Speaking of Napoleon Dynamite in the last post I just saw this 6/10/2011 ABC special on WilliamsSyndrome.
Video #1&2: Dancing and no social inhibition:
httpvhp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=23DB26741CC66EB4
NapoleonDynamite/JonHader wasn’t quite as empathetic as these kids, but what about that girl with the sandwich in the movie trailer? I’ll have to see the movie again with a different perspective (it has been half a decade), however JonHader has said his character didn’t have any kind of affliction in an interview and is just socially awkward.
They kind of also remind me of the Whos in Whoville when the video puts everyone in a happy collective or maybe that kid from Jerry Macguire. D’you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds? Perhaps we are the ones with the true disability — disabled with not enough human empathy (mentioned in the video #1 above). Not quite — as these are the reasons for the average lifespan of 50 (mentioned in video #2 above):
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WilliamsSyndrome
WilliamsSyndrome (WS or WMS; also WilliamsBeurenSyndrome or WBS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a deletion of about 26 genes from the long arm of chromosome 7.[1] It is characterized by a distinctive, “elfin” facial appearance, along with a low nasal bridge; an unusually cheerful demeanor and ease with strangers; developmental delay coupled with strong language skills; and cardiovascular problems, such as supravalvular aortic stenosis and transient hypercalcaemia. The syndrome was first identified in 1961 by Dr. J. C. P. Williams of New Zealand[2] and has an estimated prevalence of 1 in 7,500 to 1 in 20,000 births.[1]
The most common symptoms of WilliamsSyndrome are mental disability, heart defects, and unusual facial features. Other symptoms include failure to gain weight appropriately in infancy and low muscle tone. Most individuals with WilliamsSyndrome are highly verbal and overly sociable, having what has been described as a “cocktail party” type personality, and exhibit a remarkable blend of cognitive strengths and weaknesses.[3] Individuals with WS hyperfocus on the eyes of others in social engagements.[4] Patients tend to have widely spaced teeth, a long philtrum, and flattened nasal bridge.[5] Individuals with WilliamSyndrome also experience many cardiac problems, commonly heart murmurs and the narrowing of major blood vessels as well as supravalvular aortic stenosis. Other symptoms may include gastrointestinal problems, such as severe or prolonged colic,[6] abdominal pain and diverticulitis, nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting) and urinary difficulties,[7] dental irregularities and defective tooth enamel,[8] as well as hormone problems, the most common being hypercalcemia (elevated calcium levels in the blood). Hypothyroidism has been reported to occur in children, although there is no proof of it occurring in adults; diabetes has been reported to occur in adults with WS as young as 21 years old.[9]
Eesh, so what do I know what these kids really have to go through. It’s tough to play with those cards you’re dealt with, but it’s interesting to see (in the video#2) how she was able to turn her affliction to her own advantage and become one of the most valuable people at that restaurant by doing something no one else can do on a consistent basis (they’re good at being nice). When you take an outside view and overlook the human story and look at it, they saw (after many failures I’m sure of it) that inside every problem lies an opportunity. Find your biggest perceived problem or weakness, and flip it on its head for your own personal advantage like a hidden super power for ultimate gains. And most importantly ultimate grins as it brings the most satisfaction and closure (finding a viable answer), otherwise you will get hung up on it (and really do make it a curse). So know in advance the problem is either going to eat you alive and help you find a new power (that only you can experience through the process of failures), or it’s actually a power in itself — either way you can win and ultimately prosper.
