Sometimes it can be hard to accept things that life throws at us. I’ve often wondered why such evil things happen in such a beautiful world. I think a lot of it comes down to lack of education, lack of love, lack of awareness and ignorance. I think to a certain degree people can choose the path they wish to walk down. We all have a guidance system called intuition and we know when we have done something good because we feel it. Equally, we know when we have done something bad because we have a feeling of guilt or a dark cloud that hangs over us. Basically what I’m saying is that we know the difference between right and wrong. If I do something bad in life, I need to accept it and live with it. It’s very simple. But what happens when things are out of our control? What happens when you are effected by someone else's mistake or bad decision?
I don’t blame anyone for my #erbspalsy even though I could. I like to think of myself as blessed. I often wonder what I’d be like if I didn’t have this injury. I honestly don’t think that I’d be doing the things that I’m doing. To start off with, I wouldn’t be playing the drums or the guitar and I wouldn’t have had the amazing experiences I’ve had through music.
I consider myself quite a spiritual person and I choose to believe that things happen for a reason. Even though those things may be really difficult to deal with, I still believe that they are lessons I need to grow because of them.
My time on this planet is unique, as is yours. I am choosing to believe that #brachialplexusinjury was a gift. Sometimes we need to actually stand back and look at ourselves, looks at what we have and decide which path we are going to walk down. I’m choosing to walk down the positive road where I hope to inspire and educate people in the same position as me. Rather than the negative path where I choose to feel victimised. Yes, I agree it can be difficult. But what can you do today to feel better about this?
Let me put my life into context. For whatever reason I was born with erbs palsy. Years later I remember being in a court room and some weird guy in a wig said “Well Matthew, now you are a very rich young man”. I had no clue what the hell was going on. Turns out that my parents took legal action and won the case (more on this in a future blog). Part of this money funded my education, as my parents knew that having a good education is one of the most important things you can give a child (the judge agreed with this). One school that I went to I hated because I was bullied (check out this BLOG on bullying) and the other school I loved. I still have a good bunch of friends from that school and they have been with me through thick and thin.
After I left school I went to University and studied Fine Art. It was ok. Nothing too exciting happened. I then worked with my father at an online business selling sporting equipment. I did this for a number of years but for various reasons it didn’t work out. I then became a kitchen designer. By this time I was 28 years old and felt that I had no direction in life. I felt that I was floating from job to job and not truly feeling that I was in the right place. I was also in a relationship that was falling apart and I needed a change. I considered teaching so I went to a few University open days, but I had a mortgage and a fiancé at the time and I just couldn’t afford it.
"You are in control of your thoughts and actions. You are free to choose whichever path you want to walk down. Notice these coincidence and understand that it’s synchronicity working for you. Make sure that the path you walk down is one of light, love and happiness."
I was gigging quite a lot in the evenings and I happened to play three gigs in my local town over the course of six months. I randomly kept bumping into a guy I went to school with (strange considering he actually lived in China at the time). He was also on the old boys committee at the school we went to and asked me to do a talk at an upcoming event at the school. I agreed instantly and a month later I found myself giving a speech to the headmaster and other old boys and girls. I got talking to the headmaster over lunch and we got on very well. I went home and got on with my life, not really thinking any more about it.
A few weeks later I had a voicemail from him asking me to call him back because he had a job opportunity for me. I called him back as soon as I could and before I knew it I was in an interview and then in a classroom hired as a teaching assistant. He said that it could be a great way to get into teaching and there are always opportunities if you work hard. Seven years later I’m still working in the school that I went to as a kid and very much enjoy it.
What if...
I often think; if I wasn’t born with erbs palsy, I wouldn’t have ended up going to the school I went to. I wouldn’t have played guitar, which means I wouldn’t have played the gigs where I met my old friend from school. I wouldn’t have done the speech and I wouldn’t have gone for the interview which led me to teaching. I wouldn’t have met my wife (who also teaches there) and I wouldn’t have met my band members or my group of close friends. I completely believe that this was meant to happen to me. I’m in a good place and I’m so grateful for everything that erbs palsy has given me. I have an amazing wife, job and friends. I enjoyed my education and I love my band, the music we make and the adventures I've been on. I’m choosing to believe that. I’m choosing to do this blog, which will hopefully inspire others. I’m using my erbs palsy to help myself and others around me.
You are in control of your thoughts and actions. You are free to choose whichever path you want to walk down. Notice these coincidence and understand that it’s synchronicity working for you. Make sure that the path you walk down is one of light, love and happiness. Be the best version of you and know that your erbs palsy is a gift, even if some days you get frustrated. You are unique and exactly the way you should be! Love life, love your family and friends. But most of all, love yourself and your awesome arm.
Much love x