A piece of art that has impacted me is a song by Mike Posner, title: “How it is supposed to be.” It looks closely at the idea of human loss and the many emotions that we experience when someone we care about has gone on. This song puts things in perspective for me and is an inspirational tune for appreciating what we have. This song made me take a new look at living with my disability and my condition, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It has changed the way I view life and gives me a sense of appreciation for the life I do have.
The song comes from the album called, “A Real Good Kid.” Posner reflects on the loss of his father. Each song represents a stage of grief, from the shock of the death down to acceptance and moving on with his life. It is hard to say goodbye, but Posner shows that we must let the past go while making something of ourselves to honor their legacy. The specific song ends the album and wraps up the buildup of the message the listener is supposed to take away.
Posner says that maybe everything happens in our lives because that is how things are supposed to be. He goes into depth about how his heroes are gone and discusses issues in our current society. Things happen for a reason and everything has a purpose. The song ended with a clip of his dad when Posner was young, his dad saying that Posner was a real good kid.
This song matches some of the experiences that I have been through and how I have dealt with them. At the age of five, I was diagnosed and knew that I couldn’t do everything that a normal kid would. It got me down on myself and made me sad about my life because I would never be considered “normal.” My disease took away my ability to walk and currently, it’s taking the strength in my arms. I couldn’t play like the other kids or participate in everything I wanted to because I physically couldn’t. I can’t go out with friends unless my parents drive me. I can’t go to someone’s house unless they have a wheelchair ramp. I had to be pushed in a wheelchair in elementary school and could not walk long distances. It didn’t bother me at the time but looking back, it shaped how I viewed myself and my future.
Suddenly, my life changed in 2012 and 2013 when I was selected to be the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For two years, I traveled the nation while raising awareness, speaking to crowds and sponsors about disability rights and funds for treatments for all 43 types of muscle disease. Currently, I am a brand ambassador for Quantum Rehab and Quantum has allowed me to work closely with the rare disease community to fight for a better tomorrow by helping people who struggle with mobility regain their independence. Even though my disability has taken many things from me, I have been given a platform to make a difference and serve others.
I have my disability to help others. Instead of running from my disease, it made me take pride in myself. I am a spiritual person and have a solid Christian faith, so this song demonstrated how God views me. God uses me as a vessel to do work for His kingdom, and He has a plan for me that is greater than I could ever expect. I have defied the odds of my medical diagnosis. This is what my diagnosis has meant all along, and Posner’s song cemented that for me. I am proud of who I am and will not let anything get in my way because everything is how it is supposed to be.
About Bryson Foster: Bryson lives in North Carolina. He advocates and raises funds for the development of treatments for muscular dystrophy. He loves sports and cheers for his favorite basketball team, the North Carolina Tar Heels. Click here to learn more about Bryson.