The Gala

I’ve never been the type of person who couldn’t express herself through words. To be honest with you, I find that sometimes I am overly-expressive. However, lately it has been hard for me to explain to people how truly blessed I feel to be where I am at right now. No, life is not perfect – is it ever? But I have been lucky enough to be a part of so many wonderful things that I feel a sense of gratitude that I cannot put into words.

Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to be a part of my work’s gala committee, which came to an end on Saturday with our Art of Independence event. It’s funny how you can put so much time and effort into something and then once it is over you don’t really k now what to do with yourself – I think that is a sign that I could use a hobby.

Back to the gala – it was fabulous! It was my first actual ‘grown-up’ fundraising event and I’m so sad that I have to wait a year in order to attend again. This event was to raise money for a non-profit organization, Candeo, which serves individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Mental Illness and Brain Injury.  At this event, we asked artists to donate pieces to be sold or put into a live auction – it was quite a hit. We also had many live artists demonstrate their technique. Some of these included Dornink, Reiko Cunningham, Light the Earth, Duende and William Butler! It was so wonderful that so many people wanted to contribute to such an amazing organization. I feel blessed to say that I was a part of it – even if it was just a small part.

As amazing and talented as those artists are, I have to admit that the best thing to me at the event was the clients. When the clients got up and told their stories of failures and triumphs, my heart went out to them. I felt for them, because I will never have to struggle the way that they have. I will never have someone to tell me I can’t do something because of a disability. Most of us will not have to go through what they have gone through and for that, I look up to them. And I pray that one day we will live in a world where our differences won’t matter. Where we ALL have the opportunity to work and be a part of the community. A part of me is ashamed that we are not there yet, but we are getting closer! I just hope that we are all able to open our eyes and our hearts to everyone. We are all different and we all deserve a chance.