Julius Mainor is Awesome!

Julius Mainor is awesome! Some time ago, I met one of the most amazing cats in the world – Julius Mainor.

I met him about 12 years ago right after we had both graduated from high school. I had just taken my first full time gig on radio and was excited. He was just excited to be living and that is what made him amazing to me.

Julius grew up with Cerebral Palsy. Because of this debilitating disease he has spent his entire life confined to a wheelchair. He has endured painful surgeries and just living without the ability to do the things that many others take for granted. Nevertheless, Julius struggled on and was able to graduate from high school on time with excellent grades. Not withstanding the fact that he could not write one note and had to take all exams orally. Even more amazing Julius did not attend a high school for special needs students – he went to regular old Edward H. White High School. He attended school functions and parties motorized wheelchair and all!

In fact, I met him at a party that I was hosting and he was on the dance floor with one of the tightest females there. See, J was that PIMP (positive image making progress)! He would never allow a disability to make him disabled. Every concert – he was there (usually backstage as well). Every party – he opened and closed it. He knew everyone and to everyone – he was just Julius.

Since, I left town I hadn’t seen J in quite sometime. Then, at a local poetry set who pops up but Julius. We reminisced for a few about old times and he brought me up to speed on what he was up to. Since we had talked last he was living ON HIS OWN is an apartment, had a job as a youth counselor and had just completed his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice! He had left a job as a school security officer a few years before! He told me that just as when he got his High School Diploma and Associates Degree – he actually walked down the aisle to get his degree. For him this was a challenge and he had to train for months – but he did it. He gave me his email address so that we could keep in touch and told me that he had been through a lot. All of a sudden all of my issues and problems became even more trivial. Even illness has its meters when compared to others.

When we finally talked he told me that he had been through three major surgeries in the past few years. One of the surgeries even left him completely paralyzed from the neck down for some months. The little mobility he had was gone. Doctors even told him it may not return – but Julius doesn’t believe in never!

In Julius there in an unwavering spirit of perpetual optimism. In the twelve or so years I have known him, never once has he complained or felt sorry for himself. His attitude is always can-do and will-do. We can learn a lot from my friend. Its resolve like his that brings peace and creates the unthinkable. Those of us, who don’t have to deal with debilitating conditions like this, take life for granted. To me Julius is the one who is normal and we are the messed up ones.

I am glad that I saw Julius. I am excited that he is doing awesome and happy that he continues to break barriers. I have never once felt sorry for him and I never will. He is the man that many of us aspire to be. Cool, confident and radiantly wonderful – regardless of his body says completely a real man. Julius Mainor is awesome!