“A Story About Overcoming Obstacles and Meeting Purpose” by Gina Pero
“I looked in the mirror at 12 years old in ballet class, and noticed I had an indent in the right side of my body.”
My first thought, “There is something wrong with me.” My first feeling, “Fear.”
My first reaction, “Tell mom.”
I has just started 8th grade and began dance lessons at one of the best dancing schools in Western New York. I was living my dreams, feeling blessed, and inspired to be trained by master dance teachers. I had so much passion for dance. Dance taught me focus, discipline, expression, exercise, wisdom, fun, and gave me a reason to wake up.
What was your life like in 8th grade? Did you have a passion? What was it? Did you have a passion? What was it? Did you have a passion? What was it? Were you around other individuals like yourself? What did you like to focus on? What did you dream?
As soon as I arrived home that night from ballet class, I immediately told my mom “there was something wrong with me.”
When was a time you thought there was “something wrong with you”?
My mom being my number 1 fan, immediately took me to a specialized back doctor, and the doctor said:
- Pulled Hamstring
- Scoliosis
- Bulging Disc
- Nothing
Do you need a life-line on this question? #2 Scoliosis, Final Answer.
YOU ARE CORRECT!
Applause, Applause, Applause.
I sat silent on the table while my mom spoke to The Dr., and I did what my grandma always taught me to do in times of stress, PRAY.
“Dear God, please help me. And, BTW, what is scoliosis?”
I was diagnosed with an upper curve of 17 degrees, and a lower curve of 36 degrees and I was immediately casted for a back brace.
“Gina, you must wear this back brace for 16 hours a day, and you have a choice, you can take the ‘brace off’ during bed, or during dance.” Dr.
“I CHOSE DANCE!”
Applause. Applause, Applause.
In just a few days, my life with ‘the brace’ changed.
Every walk, sit, stand, sleep, car ride, and daily movement’s changed. Every thought, feeling, and action changed.
My clothes changed from a size 0 to a size 8, to be able to wear over my brace. The way people looked at me changed. The way I looked at myself changed. School changed. My parent’s responsibilities changed. And even God changed.
What changes did you experience at 12 years old? What became the “brace” in your life? For the Full Story: Click Here
How did Gina choose to handle this? Well…
I had 2 choices again.
- Poor Me
- Embrace Me
After many conversations with God, human angels in my life empowering me to keep dancing, and my own inner desire to heal, increase my self confidence, and the choice and will power to move through the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual pains….
“I chose “embrace me,” and did it one vertebrae at a time!”
I LEARNED HOW TO:
EMBRACE THE BRACE. EMBRACE ME. EMBRACE SCOLIOSIS. EMBRACE PAIN. EMBRACE CHANGE. EMBRACE GOD. EMBRACE LOVE.
MESSAGE:
As we choose to embrace ourselves and accept what is right now, we begin to discover that we are capable of any change, any obstacle, and any pain. As we choose to take a moment to pray and ask for help, we begin to see that help is everywhere. As we choose to keep doing what we love and be around people, who love us, empower us, and encourage us to keep going, we begin to experience love without condition, and feel joy. And as we choose to start seeing and knowing, that what happens to us, is for us, and not against us, we magically begin to realize that the ‘brace’s’ in our life, may just be our superpower.
What is your superpower today? Today, my story is my superpower.
At age 12, accepting scoliosis changed my path’s direction and I was introduced to an angel named purpose. Although it took me some time to get to know, and even like purpose, purpose gifted me the tools I needed to know and trust that everything was going to be ok. Purpose taught me about values, and what was most important in my life. Purpose helped me see me, hear me, and love me for who I was.
In meeting purpose, I was able to overcome my obstacle, ‘one vertebrae at a time.’
WHEN DID YOU MEET PURPOSE?
For Gina’s Full Scoliosis Story: Click Here
To hear Gina’s interview on The LIFE CHANGES Show, go to: Interview
To ask a question or connect with Gina, write her at gina@ginapero.com To receive Gina’s FREE GIFT, visit www.ginapero.com
Follow Gina Pero on FB at https://www.facebook.com/ginajpero/ Follow Gina Pero on Instagram @ginajpero