Mismatched Steps
In my shoes

The sound of children’s laughter fills the air as I play in the bustling playground, but there is an odd percussion — my footsteps irregular and thudding. The way my feet strike the ground at odd angles creates a symphony of missteps as I take each step. As rebellious conductors, my legs refuse to follow the rhythm the other kids effortlessly maintain.
My shoes, bulky and rigid, were like boats amidst sleek yachts. School life was a canvas splashed with vibrant hues of normalcy, but I painted it in different shades. During gym class, I lumbered and lurched as kids glided across the floor. That’s how I tried to dodgeball, turning a simple catch into a theatrical dive as if it were a marionette with tangled strings.
I was the center of many humorous misunderstandings as I approached adolescence. When people asked me if it was MS, I answered with a smirk: “No, it’s CMT, but think of it as the underdog of neurological disorders.” As I transformed my reality into a narrative filled with light-hearted quips and educational moments, I painted a vivid picture of my journey through my unique perspective.
I transformed my walk into a dance of defiance against normality when I was a teenager. The steps in my life were a rhythm. At parties, while others swayed gracefully to the music, I swayed clumsily, turning my unsteady steps into my own unique dance. These moments were a celebration of my individuality, and brought me joy.
My life with CMT is becoming increasingly fragmented as I become an adult. As my steps, still unpredictable, become a part of my identity, a kind of signature, I have learned to find humor in missteps and grace in recovery. I weave an unbreakable spirit, resilience, humor, and resilience into the tapestry of my daily life.
It isn’t just a story of challenges and differences that I want to share with you. It’s a vivid, colorful journey of embracing life with all its quirks. Through my walk with CMT, I have learned how to stand out, the strength to face adversity, and the power of laughter. This story is unique to me, a testament to living life to the fullest, one wobbly step at a time.
