What's Holding You Back?

I have a learning disability. I didn't know I had it until I was about 35 years old when my mother told me. My boss at the time (the one from The Devil Wears Prada) was telling me I was illiterate because I couldn't spell. I was devastated and called my mom. I knew I couldn't' spell but this was the first time it interfered with my work. She told me I had a learning disability and said she didn't tell me earlier because she didn't want it to slow me down.

To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what it's called, but I can't spell. It's been a problem my whole life. Computers help but I have a very hard time spelling words. The fact that I have a Blog is amazing. Using social media is reveling because I spell so many words incorrectly. I am constantly hearing from people how I spell things wrong. It's not the words that get underlined in red, those are easy, it's the words that have different meaning and different spelling that trip me up and have comments flying about how dumb I am.

I'm not dumb. I'm actually pretty freaking smart. I just can't spell. It held me back for years. I was afraid to send handwritten notes, to send email and to post anything publicly. Then one day I said, screw it, I have stuff to say and want to say it. Anything that is "official" I have my mom read before I send it and she does a pretty good job of editing my spelling. It's a challenge yet I find a way to work around it.

 It's not sympathy I am looking for. I simply want you to be aware that everyone has something that they deal with. For me, it's overcoming the impression that I am stupid. I know stuff. I know a lot of stuff. I may not be able to spell it but I know it.

This is why I feel like the champion of the underdog. What have you been hiding that is keeping you from communicating? Break those chains!