Bold One Day, Broken the Next
Some days I feel like a warrior. I step out into the world with my prosthetic leg on full display — shorts, dresses, whatever I feel good in. I walk with confidence, let the sun hit my skin, and I catch the looks, the curiosity, the silent admiration. On those days, I feel like I own my story. Like I’m rewriting the script of what disability “should” look like.
But other days? I want to disappear!
There are days when I’m in pain — physically, emotionally, or both. Days when I don’t want to explain, or smile, or be brave. Some days when the stares don’t feel empowering — they feel invasive. On those days, I reach for long pants, I sit in the corner, I avoid mirrors and I don’t want to be a statement. I just want to be… invisible.
This tug-of-war between boldness and vulnerability is something I never expected before becoming an amputee. I thought I had to choose one — be either the fearless inspiration or the quiet survivor. But now I know… I’m both. And it’s okay.
Sometimes people think confidence is a permanent state — like once you “accept” your body, everything becomes easy. But healing doesn’t move in straight lines. Some days I celebrate my prosthetic like it’s a badge of honor. Other days, I grieve the leg I lost. And both are valid. Both are real. Both are me.
So if you’re on this journey too — maybe you’re an amputee, maybe you’re dealing with any kind of visible or invisible difference — I just want to say this:
You don’t have to be strong every day.
You don’t have to be visible every day.
You’re allowed to shine.
You’re allowed to hide.
You’re allowed to feel everything in between.
Bold doesn’t mean never breaking, and vulnerability doesn’t mean weakness. It means you’re human.
Thanks for holding space with me.
Shay 🖤
If this blog resonated with you, I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment, DM me on Instagram, or share this post with someone who needs to hear it.
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