 About the Author:
Anita Blom, born and raised in the Netherlands, is living in Sweden. She worked as an operation manager for the Workers’ Educational Association. She has been a board member, incl chairperson, of stuttering organisations on local, national, European and International level, and an advisory board member of several international stuttering organisations. She was a national and international keynote speaker on stuttering, had her own stuttering consultant company, was one of the Stutter Social hosts, was a project leader of several stuttering projects, and twice Member of the Year. She has an award-winning stuttering activist, acknowledged by Voice Unearthed on the Wall Of Inspiration, Stamma, and many others, on local, national and international level. She was also a leader of national and international children and youth camps for over 20 years. Anita, aka Scatsis, has stuttered since she was 9 and had a troublesome youth because of her stuttering. She went from being silent, to giving stuttering a voice, from pre-school children to the European Parliament, now inspiring people who stutter of all ages, they can make a difference. Do check out her previous papers to the ISAD online conferences. Due to health issues she now has to take it slow, but is still an inspiration to many, especially young people who stutter and those with ME/cfs. Her device, that’s now been used all over the world is “Sure I stutter. What are you good at?”. |
We all put people in boxes, we do it to others, others do it to us, but we also do it to ourselves. Many of those boxes don’t fit and make us feel trapped. Other boxes we might want to fit into, but we’re not shaped for it. And who says we fit into one box only? It’s time to step out of our boxes. Like dice or snooker balls rolling around. We’re not one size. So stand out instead of fit in. Or, find the size that fits, as if it fits, it sits. One size doesn’t fit all. Find what fits YOU, whether that’s inside or outside a box, your choice of box.
Jack in a box
Devil in a box
Box of glass
My stutter in a box
Me in a box
Pop goes the weasel
Jack out of the box
Devil out of the box
Broken glass
My stutter out of the box
Me out of the box
Whatever box you’re in
Step out of the box
Glass? Brake it.
Paper? Wet it.
Chains? Unlock it.
Invisible? Step out of it.
Unbox
Outbox
Inbox
Cat in a box
When it fits, it sits
Cheshire cat
Teach, smile
YOU choose the box that fits YOU
Thanks for reading. I hope it gave you some thoughts about your box and if you’re inside, outside or maybe both. Feel free to comment and ask any questions you like. 🙂 Happy ISAD and keep talking! Anita
Thank you for sharing this. I love this concept of “Stand out instead of fit in”. Is there a particular time where this showed up for you the most?
This really resonated with me because I know I have a very unique journey and it has been a process to accept and embrace that unique journey as a beautiful thing that should be celebrated as opposed to worrying about it being unique.
Why do you think people are so afraid to be different, unique, or outside of the box as you say?
Sorry for the wait Kunal.
There were many times that opened my eyes wider. The first time I felt good enough was when I had to help someone at the help desk. I stuttered and the man asked for my boss. My boss heard it and said “She knows everything I know, so she’s the one to talk to.”
When I went to disability meetings in Brussels people told me they had to wake up when I spoke, as they needed to concentrate, so they always listened carefully. Also interpreters told me they were happy when I spoke, as they could interpret every word I spoke, not the overall speech. I even got a free plane ticket, when my ticket had the wrong date, but the desk manager freaked out when she heard me stutter, so she put me on the plane for free. 😉 I also got my jobs because of me having different skills others don’t, including my stutter.
Being gay was “wrong” for years. Today it’s a festival celebrating the variety of people. The first punk headed person was seen as weird. Than a whole community followed. And on the other hand, when a kardashian buys a certain soap, all the followers do so as well. I’m proud to be the one standing out, instead of being a follower. But it takes showing pride from our side to make people understand that we’re OK. As long as we hide and show shame, people will think stuttering is wrong and shameful. People are afraid of what they don’t know. So it’s about time we show stuttering pride and raise awareness. Let’s make stuttering cool. 😉
Happy ISAD and keep talking
Anita
Hi Anita,
Thank you for sharing!
Your poem made me reflect on how much we, as humans, want to fit in and be like others.
Boxes are not individualised, and may hurt to be inside them, may feel like you are trapped without being able to express yourself and feel the freedom of being on the outside.
“Out of the box” Yeahhh!! I loved that phrase: being out seems joyful, adventurous and fun experience!
– Cynthia
Hi Cynthia and sorry for the wait. Boxes are funny things. Some people want out, cats want in. So let’s learn from cats: when it fits, it sits. 😉 And who says we fit in one box only? Every box is different. Different content, different views, and even different cats, uh people. I am a mother, a wife, an employee, a woman, a Dutchie, a Swede… and some days I’m all of that, other days I’m just me. So let’s get ourselves out of boxes that don’t fit, and find all the variety of boxes that do.
Happy ISAD and keep talking
Anita
Thanks Anita,
Your lovely words made me reflect 🙂
Kind regards,
Cynthia
Hi Anita
Me again. Good poem. I do like poetry about stuttering. You may have seen two of mine in Stamma/Your Voice? I commented on Julian’s post with a little ditty of mine!
Tim
Hi again Tim
Thanks, I do like poetry too, especially when playing with words that make people think. Yes, I saw yours as well and love them. We should have a website with poems from PWS. 🙂
Happy ISAD and keep talking
Anita
Hello Anita, I loved reading your thoughts you just seem so wise and you are so encouraging . Thank you for being who you are.
Thanks dear Phyllis. I hope my poem makes people reflect about where they are and where they want to be. Inside one box, outside, or maybe visiting different boxes, depending on where we are in life. As we’re so many things and shouldn’t feel trapped in the box others, or we ourselves, unwantingly put us in.
And I love your stories, so keep sharing and keep talking my friend
happy ISAD
Anita
Hi Anita!
Thank you for sharing! This was a very engaging way to put into perspective the idea that it is so common to find ourselves in boxes that we don’t fit in or resonate with. Following that, we may feel trapped. This is a great analogy that I feel I will be able to share with my future clients who stutter. I want to allow them to feel as though they are able to step out of their predetermined “box” and place themselves into one that feels more suitable for them. I want them to feel as though they have the opportunity to change their “box” whenever they please, whether that means they break it, unlock it, or simply just step outside of it.
Thanks for sharing!
Alayna
Great points of views, Alayna! t’s not that simple, as sometimes we’re more like dogs, letting people tell us what to do and think, and stay in that spot until we’re let out. We should instead be more like cats, choosing the boxes (yes, why not more than one) we feel comfortable in, step out when we want to, switch boxes, and see what’s out there. And leave a doodoo when we’re in a box that’s not who we are. 😉
You’re so spot on!
Happy ISAD and keep them unboxing
Anita
This passage is highly empowering. Your words remind us that it’s up to us to define our identities and life paths. The idea of choosing our box signifies our freedom and responsibility in shaping our lives according to our values, interests, and aspirations. This message is not only inspiring but also encourages self-determination and autonomy. Your clear and emphatic language adds to the overall powerful impact of the message.
Thanks Sydney. I hope everyone will find the courage to step out of unwanted boxes and find their own.
Happy ISAD and keep them talking
Anita
Hi Anita!
I enjoyed your poem! I am an SLP graduate student currently learning about stuttering and the experiences of people who stutter. Your post was eye opening for me. There are stigmas, stereotypes, and assumptions surrounding stuttering, which can create a box. I’m hoping that as an SLP I can help clients break out of the box through empowerment and acceptance. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Em
Hi Em
Thanks for your comments. I truly hope that all people can step out of unwanted boxes and find their own, just like cats do. 😉
Happy ISAD and keep them talking
Anita
Hi, Anita! Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem! This piece offers a great opportunity to reflect on the way we are put in boxes by others, and especially by ourselves. I loved this quote: “Whatever box you’re in
Step out of the box
Glass? Brake it.
Paper? Wet it.
Chains? Unlock it.
Invisible? Step out of it.”
The idea of coming up with creative solutions and doing what you have to in order to succeed is inspiring!
Thanks for your comments, Claire. I truly hope that we all find the courage to choose our own boxes and step out of those who we’re forced into, like a cat being trapped for too long. 😉
Happy ISAD and keep them talking
Anita
Hello,
Thank you for sharing this. It really puts into perspective how we, as a society, try to “fit in” and be similar to those around us. This leads us to feel trapped and/or not true to ourselves. One we get out of the ‘box’, we’re able to find ourselves.
You’re so right Jennifer. We all have boxes we feel trapped in. I wish for everyone to be able to leave those unwanted boxes and find our own freedom that makes us happy and proud of ourselves.
Happy ISAD and keep talking
Anita
Anita, I love “We’re not one size”! We all have many, many hats that we wear, so why try to fit them all into one box? Why try to fit ourselves into one box? Why try to fit everything into a box that you didn’t pick yourself? Sticking to stigmas and stereotypes for the comfort or convenience of others is exhausting, no matter who you are, so we should all learn to accept and celebrate differences together!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Exactly Sarah! We can wear different hats on different days, or even moments, depending on what we’re planning on doing, how we feel, etc. The same goes for choosing our own boxes. They can vary all the time. But the most important of all is to make our own choices.
Happy ISAD and keep talking
Anita