It's Official!

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to do a quick post and let you all know that yesterday, I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in the mail which would make it official that I have graduated!

Here it is:

Look what arrived in the mail today! It's official. 🎓❤🎓 Can't wait to walk in May!!! 😃 #Bachelors #EnglishDegree #degree #BachelorsDegree #graduation #KeanUniversity #Kean #KeanU

A photo posted by Caitlin Goerlich (@cgoerlich) on Mar 21, 2016 at 2:53pm PDT

Now there's a few things left to do: picking up my cap & gown, walking with the rest of the class on May 19th, and finding a job.

Everything's coming together at least it seems to be. I will most likely write another post when the commencement happens in two months. Wow two months. Crazy.

Well that's it. I told you it was going to be a quick post.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Bright Side's "Be Grateful For What You Have" Video

Hey Everyone!

So I know it's been almost a couple weeks since my last post as I wasn't completely sure of what to write but now I have a topic to write about. It's about a video that has gone viral for the past couple weeks and I just watched the video myself.

It's the "Be Grateful For What You Have" video made by Bright Side:

Look on the Bright Side
Posted by Bright Side on Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Now you're probably wondering why I'm dedicating a post to this video. Well it's because of the message behind the video.

Look, I was enjoying the video because it is a great message. We should be grateful for what we have. We can't look at what others have and need the want to have what they have. It is an important message that we all need to look at.

The first 48 seconds was the best part of the video. At the end of the video, you will notice that the last person they show is a person in a wheelchair saying "He can go wherever he wants." This is the part of the video that had upset me.

In the past few years, there's been talks and talks about the disabled group as I'm sure you know (especially since if you read my blog). Some of those talks aren't positive and some are. The end of this video with this character is one of those negatives moments.

I know you're probably thinking or wondering, what's exactly wrong with it? You're always writing and talking about being included and here it is, you have a disabled character in a video. Ok yes I'm happy that there's a disabled character in this video but it's the way they are portrayed.

Again, I understand the true meaning behind the video is to be grateful for what you have but the way the disabled character is portrayed isn't right. I mean, it has him sitting on the balcony looking out towards a person walking and he says "He can go wherever he wants."

You know what that's telling people who are in wheelchairs? That they have to stay put. That they don't get to wherever they want. And you know what? That's wrong. Just because you're disabled or have something in your way, it doesn't mean that you can't do what others are doing.

I've read so many comments under the video and there are some who say the same as I'm saying and there are others who don't understand those who are complaining about the ending of the video.

Have you ever thought that maybe there are those who are in wheelchairs or have a disability do more than what you do in your life? That they go farther and more places than you can ever imagine? You wouldn't if if you looked at this video. because there's no one after the disabled character. It's just them.

If I truly thought "he can go wherever he wants" the way the video is portraying that we (disabled people) do then I would've never joined the Lightning Wheels, started this blog, go to college, go across the country for the National Junior Disability Championships, and others. I wouldn't change a thing about my life and that includes being in a wheelchair. Because you know what? I and many others who have a disability can go wherever HE wants.

(Of course there was a time when I was younger where I wondered if I could be able to walk again and do what those who can walk but as I got older, I appreciated the life I live and continue to do so. I also realized that I can do what "he" wants. Just do it in a different way. My way.)

We may not be able do what you do exactly like how you do it but we do it our way. I have friends who have traveled to other countries whether it's for sports or not. I have friends who are working towards their dream jobs. I have friends who do what they want to do because they can. It's time to end this stigma about people with disabilities.

How about we get included the right way rather the wrong way? Check out my other posts under the Disability Advocacy tab above and think about how to make videos the right way and why you're truly sharing this video.

It's a great video and for a good meaning but it could've been done with a better ending. So I ask the 100+ million viewers, 4+ million sharers, and the 2+ million those who liked the video - what do you think of the video? How do you see the ending of the video? Re-look at the comments made by those who complain about the video - do they have a point to their comments?

Do I think we should be grateful for what we have? Of course. Do I think the ending of this video could've been better? Duh, I wouldn't have written this post if I didn't.

Please let me know what you think about the video and this post.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Keep On Writing

"Write. Remember, people may keep you (or me) from being a published

author but no one can stop you from being a writer. 

All you have to do is write. And keep writing.

While you're working at a career, while you're 

raising children, while you're trout fishing - keep writing!

No one can stop you from you." - Katherine Neville

For as long as I can remember, I loved to write. Writing is something that always been there. Whether it's writing in a diary (when I was younger), free writing in a notebook (before and after classes), writing stories (novels, Fanfiction, scripts), and other types of writing.

But there's always that one moment where writing wouldn't be there. Or I don't know what to write. So there's that part of me that sometimes thinks about not writing at all. Because I mean, what's the point if there's nothing to write? 

But I've been thinking. What's the point? The point is to put words down on paper (or document) to build up something that can maybe become something. The point is to get out of everything that's inside of me (whether it's true or fiction). The point is even if it doesn't make sense, they are still letters that turn into words and mean something. So of course there's a point. 

Anything you (I) write means something even if it doesn't turn into something else. It doesn't matter what the words are, they are words that came within yourself (myself) and should be let out. I mean they're eventually coming out - don't need to hold them inside. 

So what I have learned is that I need to write. No matter what. Just write. It doesn't matter what I write, I just write. Whether it's just random words, it's still considered writing. So now when I'm stuck with writing or have that thought of not wanting to write, I do it anyways. I open a fresh new document or piece of paper and just start writing. 

And you can do that to. Are you having trouble with writing? Are you stuck? Do you want to write but don't know what? Well all you have to do is write. Don't let anything get in the way. If you work, keep a pad in your pocket, then take it out when you have a free moment and just write. If you're watching television - grab your laptop, tablet, phone, or notebook and start writing whether it's about what you're watching or anything else. There is a lot that you can do to keep on writing.

That's all you (I) have to do: Keep on writing. Don't stop for anything. It doesn't have to make sense. It just has to be you (I) doing what you (I) love and that's writing (even if you don't love writing). Everyone writes even if you don't think you do, you do. 

So what I'm suggesting for writers and non-writers: Keep on Writing.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3