I'll Never Be a Juggler in the CircusBy: Holly Sheriff, MSLS God has a sense of humor; I am living proof. How else can you explain being born with a movement disorder like cerebral palsy? This makes it impossible for me to walk in a straight line, walk across a room without falling over at least once, wiggle my toes, or button my shirts! That's right I have never wiggled my toes. It does not matter how many times I try. I can't do it. Maintaining my balance, while I stand still is something I will never do. No amount of medicine will enable me to do these things. There is no quick fix to my body's inability to move on my command. It would take a miracle for me to do all of these things. Yet, despite, my lack of motor skills, I have been able to balance running a business, being a full-time bonus mom to a daughter with special needs, a wife, a bonus grandmother of 6, a paralegal, a consultant, a life coach, a career coach, and a digital publisher to arguably the best family and the best legal professionals in the USA, Canada, & London.4-year-old me wanted nothing more than to be a juggler in the CircusCircus or a ballerina juggler, but that will never happen – God had other plans. However, my prayers were answered if you really look at my life. As a paralegal, I am a professional juggler. The joke's on me because I juggle schedules, court dates, legal theories, defenses, and more.How does a woman with a movement disorder like cerebral palsy become a professional juggler for attorneys, have the time to run a business, be available to homeschool her bonus kid or bonus grandkids, and keep a cheery outlook on life? I'd be lying if I said it is because I love to drink coffee. Although the coffee helps, it doesn't explain how a woman with no physical balance can balance everything I have going on in my life. The only answer I believe is I must experience divine intervention every day. I may never become a dancer, a juggler in a circus, or be able to wiggle my toes in the sand. I may never drive a car, either. But, even with a list a mile long of things cerebral palsy takes from my life, there are millions of things I can do and become just by being who I am.In the past, I focused on what my cerebral palsy prevented me from doing. For many years, I was too afraid to tell employers, coworkers, and business associates that I have cerebral palsy. Because I feared being fired or suffering from some other forms of job discrimination, or some form of a hate crime. All of which have happened to me at one time or another. And back in the day, I did everything possible to blend in (and appear normal). My physical impairment was a secret. Yet, all I have ever wanted to do is for every step I take, every word I write to mean something to someone else. I want to be that person who changed someone's life. It is not for fame or fortune, but to show each and every person that even in the face of their greatest failure, everyone is destined for greatness.After that, I realized that I needed to embrace my cerebral palsy to succeed professionally and personally. Once I embraced my authentic self, something happened. Suddenly, I realized that juggling the demands of being a full-time entrepreneur, a case-juggling paralegal, a coffee-loving Christian, and a bonus mom was easy for me since I genuinely enjoyed all these things. I cherish and enjoy every minute of every day. I am grateful for the opportunities my career as a paralegal, legal consultant, and coach has provided. My family and I love helping legal professionals achieve the work-life balance they deserve.Sure, some days are better than others. Clients may come and go. While some clients disappear without a word, others stay, fade, and then return. The foundation for my business's success is forming relationships and networking, but some of my clients do not take the time to get to know me, my family, and my business the way they should. Some days, homeschooling a kid with Autism makes me feel like I am Ann Sullivan meeting Helen Keller for the first time. Some days running a business can feel like I am the captain of the Titanic. When you add my role as a full-time coffee-loving Christian to the day, well, you've got yourself one hot mess.Nevertheless, it is my life, and it works for me. I may not be financially wealthy, but to take the words of one of my dearest friends, "I have never seen a U-Haul truck behind a hearse" so why not do what I love instead of focusing on the things I can't change or the things I can't do. I can't take the money with me when I die, so why focus on money? It wasn't until I realized I was focusing on all the wrong things that balancing my roles as a full-time entrepreneur, a Bonus mom, and a coffee-loving Christian became a joyous daily event.God may not have given me the ability to be a famous ballerina juggler in the Circus, or drive a car, walk up and downstairs, button my own shirt, walk straight, or maintain my balance ...
