Sometimes, when I deal with a new symptom of FA or one that has progressed and caused a new issue, it makes me feel so isolated. No one at my age deals with these problems. What is wrong with me?

The reality is that the world is full of pain and suffering, but it’s rarely something people open up and share about. People want to share the picture that makes them look buff or pretty, the unbeatable view they have on their luxurious vacation or the shiny, new car they bought. These things are great, but it’s only part of the story. People rarely share the time they got their heart broken in a relationship, when they got sick and spent the week in bed, or something as simple as failing a rep at the gym. It’s so much easier to post what makes you look good and builds your own image, but there’s power in sharing your struggles.

Social media seems to be filled with world travelers, party animals and popular, attractive people we wish we could be. But that’s not the world we live in; those are not the things that builds characters or makes a mark on our lives. My FA diagnosis has been the hardest thing in my life, but it has also been the thing that’s bent, pushed and shaped me into the strong individual I am today.

That’s why I share about it, not because it’s cool or fun and not because it shows how good or strong I am, but because there are other people out there that shouldn’t have to think they’re alone (because they’re not). Whether you have FA or not, I think people can relate to a lot of my struggles that I’ve shared in this blog because everyone has tough times in their life. Not everyone loses physical abilities in the same way I do, but all people experience loss. Not everyone has a progressive disease, but many people can relate to falling out of touch with the joys of youth as they grow up, (etc.).

Some days are “Bad Day” by Daniel Potter and some are “When It Rains It Pours” by Luke Combs. That’s reality. Acknowledging that is not weak or sad, it’s empowering; by sharing your struggles and weakness, you’re better relating to others than you ever will by sharing your victories or by drowning out all negative and unpleasant feelings.

With that being said, I have gotten responses to my blogs like: “That must have been so hard to talk about. Thank you for being so brave to share.” or “Are you alright? I feel so sad for you.” Those responses are kind, but they’re missing the point. When I talk about a hard experience I’ve had or some kind of suffering I’ve dealt with, it’s not about getting sympathy for myself, it’s about opening myself up and being vulnerable in hopes to encourage and inspire others.

I don’t care if one of my posts only resonates with one person; if that’s the case, I’ve succeeded. A post that helps one other person feel less alone in life will always be more impactful than one that butters my own biscuit and makes me feel good about myself.

This isn’t to say sharing life’s joys isn’t impactful, too. My last post, “My best is yet to come” is a testament to that. I hope people see that if a broken person like me that goes head-to-head with the struggles of a disease like FA can be successful in life, they can too. At the end of the day, life is filled with many joys and many struggles. Vulnerability means sharing those for what they are instead of painting a false picture that the skies are always clear and sunny.

The reality is that my life has been filled with many hardships, so it isn’t such an ordeal for me to talk about hard things anymore. That’s part of the platform I’ve been given. Being vulnerable is the only way I can make a difference in this world. What good does it do to keep all these things to myself?

My hope is that others can read about my hardships and imperfections and realize they aren’t so broken, they aren’t so lost and they aren’t the only ones who feel the way they feel. All we can do is our best with the circumstances we are in. The cards we are handed are never the perfect, easy ones we would’ve asked for, but we can persevere in spite of them. That can never happen if we don’t acknowledge our own flaws and suffering.

Through my pain, maybe someone can come to the comforting realization: Wow, I’m not alone in this. It’s not just me.