The blog of Christopher Gullmans
For the past couple of years, we've been living in a sea of uncertainty about our future. But the one thing that was never uncertain was that we'll never settle for the next best thing. By virtue of our beliefs and the people we are--shaped by our unusual pasts and experiences--we've made some choices that... Continue Reading →
As humans, there's nothing so recognisable as human suffering. We go through our lives with a constant bombardment of challenges, battles and misery, while trying to find those small oases of calmness in between. The extent of our perceived suffering depends entirely on circumstances, perspectives, and prior experiences. The sorrows of a child who's lost... Continue Reading →
Of course, not the people, but their hurtful words. As someone whose life didn't start out like that of the vast majority of people around me, it's not hard to see why people like me, i.e. adoptees, might want to shy away from being themselves. It's easy for many to say "of course you should... Continue Reading →
Let's get straight to the point here: having a disability doesn't mean you are completely helpless. It simply means that you are having to learn and do things a bit differently from those around you, and that's something I have come to learn is not a failure. On the contrary, it makes you more creative,... Continue Reading →
I know where I was born, but I don't know where I come from. I know where I live, but I don't know where I belong. I know what I call home right now, but I don't know how to hold on to it. I dream of permanence, but is that just a figment of... Continue Reading →
I'll be honest: When we first found out (prenatally) that our boy had Down syndrome, it was devastating. I had to fight my inner demons saying things like "what will the world think about him and us?", "What if I don't love him?" and "Will I be happy?". I think it's safe to say that... Continue Reading →
I know how this sounds, but bear with me. As I look back at my life, I see a pathological people-pleaser, literally unable to put his own needs first before helping others. While I theoretically knew I had a problem with this, somehow I also imagined myself being an endless source of helping hands. But... Continue Reading →
I find myself sitting here, half-way through my vacation, staring out the window. Outside, the rain pours down, and I think to myself, "some vacation this is." And then I stop myself and remember why the grass is green, why the birds fly, and why I was able to have a proper meal on my... Continue Reading →
An end and a beginning Unraveling, writing itself Two moments in time Where neither is the past And neither is the future Time, like the winter outside Seems frozen, yet twirly Like the snow flakes falling Settle and become one My gaze fixed upon a moment When I'm none the wiser Yet the air seems... Continue Reading →
No matter the culture, no matter the language, no matter the child–one universal fact transcends every border and every notion man could ever invent: a child is born to love. There are many things a child can do without, but a sense of belonging isn’t one of them. But I am about to have a... Continue Reading →
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