Julie Helen: Back in a place where I feel valued

I SETTLED into my car for journey to Galway for a night and to work the following day.

There have been times when I have driven to and from there in the same day, particularly when I was living there and up and down the road like a yoyo. That was back between 2009 and 2011, before I met my husband, before we had our beautiful son.

My job in Galway back then was my first full-time position in anything but it was also the first time I truly worked in communications. I adored it. 

I had the best time and it gave me great confidence as a professional person. Those were the days when the road home felt short and everything in life, at least the bits I could control, felt like they were humming along nicely.

Returning to Galway is always a joy. I feel like it holds a piece of me that few in Cork have seen. I never felt my disability was a noteworthy subject, I was just able to get on with things. Of course, I had tough days, and I definitely needed extra support because I am a disabled person, but it never felt difficult. I felt like I belonged and I felt valued. I have felt that way in Cork too, plenty of times, but that first job will always be rose-tinted and I think that’s a really lovely thing to be able to say.

On my latest trip, I met my friend Trevor in my favourite gastropub in Salthill, called Oslo. I wanted to meet some other very important friends too but with the passage of time, that road felt long and packing too much in would exhaust me, just a little bit too much. We had a lovely meal, and a great catch up and vowed it would not be another five years of an interval before we saw each other again.

The work part went well, presenting and facilitating about self-advocacy for the Disability Federation of Ireland.

I felt so lucky to be back in a place I felt so valued doing work on supporting people to speak up for themselves. It sort of felt like the past and present collided in a good way.

Working in disability advocacy and rights makes me feel valuable and like I belong and to have the opportunity to do so in so many different ways is very fulfilling.

When I sat at breakfast on the morning of the event, I wondered why I didn’t really feel nervous as I faced a presentation outside of the comfort of a team and an organisation. It was just me on my own which might have made it more daunting than it actually did.

I have made plenty of presentations before, I am good at being me and being real, even when it might feel hard to do. I feel comfortable in Galway and I felt a great welcome and support from colleagues and friends.

I went to a similar event a few weeks ago and didn’t feel the same ease, although I got the same welcome and support. I still just felt worried, like maybe I had forgotten how to work in our disability sector because I am not on the payroll of a specific organisation. 

Galway reminded me I can feel relaxed and able and good at what I do.

We have good days and bad days, ups and downs and there is value in it all. I feel like I’m in an upswing now, that my visit to Galway reignited a vital spark in me.