Welcome to November 1st, the beginning of National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM). This is my second attempt to write something commemorating today—thankfully, the first attempt was a brief effort that ended when I had to leave to run errands with Teresa and our dogs. (One of the downsides of brain surgery is that the doctors want me to have people around for safety’s sake… thankfully, the dogs are good company when we’re out in the car while their mama is getting a manicure in the nail salon.)
But that actually is a good segue into what I wanted to write. NEAM is about “epilepsy awareness,” but epilepsy isn’t like some separate entity that’s floating around in the corner of the room. “Epilepsy awareness” means being aware that people have epilepsy.
That was basically the point of the ONE in 26 campaign. Approximately 1 in 26 people have epilepsy. If you live in a small town of 2,600 people, 10 of them could have epilepsy.
I’m not suggesting that you need to find those 10 people. My suggestion is actually for those 10 people: be willing to make other people aware of you. It might be easy to convince yourself that telling people would immediately turn you into a burden to everyone who knows you. If that was truly the case, I wouldn’t have spent part of my afternoon in the car with the dogs. My wife is aware that I have epilepsy and she loves me for being me. In that light, here’s a short list of reminders:
- Your brain not working the way most people’s do doesn’t make you “less than.”
- You shouldn’t try to make your epilepsy journey a solo trip.
- People may care more than you give them credit for.
- If you think no one else does, know that I care about you.
So that’s my message for today: don’t just be aware of the existence of epilepsy. Be aware that those 1 in 26 people with epilepsy are still people. If you’re one of those people with epilepsy… you’re still people. Allow people to be aware. Your life will be easier and richer because of it.