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I wanted to talk to everybody about
just some things that I realized
when it comes to tics.
First of all, the head-jerking tics suck.
But aside from that...
It's almost Christmas!!
I think this will probably be my last recorded video
before the New Year comes up
because I'm going on a trip!
I was doing a lot of cool things during the past two weeks.
I don't typically go out and hang out with friends
but I did cookie baking with some girls
from my school bible group.
And then I went to a Christmas party the other week,
which was a literal Birthday party for Jesus Christ.
It was very... interesting...
And it was crazy!!
It was actually really nerve wracking because I was gonna be
in a 10x12 room with 30 people that I didn't know.
I realized while I was there that it's not exactly very awkward for me
it's more awkward for the people who see my tics.
Because they don't know how to react
so it's really awkward for them!
For me, I live with it everyday
so, I'm used to it.
And so is my family, and my friends.
You know, they're used to it.
They each have their own way of reacting to it,
Some of them make jokes- which is cool!
And I have a couple of people I know who ignore them completely
Which actually- when it comes to those people, I love it.
Because then it's like it never happened
Which is really cool, so it doesn't interrupt anything we do.
But when it comes to new people, who don't even know me-
when it's time for them to react, they're not really sure how to.
It's like they're afraid, they're kind of nervous of saying the wrong thing
or if they should ignore it. Should they acknowledge it?
It's really hard for them!
And I just thought it was interesting to think of it that way-
think of it from the receiving end.
We're always emanating tics- we're giving off tics
we're ticcing everyday.
Day-in and day-out...
doesn't matter how good we feel, or how bad we feel
it's gonna happen.
But for them it's sometimes a once in a lifetime encounter
to come across somebody with Tourette's.
So, how does that person react?
How are they supposed to react?
And the way that they react affects the way that the ticcer feels.
And they know that.
Some of them are ignorant, but most of the time they're people
who are just afraid of doing the wrong thing.
Because they know it's just going to fall back on the
on the person who is having the embarrassing tic.
So, moving outside of my point of view...
Their point of view:
When I shout "Poke!" or "People!" or the word "Fire!"
(I say "Fire!" a lot)
What would you do?
Would you go.....
"What was that?"
Would you say....
"What the heck??"
How would you react?
Would you just pretend that you're not staring?
"Ummmm.... I'm not staring at you..."
"Wait, what is she doing?"
"No, no, nope- I'm not staring at her..."
"I'm staring at her."
Most people are like, "What the heck?"
You know, it's really awkward for them.
The really important thing about spreading awareness about
Tourette's Syndrome is not mainly to help the Touretter
but to help the people who see the Tourette's.
Help them learn how to react.
These days you'll see a person in a wheelchair and
at least where I live- it's normal.
You see people in wheelchairs here at least
a few times a week, if not once a day.
It's become normal- especially because a lot of people
with physical disabilities go to public schools.
So, kids are sort of exposed to that.
What if everybody in this world could accept that?
What if everybody in this world could learn how to react
to a tic?
What if everyone in this world could see somebody who tics
as being "normal"?
That'd be pretty cool.
And I think that's what we're all aiming for.
Spreading awareness would help people treat it as though it's "normal".
They would treat it just like they would treat somebody with Autism as "normal"
because that's become something popular that everybody's aware about.
Everybody's being taught about Autism,
everybody hears about it.
It's the same thing with ADHD and Cancer...
That's another thing we've all learned how to accept in our society
because it's common, these days now.
It gives you something to think about.
We keep saying we're spreading awareness,
and people will be like, "Oh, you just want to bring more attention to
... the Tourette's people."
Honestly, my point of view is that spreading awareness
is pulling attention AWAY from the person who tics.
So that you don't have to stare and wonder what's going on,
because you already know!
It's not a freak show to you, it's just "Oh, that person tics."
"La-dee-dah, I'm gonna get on with my day."
"It's not a big deal."
So, really interesting perspective there.
And this holiday season I hope that those of you
who have tics and you meet up with your family that you don't
get to see very often, I hope that goes very well for you.
And try to think about them.
Don't be so offended if they react in the wrong way,
because they really don't know how to react.
And if they ever have a question about your tics
like, "Can you stop it?" or whatever...
They're just being inquisitive, they're really not trying to offend you.
Unless... they say it in a very mean way.
Just, think about them
because it's really weird for them.
I guess... that's it.
Well, if this is my last video for this year- 2009...
2009, you are GONE!!
Welcome 2010, and Happy Holidays!!
See ya!