Dysgraphia

As some of you know, I grew up with two learning disabilities, one of them being dysgraphia. Many of you might remember my handwriting—and how bad it is. For the longest time, I thought it was because I was left-handed. But the truth is, it’s because of my dysgraphia.

I’ve always compared my handwriting to that of a seven-year-old, and whenever I could type instead of write, I would. Typing was my way of avoiding the struggle with pen and paper. I hold writing utensils incorrectly, and over time, writing actually becomes painful. I experience fatigue in my hand because I don’t hold pens properly, but if I try to hold them the “right” way, it feels unnatural, and my handwriting becomes even worse.

I also struggle with punctuation. Sometimes, I’ll even mix cursive and print when writing words, and don’t ask me to explain what a semicolon or an apostrophe is. It’s just not something that comes naturally to me. Even everyday tasks like cutting up food, buttering bread, or wrapping presents are challenges I face because of my dysgraphia.

What surprises me is how creative I can be when it comes to poetry and writing in general. Don’t get me wrong—when it came to writing essays in school, I was pretty subpar unless the topic really interested me. Thank you, ADHD, for that little quirk!

But despite all the challenges with writing, I’ve found ways to express myself creatively, even if it’s not through the traditional methods people might expect.

Until you read again.