What Dierks Bentley's Song 'Riser' Means to Me as Someone With Epilepsy
“I’m a riser
I’m a get up off the ground, don’t run and hider
Pushing comes a-shovin’
Hey, I’m a fighter
When darkness comes to town, I’m a lighter
A get out aliver, out of the fire
Survivor.”
Ever have that feeling of not being able to get back up after something dramatic happens? People may tell you it will be all right and it won’t happen again. Well, when you have a disability like epilepsy, it can be a different story. Yes, it does happen again, and no, it will not always be all right. But throughout my years of living with epilepsy and sharing my story, I’ve seen one thing that’s common among people who battle disabilities, and that is we are survivors.
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If you listen to this song “Riser” by Dierks Bentley, it describes how people fight through many different situations to be where they are. A riser to me is someone who can get up again and again from something that isn’t ideal in their life. I see people battling disabilities as risers who push forward to be survivors. You sometimes hear the word grit in relation to sports and to describe the physical stamina of players. Have you had a seizure in the past week, month, or year? If so, I believe grit applies to you, too. Having seizures can take a serious physical toll on your body, and your mentality of everything can change. It takes courage, fight and grit to get back on your feet and be that riser.
To me, the message in this song is huge, and it’s something I feel we all can carry with us. No matter what your situation is, pick your head up and win the fight against your biggest challenge. Find a way to rise up and become that survivor. As I’m writing this blog, I am listening to “Riser” and thinking of all the different situations I’ve been in from my first seizure to brain surgery, and how I’ve overcome each obstacle. It took help from family and friends, but I always found a way to get back up. Now, my message to you is to be a riser and find a way to overcome any situation you’re placed in.
Image via Contributor.
A version of this post originally appeared on Friendz 4 Comfort.
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Hello! My name is Kyle Kieffer, and I run an internationally recognized disability blog. I'm also an inspirational speaker talking about over coming living life with a disability. My goal is simple; inspire the epilepsy community one person at a time.
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