Coby & Tiberius Social Distancing ♥️🐶🐈❤️

Overcoming adversity doesn't happen overnight. And sometimes, it doesn't look anything like we imagined. Years ago, I remember reading about people who had overcome extraordinary challenges and seemed to have it all together. What I didn't understand then was that they were simply further along in their journey than I was. Somewhere I never thought I would be. I felt like a failure because I couldn't accomplish what they could. In 2019, I wrote about losing the opportunity to pursue my neuroscience Ph.D., despite having earned my place, secured funding, and done everything expected of me. Disability discrimination closed a door I had worked incredibly hard to open. I had to redefine much of who I was and what I wanted from life. It was a mountain to climb, with seemingly no natural plateaus to rest on. Today, that journey looks remarkably different. I've advocated internationally, contributed to scientific research, helped open laboratory doors for service dog handlers, and worked toward changes in national biosafety guidance. But I want to be clear about something. Progress doesn't mean the struggles disappear. And accomplishments don't mean someone has it all together. I still struggle with the consequences of a severe brain injury, neurological limitations, and the emotional toll of living within boundaries I didn't choose. I still get frustrated, exhausted, and sometimes scared. Along the way, I've fallen and gotten back up, metaphorically and literally, more times than I can count. I've lost opportunities, relationships, and pieces of the life I once envisioned. But I've also found purpose, love, peace, and a life that brings me genuine happiness. Perhaps one of the most meaningful lessons came from a speech I gave in 2012. I walked away convinced I had failed miserably. Years later, I learned someone had spent five years trying to find that very speaker because of the impact the presentation had made. When I thought I had failed, I had actually made a difference. Sometimes we cannot see the impact we're making while we're struggling simply to move forward. I don't have it all together. I'm not sure I ever will. But I've learned that overcoming adversity isn't necessarily about conquering every obstacle or returning to the person we once were. Sometimes it's about finding another path around the brick wall in front of us. Don't let someone else's limitations dictate your possibilities. And don't mistake a difficult chapter for the end of your story. The road you never intended to travel may lead to a future you never imagined. #DisabilityInclusion #Resilience #Neuroscience #STEMAccessibility