Being true to yourself

Aug. 8, 2010

On my personal/professional site, ksrearick.com, sits the page I call my profile. It’s a synopsis of my design philosophy, my personal design process and a little bit into the designer side of my mind. The secret is, the page posted for the last 20 months isn’t the original content I had written. I kept the original page but was afraid that potential employers would see it and balk at hiring someone with potential baggage. I always had the intention to post it again, but never had the courage.

The original posting talked about being a PMG dad, not about this site but the father of a special-needs child. How the transformation of fatherhood, and special-need fatherhood has made an impact on me professionally as well as personally. It reads even though I’m the parent, there are many basic things in life I can learn from a child, how a child changed my priorities and my view of people in general.

The page says, “As the father of a son with polymicrogyria, a developmental disability, I spend many hours each day helping him work through the basics of life. I am constantly amazed at how hard he works to do the simple things such as sitting, walking and eating. With every effort he makes he tries to make those around him proud. He has become as much of a role model in my life as I seem to be in his. I’ve learned never to take people or tasks for granted as it’s only through grace that we can complete our own challenges. I know that if I put as much dedication and effort into my work as he does for every day tasks, I will be successful in all endeavors.”

This week, Nathan taught me another life lesson. We’re still working on his walking, taking more-and-more consistent steps, reciprocal steps – not hopping, and going farther distances. We started the summer walking from our driveway to the end of our street, around 60 yards and back. This week it became obvious, when he got to the corner, he didn’t want to turn around, he wanted to turn and head down the other sidewalk. Not being in a time crunch this day, I conceded.

The steps were slow but consistent, not in a scared way, but more a sense of discovery. He was expanding his walking world, and wanted to take it all in. After all, he had seen kids walking or on bikes on this street, and many times this was his motivation to make as far as the corner. Now was his turn to learn more. Any movement on the street, whether it was a car driving by, birds flying, or yes, seeing new kids, you could tell it was all being processed and building excitement within him.

Nathan wants to be where the action is. If there’s a group of people (especially kids) he finds a way to get himself there. If the kids move, he moves. He may not catch them, but he’ll give it his best shot to keep up. That determination and desire is contagious if you let it. Not only did Nathan make it to the corner, but after only two attempts, he made it to the end of the next block (and back again.) At first I was surprised how quickly he made it back those last 60 yards, but to him it was old news. He raced down the sidewalk and up the incline of the driveway. Nathan is constantly striving to do more or show others who he really is. He’s often humble about what he can do, or who he shows it too, but it doesn’t take long for the true Nathan to come out.

If you visit my site now, you’ll see the page that was intended to be there from the beginning. I’m no longer afraid of turning people away, because I know that the places worth working for will embrace my life experiences not shun me for them. Like I learned from my son, be proud of who you are, what life has taught you, and how you battle life’s daily challenges. Those willing to take on new things, and spend time learning and helping others each day are the richest people around.

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