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The writer is a lawyer and volunteer executive member of Blind Resource Foundation Pakistan
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. — Franklin D Roosevelt
Standing in the middle of the sea, surrounded by roaring waves, that relentlessly push me towards the shore or pull me back to their mysterious depths, I muster all my strength to keep my balance, to breathe, and to absorb the soothing rhythm of the water and the serene vastness around me — a profound reminder that even in adversity, the spirit discovers its unwavering resolve.
While enjoying the gentle touch of small waves at the shore, I realised that my life is a vivid reflection of the very landscape before me.
Being a differently abled — or to put it more realistically, a disabled person — I have spent my life battling the relentless waves that surround my very existence.
Standing amid this vast ocean of challenges may have been nature’s choice for me, but deciding whether to remain steadfast or to surrender to its unsympathetic currents has always been mine.
My perception of fighting against the odds is that it is not about conquering the ocean, but about learning to float, to sway with grace through its tempests, to endure its depths with faith, and to trust that even the most turbulent tides will, in time, guide me towards tranquil shores. And though my quiet victories may not sparkle on the surface, they are anchored deep within the steadfast strength the ocean has instilled in me.
The state of being typecast as a socially isolated soul feels like enduring waves that rise endlessly to test my patience, yet, every effort to rise above them — each small step towards inclusion — mirrors the receding tide, leaving behind traces of silent triumph and a tender promise of hope.
The ever-moving tides whisper that life is never stagnant; it flows onwards, sometimes gently, sometimes with unrelenting force. Balance, I have learned, is not found in stillness but by yielding gracefully to the rhythm of the waves – in bending not breaking, as they rise and fall. My dilemma lies in confronting undesired and limited life choices, and yet, choosing practicality over defiance – not out of weakness, but from the will not to sink and to navigate, with quiet zeal, through uncharted waters in search of rare gems.
The roughness of the sea — whenever my vulnerability to stand on my own amid roaring waves is questioned or my will to steer the vessel is doubted — often erodes my steadfastness, yet my inner resolve never fails to ripple those doubts into tides of perseverance that rise quietly within.
The endless horizon stretches my imagination beyond limits, urging me to break free from the shackles of societal barriers and mythical notions, and to dream of stars aligned in the distance — untouchable yet luminous enough to cast rays of countless possibilities.
Indeed, the ocean of life, despite its immeasurable vastness and depth, holds no power to drown the spirit that dares to rise against its might — for determination is its own vessel, carrying one unharmed through every storm.
Thus, my disability, in no possible way, can empower the social order or its people to hinder my courage to chart my own course, nor can it snatch away the boundless horizon of my dreams — for my spirit was never meant to sail by their compass.
In the end, it is only my willpower and persistence that will decide how long I can endure the relentless surge of brutal waves.
I may not promise to conquer the gigantic sea or uncover its hidden treasures, yet, I can vow that my resilience will keep my balance unshaken. For even amidst the storm, I have learned that survival itself is a form of triumph — and that every wave I encounter brings me closer to the calm that lies beyond.
Hence, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities reminds us that disabilities are like passing waves that may have the tendency to reshape our path, yet never possess the force to wash away our inner strength.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn
