Words

I am dyslexic and so I did not learn to read properly until I was about 12years old. Sadly, learning difficulties were not picked up quickly when I wasat school the way they are now. I was not properly diagnosed until I was 22years old, but that prognosis changed my life. Until then I mistakenly thoughtI was just dumb and so school was tough for me. Bottom line is that I adoredeverything about school except for the learning bits.

Once I realized that I had this thing called dyslexia I went about findingout as much as I could. I read up on techniques that would work for my brainwhen it came to learning. I tried them and they worked.

I was not stupid, I just learnt differently to my peers. That is a lifechanging sentence for someone with my report cards. I was the kid that workedreally hard to get a D and in my life a C was kind of an A.

Because of this history I read all the "children's" books when Iwas almost a teenager. I also learned that once I started to read it got easierand easier each time and before I knew it, I had read a whole book and enjoyedthe activity!!

I have been an addict ever since and I cannot imagine a world without booksand more importantly the stories they contain. I have a special kind of respectfor those op shoppers who come into our store looking for books. Two hoursafter they arrive, they finally make it up to the counter with a small arm loadof books which they hold onto like gold. All our books’ costs one dollar eachand so they know they are getting treasure at bargain prices.

I think that some of that history explains why I treasure words now as anadult. I feel as though I earned words, they cost me something to acquire. Ifyou get a chance read the lovely book The Dictionary of Lost Words byPip Williams, I recommend it. The way the main character feels about wordsstruck a chord deep within me.

I go and visit my lovely Mama once a fortnight and we have a fabulous time!I stay the night and I swear that neither of us draws breath from the moment Iarrive until the time I leave. I often drive away realizing we started aconversation about a particular subject, but we never finished it and I want toknow what happened. In short there are a lot of WORDS.

While op shopping with Mama this week I found the sign which is the picturefor this blog entry. It reads "You are Enough" and for some reason Ijust went "Yes, I need that reminder around me at the moment, I amenough." I know that the time is coming where I won't technically beenough, but I know inside I will be singing "I AM enough, I AMenough" quietly to myself in the corner.

I have it on the wall of our bedroom directly opposite where I sit up in bedin the morning. Its flashing its lovely words at me and I am so grateful fortheir promise.