One of the biggest steps has been in You Tube.

Whether you are are a musician, vlogger, humorist or brand this is the way to connect with you, the viewer.

What are you viewing?

Stuff like this.

And this.

(This is my friend Chris Mann, a finalist from the Voice on NBC, isn’t he yummy?

And this.

And companies like Invisalign know that they can explain more in a few minutes of video than all the written words in the world. Something just makes it feel more personal and you can get involved with the process.

Disclosure:

While I am paid for my time, my opinion is my own and is never for sale.

You Got that?? MY OPINION IS MY OWN.**

I’m a member of the Mom’s Advisory Board, and my son received complimentary Invisalign treatment.

Unfortunately, neither option involves Ryan Reynolds.

Big thanks to Pete for helping me out with this very nerve-wracking day.

Since I’ll be out of commission I’ll replay an old post from a much simpler time.

Why shovels will never replace picture frames as housewarming gifts

“So, what do you think about me digging a hole in the backyard?”

A single look from me apparently left scorch marks on my husband’s forehead.

“WHY? Why would you dig a hole in the backyard?”

“I was thinking I could build a hot tub!”

*silence*

“Peter, you know…they have companies that do that…they call them HOT TUB COMPANIES {I know, you’re staggered by my mad arguing skills. SHUT it, I was tired, this was only day 2 in the house} and they do this thing called ‘building hot tubs.”

“Yeah, but I read on the internet blah blah blah and then I could make blah blah blah and then we would have blah blah blah and beer.”

*silence*

“You know what? You should DO THAT!”

Peter gave me his “Have You Been Drinking Before Noon?” look.

“NO! I’m totally serious, you should absolutely start digging that hole, like, right now. I’ll go get you a shovel. AND THEN? I’m going to check online to buy some cows…I’ll raise them right here in the backyard…then kill them and skin them WITH.MY.OWN.TWO.HANDS. and sew that leather couch I’ve been wanting so bad.”

He smiles at me.

I smile back.

“So…you’re saying don’t dig the hole?”

“Don’t dig the hole.”

It was a learning experience for me in some respects.

I DO live a portion of my life in view of others. I invite you to look so you can see what my life is. Because for most of you, the existence of a dramatically handicapped person is beyond your reality.

It’s important to be that voice that says “Yes, this sucks, but look at how fabulous THIS is”.

I always want to be one that changes your perception of handicapped people.

I sat in a room full of people with some version of a broken brain story.

Not all of them competed to be THE MOST BROKEN BRAIN or had the MOST MIRACULOUS RECOVERY.

But you could tell which ones enjoyed their status of THE ONE THAT ALMOST DIED.

It was in the way they told their story, the way they paused at certain points because they were generally stopped by the not-brain-injured crowd.

It doesn’t make one survivor better than the next to have withstood more trauma.

It doesn’t make a survivor better at the brain injury gig to have a far superior tale to tell.

I hope if I learned anything from the other people in that room it was that the quietest stories can have the biggest impact and to never mistake how many people will listen to you with how many people can hear you.

It wasn’t meant to make any point. There wasn’t any great stand to be made. It was just telling you that these were my feelings. They weren’t going to change.

Then I read about Dominic Sheahan-Stahl. A man who was invited to be the keynote speaker at his brother’s graduation ceremony. Only to have that invite retracted. NOT because he was gay. Because he was OPENLY gay. WTH does THAT even mean and WHY does that matter?

Then I read about Inger Knudson-Judd and Philippa Knudson-Judd through my friend Erin. Even though they are legally married, immigration Is FUBARed and forces their separation again and again. For Phillipa to leave her twelve-year-old daughter again and again.

It’s not Christian, you say.

It’s not natural, you say.

It’s not what God says should be, you say.

How can anyone that comes to this site and feel sorry for  my pain and terror at being away from my family for hours DARE TO SAY PHILLIPA AND INGER’S ANGUISH AT BEING RIPPED APART FOR MONTHS AREN’T NATURAL?

As for God?

I’m pretty sure the guy that told you to love and forgive, preached grace and generosity would be sick at this self-righteous, sanctimonious display of power.

And if you need God’s own word?

Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Oh yeah. I grew up in the church,. I just got all Ren McCormack on you.

I wish I would write a lot a lot of words.

But sometimes you don’t need them.