The Legendary Phoenix is a bird that lived in Arabia. According to tradition, the Phoenix consumed itself by fire every 500 years, and a new, young Phoenix sprang from its ashes. In the mythology of ancient Egypt, the Phoenix represented the sun, which dies at night and is reborn in the morning. Early Christian tradition adopted the Phoenix as a symbol of both immortality and resurrection.

The Phoenix is a mythological figure, which appears in many different cultures, each with a special meaning. In Greek mythology, the Phoenix is associated with immortality and spiritual rebirth. Chinese mythology equates the Phoenix with grace and high virtue. To the Native Americans the Phoenix is a powerful spirit, lightning flashes from its beak and thunder from the beating of its wings. In Arabic cultures, the Phoenix is associated with strength, purity, and life.

Although the meaning of the Phoenix varies slightly from culture to culture the story is roughly the same. It is brightly plumed in brilliant red and gold. The Phoenix also represented power and prosperity. In addition, clenched in the Phoenix's bill are either two scrolls or a square box with long bands, containing the sacred books. The story behind the Phoenix is that it dies in flame, and is then reborn in flame from it's own ashes. It is an eternal cycle of death and rebirth.

The way I'm relating a disABILITY in life to the myth of the Phoenix is all in how you look at your disABILITY. I see my disABILITY being the death of the old person I was and the rebirth of the new person I am now. Having the knowledge and experience of the old Phoenix, but the strength, purity and life of the newly born Phoenix. Being "reborn", in a manner of speaking, with the ABILITY to cope and deal with the new life I must lead with my disABILITY.

This page is where I would like to start a "symbolic" family of people that live with different disABILITIES, but hasn't let that disABILITY stop them from living a life. Just because you've been disABLED doesn't mean your life is over. That is what I want people to say on this page to others. Write me and tell me about your disABILITY, no matter what type, and tell me how you've dealt with it and went on with life. This can even be a disABILITY that you were born with and haven't let it stop you. It can also be a mental disABILITY. Or a personal one like rape, loss of a loved one, any type of trauma, cancer, or anything that takes strength to overcome. I'm leaving the field of disABILITIES wide open because I don't know what makes a person a Phoenix in their eyes.

I'm hoping that this page goes real well. Letting people with and without a disABILITY know that life doesn't end with a disAILITY. One thing I'd like to say is that I'm not doing this to pry into anyone's business or for any medical survey. Just to help let the world know the truth from our viewpoint. All stories told here will be exactly what you tell me. I will never add nor subtract any information to it. Also, please understand that you are submitting, to me, your story "FREELY" to put up online!!! I take NO responsibility if someone reads your story and E-mails you with their negative feedback.

Please feel free to tell me your story. To add your name & become a Phoenix, click here to let me know your story.