I guess I’ve always had a good attitude about it. It’s always been and always will be difficult, but I think about how the difficulties other people face (mental impairments, physical limitations like wheelchairs, etc.) are not “bad” things because they don’t say anything about the person’s character. They’re not “good” things either. They’re just cards in the hands we’ve all been dealt. The fact of the matter is that I stutter. And that’s not going to change, so I choose to accept it as a core part of who I am and embrace it as a “tough love” teacher that’s taught me how to connect with others on a deeper level than I’d be able to otherwise. Plus — and this is easier said than done for every stutterer, including me sometimes— to hell with how it makes others feel. Sometimes I need a few extra seconds to say things. You can fucking wait.