Jill W
The friends I needed were brought to me through my Up N Out experiences and the many friends who I met that will forever be in my life. These friendships have helped me grow as individual living with a disability. We have shared our struggles with each other, found emotional support, found strength, shared many enjoyable moments together, share so many dreams together. Being a mom of 4 kids, acquiring a disability in my adult life, and having to adjust and cope with all that comes with getting a permanent disability in my adulthood, Up N Out Social has definitely helped me build new meaningful friendships that helped me accept my new norm. And I can actually say, through the help of the home I’m in and all the friends I’ve met at Up N Out Social, I have come to see myself stronger, wiser, and everyday I’m inspired to be the best version of myself because I’m surrounded by so many loving friends at Up N Out who enjoy life with me and there’s always a friend or two that I can call to talk to when I’m going through something. Together we are not just surviving, we are truly thriving and better together. I thank God everyday for this community that helped me grow to accept the challenges that come with my journey and like warriors we are living a life worth living through the help of the supportive community I’ve met because of my disability. I thank God, my family, my church, my friends from Up N Out and longtime friends I grew up with for showering me with the love and support through it all. Last but not least, the activities I enjoy most with Up N Out Social are the community events, the faith journaling and arts, the Tuesday movie meet ups at Cinemark, and our all girls meet ups at the restaurant. And last but not least - my favorite thing is the outrigger paddling at Newport Beach with my Up N Out BFFs Marian, James, Jo and Bernard.
- Jill W.
