A Fruit Within A Fruit – Pedro Alexandre

Pedro AlexandreAbout the Author:

My name is Pedro Alexandre. I was born and raised in the Portuguese-speaking territories, and I consider myself a lucky PERSON who stammers. I am 53 years old, chronologically speaking. Today, my interest lies in continuing to develop a friendly and healthy relationship with my stutter, in the relationship that this development has with the stuttering of other companions who stammer, and in incorporating the lessons learned in this process into my relationship with the rest of the world and with my different parts. I remain interested in diversity and in helping people understand that birds and other living beings don’t all talk in the same way, nor do they all need to talk in the same way, and we are all free to talk or sing or not as we please. I am interested in learning, relearning, and practicing something I couldn’t do before, for reasons unknown: taking responsibility for my life, finding my happiness using, not only, but also, the invaluable help of my, now friend, stutter and the stuttering community.

Stuttering is an organic living thing! It’s a fruit within a fruit. Just as I am a fruit of life, so is stuttering.

Everyone here knows what happens to fruits, right? They start out small, sometimes they don’t thrive, they wither and fall, and sometimes… they thrive… and change over time, they take on different shapes and forms, they release different aromas, they acquire different flavors. Stuttering, mine, yours, is no different.

Stuttering makes me a fruit tree, and fruit trees are like all other trees, they are the fruit of a necessity (of life), but in this case fruitful. To be a fruit tree that bears the fruit of stuttering is not to be a lesser tree, it is to be a tree that nourishes and beautifies life in a very particular way, it is to be a tree that bears a fruit that nourishes compassion, empathy, and solidarity. It is to be a tree that nourishes and feeds the fruit of fruits: Humanity.

Stuttering is an organic living thing! It is a fruit within a fruit. Just as I am a fruit of life, so is stuttering.

The tree despairing over the evolution of its fruit is a relatively recent event in the more or less long history of trees, and I dare say it is partially a result of how trees are planted today and their exploitation for commercial purposes, where everything has to be aligned, to have a certain shape, to have a specific and rigorous pantone color, everything has to be artificially fertilized, sterilized, conformed to standards that an insane corporation or a government (or a mother or a father or a brother) has made and demands be followed (If not you are rejected, and we humans… freak out at the mere glimpse of being rejected). What is desired is no longer a healthy, nutritious, tasty fruit, forged by a panoply of natural elements in the company of… other misaligned plants, birds, insects at the mercy of the wind, of the sun, of the rain, but rather a voluminous and shiny product, perfect they say, ready to be marketed at a good price. 

Perhaps the solution to my despair… is… to the best of my abilities and circumstances, to let myself grow organically. Growing organically in these times is not easy, nor is it always possible because… well… but to rebel a bit and seek out naturally fertile soil, where other fruit trees grow, some of my own kind, and allow myself to be with them and appreciate the different shades with which time and the seasons naturally paint the different fruits, is perhaps the best thing I can do for myself and for life.

Stuttering is an organic living thing! It is a fruit within a fruit. Just as I am a fruit of life, so is stuttering. There is juice in stuttering; may life allow us all to find it, savor it, and share it.

What’s your shade?

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Comments

A Fruit Within A Fruit – Pedro Alexandre — 54 Comments

  1. Hello Pedro

    Thank for this wonderful paper. I really like the analogy that you have created.

    I wish for you to continue to explore, to grow, and to thrive.

    Hanan

    • Thank you so much Hanan! Even if I don’t want to, I’ll, and so will you. There’s no escaping it.

  2. Hi Pedro,

    This is such a wonderful illustration of the shades of stuttering. Your analogy perfectly describes the journey and the different ways that a person who stutters can feel about stuttering at any given time.

    It is refreshing to read “stuttering is an organic, living thing.” Yes, it is – it is a part of life for we who stutter and it can change every minute, every hour and every day. You are helping others – not just those who stutter – to see that.

    Pam

    • Thank you so much Pamela!

      Yes, it’s a journey and I need to let go, to surrender to it without complacency, just like any other fruit that ripens.

  3. Hi Pedro,

    I appreciate your depiction of stuttering and embracing being organic and true to who you really are! It is an important message to spread.

  4. Not only have I never considered my stutter to be “juicy” ;o) … but also, to be a fruit tree of stuttering, whose stuttering fruits “nourish and beautify” humanity!! OH GOODNESS. That is so lovely Pedro. I can feel your tree canopy offering not only fruit as nourishment, but also your foliage as the shade of protection. So potent and gorgeous is this analogy.

    • Thank You! : )

      Well… it is as it is… often it’s a matter of perspective… of reaching another perspective.
      Sometimes I have to walk a little uphill to see the forest from a different angle…

      “the most beautiful view of the valley is from halfway up the mountain”.

  5. Love it Pedro! And I totally agree stuttering is a living thing within someone. It tells you stuff about itself and about the person. As a therapist I do use this thinking sometimes, and it certainly helps the therapy and the client forwards!
    Thank you so much for sharing this thoughts here!

    • It’s truly a living thing, a living fruit with a thick peel and its pulp.

      It’s easier to reach the pulp in a community. I dare say that without a healthy community I can’t reach the pulp, and without contact with a healthy stuttering community I can’t savor the pulp… but that’s just my experience.

      Thank you Joeri for reading and commenting.

  6. Pedro, thank you for writing this! Your thoughts are so beautiful and poetic.
    I think this offers a fresh perspective on stuttering and people who stutter.
    I believe in what you write. ❤️

  7. Wow Pedro! I love this post because this is such a great way to depict life’s difficulties and shaping these experiences into something positive. As an individual with ADHD, I demonstrate disfluent speech at some points. Your fruit analogy opened my eyes as in reality there is beauty within each areas of growth or our experiences. In my experience, stepping into the professional field with fast rate of speech, I am learning to control my speed and accuracy of speech while compensating for my ADHD brain! Anyway I wanted to let you know that your story opened the way I look at life’s challenges! I have one question: Who has inspired you to be motivated to seek positivity rather than negativity regarding your stutter?

  8. Some trees that I met along the way.
    In person and in books.
    Some are still alive, others are not. Some stutter, others do not.

    I think the strongest push that directed me towards positivity instead of negativity, that made me wonder if there was a pulp beyond a very hard peel, was a more or less recent book: “Stammering Pride and Prejudice: Difference not Defect.” It’s not that I read the book from cover to cover, but the book had the power to make me inquire, and since I have an inquisitive nature… I inquired, and with the help, or participation, initially very anxious, in community, being with others who stutter… I discovered the truth. My truth, which is ultimately the one that matters to me.

    Other forces participated and participate in this escape from the force of gravity that negativity also possesses. It’s not linear, but it’s a challenge, a journey, a daily task with setbacks! But I am a courageous child, teenager, young adult… in fact, I always have been. I always thought I was a great coward; my stutter and circumstances led me to think that way… naturally, right? “Alone” with his stutter, what will a child think? But if I look more closely… the truth isn’t quite like that… the truth is, any tree that bears the fruit of stuttering is as courageous as, or even more courageous than others… it has to be, it’s in the nature of that tree. It just needs to be exercised, preferably in a healthy community. That’s my proposition.

    Thank You Daniiieele.

  9. Hi Pedro,
    How does the metaphor of stuttering as a fruit that grows organically challenge society’s expectations about communication and what it means to be “normal”?

  10. Hello!

    Metaphors, in my opinion, are very interesting ways of conveying messages and, in fact, in my opinion again, much more capable of leading certain individuals, under certain circumstances, to a change of perspective.

    My text has no pretensions whatsoever. However, I am convinced that it is a contribution to changing the prevailing perspective. A perspective that does not serve me, that is false, that does not serve people who stutter.

    This metaphor will make its social contribution to the extent that it is read and meditated upon. It gave me pleasure to write and I was surprised by what I wrote; that is enough for me. I have no pretensions other than to refine my relationship with my stutter, with that of others, and with others in general, and this exercise, answering your question, helps me in that.

    This text wasn’t written for society in general. It was written for PWS and its allies. For those outside this group, I would probably write it differently, something else entirely; it always depends on the target audience, right? Nowadays… everything is tailor-made. Even so, I think it’s a text for anyone in society. It’s a text for young people, or for the youthful side of the individual.

    I didn’t understand the question of what it means to be “normal”?

    Thank you for reading and for your questions.

  11. Hi Pedro! I really enjoyed reading about your analogy of “a fruit within a fruit.” Seeing your experiences as different shades of life, each worthy of appreciation, just as the changing seasons naturally paint each fruit in it’s own unique way. Thank you for this different perspective I’ve gained.

  12. Muito lindo, Pedro! “To be a fruit tree that bears the fruit of stuttering is not to be a lesser tree, it is to be a tree that nourishes and beautifies life in a very particular way… It is to be a tree that nourishes and feeds the fruit of fruits: Humanity.” I appreciate you pointing us to consider humanity in the context of neurodiversity as a natural, valuable part of the human experience, and one that nourishes compassion, empathy, and solidarity. Beautiful!

  16. And Daniele it´s Not only that! Things are as they are, aesthetics is an important force in human drive, stuttering aesthetics as well, but it is also conditioned from all sides. And this must be challenged.

  17. Hello! I absolutely adore the use of the fruit tree metaphor with stuttering! It is so refreshing to hear stuttering and organic in the same sentence because it can be!

  19. Hi Pedro! I loved reading your metaphor, as I never considered a stutter its “own living thing”! I love the comparison and change in mindset, because a stutter is something that someone lives with for the rest of their life. Thank you for the awesome perspective!

  20. Hi there! I appreciate how you connected fruit and the different metaphors with stuttering overall. My question is why do you think society puts importance on speaking more fluently? Thank you and have a great day!

    • Hello!

      Answering your question would make for a great conversation; maybe one day we’ll have it in a café somewhere in the world.

      But, to put it simply, it’s because society has learned to give importance to it, but this importance is relatively recent in the long history of humanity and stuttering. It’s a relatively recent deviation. Not stuttering itself, but society’s current response.

      All good.

  21. Hi Pedro! Thank you for sharing such a unique perspective on stuttering! As a graduate SLP student, I really appreciated your comparison of stuttering to a fruit that grows and changes naturally over time. Your discussion about allowing ourselves to grow organically made me wonder how you view the role of speech therapy in this process. Do you think traditional approaches that focus on increasing fluency can sometimes interfere with developing a healthier relationship with stuttering? How do you think SLPs can support growth without unintentionally encouraging conformity to societal expectations?

    • Hi Yasmin,

      First of all, thank you for your question.

      Secondly, I am a PWS with some social anxiety and I studied some subjects at university but I did not study speech therapy, psychology or psychiatry.

      Thirdly, in my opinion… I think they can interfere negatively… and I think they can interfere positively.I’ve lived long enough to see with my own eyes, that one day the earth will devour, what I consider top-quality stuttering therapy; unfortunately… it’s so premium… that it’s only within reach of a hand.

      I see speech therapy as a very important necessity given the current circumstances of society. And with the current circumstances, I have to navigate. The problem… with rare exceptions… is not stuttering, the problem is the consequences of growing up in a society, in a community, in a family that doesn’t understand stuttering at all and that has the dynamics it has, and that puts pressure on the child who stutters from a very young age. This pressure… causes problems… brings consequences, right? Public stigma leads to self-stigma. Therefore… How do you think speech-language pathologists can support growth without intentionally encouraging conformity to societal expectations?

      With knowledge and sensitivity.
      (The model, very close to perfection, is already out there.)

  22. Hi Pedro I appreciated reading your article and love your analogy of stuttering and its comparison to a fruit. I am currently a student for speech language pathology. My question to you is, how can speech language pathologists help people who stutter embrace their natural way of communicating while also supporting them in navigating societal pressures to speak fluently?

  23. Yes! Very tricky question! Poetry is one thing, and real life is another, right!?

    This is also a question with plenty of room for discussion. A good one to have in a café somewhere in the world.

    I can’t do it now, but I’ll try to bring it up, or at least say something more before the comments close. I think I can still do it tomorrow, and I will if possible.

  24. Hi again!

    It is my conviction that the most important task a speech pathologist has is to connect the child, adolescent, young adult, or adult who seeks their help to their peers, to a healthy and loving stuttering community. This is the first, or one of the first, of their tasks. By doing this and staying close to this community, dynamics… alchemical… are created. The summer camps for young people who stutter that take place around the world are the perfect example of this. If you have the opportunity while studying or after finishing, inquire about the possibility of participating in one. There you will see, learn, and help refine the process.

  26. I love your analogy and your way with words, Pedro. May we all thrive and spread so that other stuttering seedlings may grow and change, like the fruit within a fruit.
    All the best
    Gina

  28. Hi Pedro, first of all I want to give you a round of applause for sharing your journey so far and share your thoughts and feelings about stuttering. Your unique analogy of fruit and its course is beautiful and I love it. Your words truly highlight the every changing course of a fruit tree it has seasons, and as humans so do we. Once again thank you for your poetry! 🙂

  29. Hi Pedro, I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed reading your piece! I loved your analogy of stuttering and its comparison to a fruit. Specifically this line caught my attention “There is juice in stuttering; may life allow us all to find it, savor it, and share it.” What are some ways that PWS can share the beauty of their stutter with others?

    • Hello!

      There are many ways, but they depend on many personal things… I can only speak for myself…

      Every day, or almost every day, I can go to a reliable café with a good smile on my face and, if I feel okay with it, start the day stuttering in good sound in front of at least one person. Even if I’m having a more fluent day, I can play with my stutter and practice what they call voluntary stuttering. Today I find it fun, colorful, beautiful. Not always, but often.

      When someone calls me, someone I don’t know, from those companies that sell things, I can play around with it a bit and take the opportunity to practice saying… I’m a person who stutters… and continue with light conversation, taking advantage of the annoying call from someone trying to sell me something to practice once again… stuttering openly with confidence. I find it amusing, and I’m convinced the other person on the other end does too.

      I know I’m going to say something… controversial…
      I blink… it’s a secondary for me… it´s part of the package… I like this detail of my stutter… I think it gives me an aesthetic grace… I blink when I speak like the stars in the sky… I think it’s beautiful… do others think so or not? I don’t know… some maybe?… I do.

      Thanks for your comment and question

  30. Hi, Pedro!

    This article reminded me of the importance of looking beyond what makes someone different and recognizing the humanity we all share. Stuttering is not something that diminishes a person’s worth or ability to connect with others. I also appreciated the reminder that growth does not have to look the same for everyone. We deserve the opportunity to grow in environments where we feel supported, understood, and free to be ourselves rather than pressured to meet someone else’s definition of perfection.

    As a growing speech-language pathologist, how can I ensure that my clinical practice prioritizes acceptance and celebrates individual differences rather than focusing solely on helping clients conform to societal expectations of “normal” communication? Thank you for sharing! 🙂

    • Thank you for your comment

      I am a PWS not a “modern” SLP, but anyway…

      That’s a great question, and I’m very glad to have brought it to your conscience. Once there, you’ll find an answer for each person who stutters that seeks your help, and the two of you will refine it over time. I’m sure of it.

      And you won’t, because it’s not in your nature to forcibly domesticate others… you are better than that. You have more skills than that. You’re more artful than that.

  31. Hi Pedro! I just wanted to leave a comment and let you know how your analogy really stuck with me. I feel that your way of thinking is really beautiful and an insightful way to look at how your personal fruit is your organic production of life regardless of differences compared to others. Thank you for sharing this.

  32. Hi Pedro! I enjoyed reading your work and thought your analogy with stuttering is really insightful. I think your idea of a stutter being organic really ties in the uniqueness and individuality of everyone’s life. I also liked how you mentioned development looks different for everyone like how fruits can grow differently. Thank you for sharing this piece!

  33. Pedro,
    I loved reading your paper! I am currently an SLP graduate student and am looking for insight as to how people with a stutter wish a therapy session would go, such as . However, after reading your post, the words “grow organically” stuck out to me and further reassured me to let my clients preferences take the lead on the goals that are set!

    Thank you for sharing

  34. Hi Pedro,
    I found the text very interesting because it presents stuttering in a different and creative way, comparing it to a fruit that grows and changes. I especially liked the message that stuttering does not make a person less valuable and that everyone has their own way of speaking.
    As a future speech-language pathologist, I think this text is very useful because it shows how important it is to understand the feelings and personal experiences of people who stutter.
    Thank you for sharing

    • You are very welcome. I’m glad the text helps you and you think it´s interesting.

      Thank you

  35. Pedro, I really liked your comparison of stuttering to fruit that grows and changes over time. Something I’ll take away is your focus on developing a friendly relationship with your stutter and giving yourself room to grow. Your description of finding fertile soil also made me think about how much our surroundings matter. Being around people who welcome different ways of speaking can make a difference in how comfortable someone feels expressing themselves. Thank you for sharing what that growth has looked like for you.

    • Healthy, nutritious plots of land with other healthy and loving trees are necessary to gain fiber in the trunk… esteem… it’s like that for everyone… otherwise you’ll end up surviving, not living… otherwise you end up using… you can become a very fluent tree, but you’ll be using… because fluency, however good or excellent, is a superficial thing… soo you will be using… one, two, three… things… and that´s not a victory. It’s not victory that’s within everyone’s reach if we all have a set of loving and healthy communities.

      Healthy, nutritious plots of land with other healthy and loving trees are rare.

      And the stuttering communitties, local, regional, national, international, can be for the good of all, one, if not the first, of those communities for many or some. It can be the starting point for a new beginning. Couldn’t we then see stuttering as a gift that a healthy home has given us? And a healthy home helped us to build?

  36. I’m so happy I convinced you to share a paper, as you have so much to share. Your journey, your thoughts, and your visual storytelling method makes it all so recognizable.

    keep talking

    Anita