One of the greatest illusions shared by most humans is the illusion of our own safety. The notion that those bad things that happen in the news will only ever happen to other people. Growing up starts when this illusion is shattered. For most of us this happens before the age of thirty, for some of us, it happens much earlier. This is what we mean when we talk about growing up too soon, or too quickly, or both. Unfortunately, being a queer, disabled woman, I know a lot of people who fall into this category; including, if it’s not obvious, myself.
It is both a blessing and a curse that some manage to live for decades with this illusion intact. For the old aphorism is as true as it ever has been: there is no man more dangerous than one who believes he has nothing to lose. It’s one of the more tangible expressions of certain types of privilege. And why us intersectional minorities are often seen as overly cautious to others who don’t share our life experiences. Something to think about the next time you encounter someone with a very different sense of caution from your own.
Check back next week for a much more lighthearted piece about the various adaptations my animals have made to my disabilities!