Growing up, I always felt different.
While other children played endlessly…
running,
jumping,
swimming,
dancing in the rain,
staying outdoors for hours…
I had limits.
And children notice limits very quickly.
I knew there were things my body could not always handle.
If I pushed too far, a crisis could follow.
If I became too cold, too tired, too dehydrated, or too stressed, my body often reminded me painfully.
So while others moved freely, I learned caution early.
And honestly, I hated feeling different.
Especially during school years.
There were times I would be in school today and absent tomorrow for days or even weeks because of a crisis.
Imagine trying to feel “normal” when your life keeps getting interrupted.
Pain interrupts routines.
Interrupts dreams.
Interrupts childhood.
And comparison quietly magnifies the pain.
I used to wonder:
Why can’t I be like everyone else?
Why does my body react differently?
Why does everything seem harder sometimes?
But years later, I realized something life-changing: Comparison blinds us to our own journey.
The Bible says:
“When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” — 2 Corinthians 10:12
That Scripture became deeply personal to me.
Because everybody’s body is different.
Everybody’s race is different.
Everybody’s assignment is different.
Even among people living with sickle cell, experiences vary greatly.
Some people respond very well to medications like Hydroxyurea.
Others struggle with side effects.
Some people can tolerate certain treatments.
Others cannot.
Some may benefit from bone marrow transplant or gene therapy.
Others may not be suitable candidates medically, emotionally, or financially.
And that’s okay.
One of the wisest things you can do in life is to learn your body, understand your limitations, embrace your uniqueness, and become the healthiest version of yourself possible.
Desperation to become someone else can become dangerous.
Over the years, I’ve seen people pursue harmful and inhumane “cures” out of fear and hopelessness — submitting themselves to terrible practices because they felt ashamed, desperate, or tired of suffering.
But wisdom matters.
Your value is not determined by how closely your life resembles someone else’s.
You are not failing because your journey looks different.
God never asked you to become another person.
He asked you to faithfully run your own race.
Educational Nugget:
Sickle cell disease affects individuals differently. Treatment responses vary widely depending on genetics, disease severity, access to care, and individual body responses. Personalized care and informed medical guidance are essential.
Pain2Gain Reflection:
Comparison steals peace by making you ignore the grace designed specifically for your journey.
Next time, I’ll share one of the most powerful lessons I learned early in life:
How words can either strengthen a person… or quietly destroy them.
#ThrivingWithSickleCell
