What If?

By Christina Abernethy

Instead of judging another mom on her parenting skills, we keep an open mind and believe that she’s doing the best she can.

What if?

Instead of staring at someone who “looks” or “acts” differently, we wave and say hello!

What if?

Instead of watching someone struggling to hold their grocery bags or push their cart, we offer to help them.

What if?

Instead of complaining about the things we hate so much, we start showing more gratitude for the things and people we’re thankful for.

What if?

Instead of ignoring the homeless man on the corner, we give him a cold drink and a snack.

What if?

Instead of saying “I’m fine”, we start reaching out and saying “I need help.”

What if?

Instead of making fun of someone, we give them a compliment to make them smile.

What if we take every day as a new day to improve ourselves?

A new day to be a little better than yesterday?

To be kinder.

To be more honest.

To be more caring.

To be more helpful.

What if this year is the year we start accepting and loving each other more?

What if we start changing the way things have always been?

What if we focus on building each other up and not tearing each other down?

What if we supported each other instead of walking away?

What if we all smiled a little a brighter and laughed a little more?

And what if we start today?

What if?
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Meet Christina
Christina is a dedicated wife, mother of three, and passionate advocate for people impacted by disabilities. She has coordinated events to fund research, supports and service dogs for families. She has served on local committees, coached an adaptive cheerleading team, and won awards for successful fundraising endeavors including those for “Team Bubba,” honoring her son with autism. She is the founder of Love, Hope, and Autism and is proud to be the coordinator for Changing Spaces Pennsylvania, a movement to build accessible restrooms with powered height adjustable adult-sized changing tables across communities to promote inclusion. She is working with legislators to pass a bill in Pennsylvania that would require such facilities in hospitals, airports, museums, rest stops, malls and more.

 Christina also works as a Family Support and Community Engagement Specialist at Achieving True Self, supporting families like hers. Christina is committed to spreading a message of heightened awareness and acceptance of differences, ultimately inspiring hope. For her efforts, she won the ACHIEVA Award Of Excellence for Family Support in 2018 and in 2019 she was awarded a medal by the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania. 
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 She is a two-time best-selling co-author, most recently including “You Are Not Alone: Stories, Resources and Hope From Autism Moms” -- a book that is filled with inspiring stories, helpful resources, and ultimately hope for families to let them know that they are not alone in their journey and that they too were made for more.​

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