We can't all be special

You can do anything they say, you can be anything they say, you're so beautiful they say, you're so funny they say, you're so clever they say, you're so witty, they say, anything you set your mind to, they said, everything will turn out for you, they said, everyone loves you, they said, everyone adores you, they said, you're perfect they said.

It wasn't even true while it's being said. If it had been the whole world would be made up out of winners and success, and sadly we know it isn't so. Instead we're taught to run in blind, in an equal race of equal chances, because indeed, we're all equals and with that comes being equally special. But isn't it in the definition of special that it stands out from the crowd, and can those who are less than equal adapt the word and make it less special than it is.

Before I continue I must stress that I do believe in the equality of man, and woman, and no matter your ailment or shortcoming you are still a person, and you matter. You're the same person with or without limbs with or without your sanity.

For when we call a person special we mean to call them extraordinary and exquised, something rare and good. We don't mean to call them handicapped. This is really a sidenote, but in reality, what has it done to the word "special" to be put in the context of special olympics? I have no better word for it, no, really, I don't, as "handicapped" focuses on what they can't do, not what they can. Shouldn't the special olympics be for those who are extraordinary at their game? Or is the regular olympics, indeed, the special olympics of the heart? Do we really make it better by belittling those who already face great challenges by calling them "special"? It devalues the word, in an instant, and perhaps we should call those without physical limitations able bodies, and then somehow calculate a percentage for the rest, such as "you're 97% able bodied". But that'd probably offend someone. It's so easy to be offended and it's even easier to offend.

The thing is though, if we're all special, noone's special at all, then we succumb to the grey wet mass we're trying to get away from. So, please, use your words of affection sparingly for when they're just burting out from your very being.

I'm nothing special. I'm just me, and I don't need to be told otherwise. I'm fine, honestly, I'm better than fine, I'm me, and that is indeed, something special.