Well, I had had to write about beach volleyball World Tour which has started in China this week but I changed my plan. There's a conversation which had showed up in the Internet and after reading that I just needed to share my thoughts with you guys. The truth is that for a long time I've been waiting to write it but the "talk" I mentioned a line above made me to do it today. I have difficulties with writing cause it's 2 am and I've got tears in my eyes but I'll try to do my best to write it properly.
Being an athlete is a great thing! You succeed, win medals, are a champion, are loved by millions. The athletes aren't protected as many of society use to think, they are not machines, they are a part of us. They suffer, have problems but they try to defeat it. They have their families support and love, they also support and love their families. Because there's nothing more beautiful than love between people.
Love is believed to be the strongest thing in the entire world. The best example of that kind of emotions is Matt Anderson. It took a long while to introduce him to you in a "puzzle way" but it was needed.
Matt's nephew, Tristin, suffers from autism. I don't want to write what's that affliction about, there's so much information in the "Polish" Internet and I think that if you want to broaden your knowledge about that just google it or tweet me and I'll give you needed links. Mhm... I always want a lot but now I just want to you to get interested in it thanks to Matt and, maybe one day, try to help people in need.
I spent a little time with kids like Tristin and I know they need our acceptation at all, our love, warmth and just our being. Sometimes it was so hard because they can't read emotions on our faces and you have to be so careful. In the beginning I didn't know how to react and treat the kids, it was so easy to hurt some of them or alienate. I know I'm a woman I take things so emotional but his feelings, love to his nephew make me speechless. Every story told by this man about that little boy is really touching. I'm full of respect and awe for Matt and so moved, always, when I see a mention about this 8 year-old young gentlemen on Twitter or wherever. Love and tenderness he speaks about Tristin with, are things which are rising my spirits because I know that somewhere are people who care about it!
I'd like to post here "my" three excerpts of that interview.
" Q: What have you learned from Tristin and his condition?
It’s the little things. To be able to find joy in some things as simple as you know he loves Angry Birds and everything that goes with it. Just to see how happy he gets when he gets a new toy or when he watches videos on Youtube on how people play the game. It’s really cool. It’s fascinating! His attention to it is incredible.
Q: When he gets older and he starts to experience the outside world, what would you tell him?
Just be patient with yourself and when you’re with other people. The fact that everybody is different and everybody lives their lives for different reasons. Try not to act irrationally. Try not to jump the gun in a lot of your decisions.
Q: Tell us about your tattoo for Tristin…
I love my nephew. Anything I can do to put and show support out there for him and for children like him. The “puzzle piece” is the universal symbol for autism awareness. The fact it’s on my (right) wrist, all the pictures and the TV exposure I get during matches, people see it. I get ask a lot about it and the fact that I can say that it’s my way of supporting my nephew and other autistic kids is pretty cool for me. "
I don't have children with autism in my family but I have two cousins with Down syndrome. Long time ago I didn't know how to react, live, speak when they were near to me, I was so afraid but thanks to Matthew I learnt how to live and function among kids with problems. For me, it's a great thing to spend some time with them cause daily problems aren't real problems, you get to know how to be happy with the most simple things like riding a bike or just watching your favorite cartoon. You know that every day is a great day.
Maybe one day Matt you'll read it that's why I want to thank you for being such a great person. You and your Tristin's story changes my life every time I see it. You make me to be a better human being. I know you've heard or read it many times but if I said you're a hero I wouldn't lie. You caused all volleyball society to be more interested in autism and I know there're fans' sites which support a thing you started to do I worked with a boy suffering from autism, we needed to get close and understand each other and when I didn't know what to do and my faith was gone you and Tristin were in my head and it made me to try once again to get to my learner. The beginnings were incredibly though for me, for us but thanks to you, somehow, he says "hi" to me every time I see him, we're friends. . I don't really have an idea what to write except a word : thank you.
And you Tristin. I don't know you in person but I hope that day will come one day. You know I'm a fan o Angry Birds, especially the Star Wars edition so we could play together but I'm afraid you're way better than me! Tristin, I've got a cousin almost at your age and he's so into Angry Birds too! His room looks like a game, seriously I think you're gonna like him! My little gentleman, I want you to know that I support you with my heart and I know you're so special. You've got an incredible uncle, family. And now my and my blog's readers cause getting know about you is such rising thing for me, I do hope to meet you one day and play Angry Birds with you, I know we could be a great friends, I can' wait that day to come :)
I'd be so grateful if you check : www.autismspeaks.org or go to the Twitter @autismspeaks
