote an article, This Dazzling Dame Needs A Name, to solicit names for my fabulous white cane icon. Many of you replied via the blog, email, and Facebook – Thank you all!! 💖
While I received many great names from which to choose I decided to go with Abigail because I loved this thought process behind the name: “A play on Abilities, and Nightingale (the small bird that’s known for its beautiful song) – since it looks like she is wearing a divine feather dress.” This entry was received from fellow blogger, contributor, and friend, Glenda Harrison of So What to Twenty. Thanks Glenda!
So Why Does She Need A Name?
The short answer is because Abigail could be anyone of us (male or female). She carries a white cane which to some represents weakness, dependence, and helplessness when in fact it is a symbol of strength, independence, and power.
All of us, have our “white cane” that thing that can sometimes hinder us from reaching our full potential, other times it comforts us in complacency, and then there’s those times we accept what others project on to us because they don’t understand our situation.
It’s hard to believe that even in the year 2016 we as a society still cannot come to grips with disAbilities and the people who live with them. As the largest minority group in the world, and the only one where anyone can become a member at any given moment, the discrimination and mistreatment of this group is mind-boggling.
This post is not about the many issues concerning disAbilities rather the focus is on Abilities. You see, Abigail who’s stepping forward with purpose, is an image of confidence. She’s been through some things yet she can still hold her head up high and live life on her terms.
Abigail is an excellent example of “things aren’t always as you might want them to appear.” Did you see what I did there? “As you might want them” or as “you think they should be” is a presumption. When we think like this, and we all do, we are projecting onto another our perceptions rather than being open to idea that we are uninformed.
This quote by a friend of mine, Libby Thaw, sums up this thinking:
Everybody, including people with disabilities, makes assumptions. Problems arise when we are not open to learning our assumption was wrong.
Many times life is difficult and though living with disabilities is not easy this does not equate to being unable. We must continually remind ourselves that everyone is unique with their own set of strengths, weaknesses, and gifts.
The idealistic part of me hopes that Abigail’s image, along with her story, will help to alter the way people view people with disabilities on a whole and more specifically those with vision impairments. Yes, she has some functional vision and uses a white cane to navigate the world safely so that she can make a difference!
I was 17 years old, all odds against me, I heard the 2nd place winner breathing down my back, literally, I couldn’t see, I just ran. I ran from the pain, anger, and obstacles. I won, I placed second in the nation in the 55 meters. ~Abigail
Stay tuned as Abigail’s story unfolds…
Looking for some inspiration? Check out Bold Blind Beauty’s Facebook page for daily quotes from Women on the Move.