You get proud by practicing, by Laura Hershey

I recently posted on Facbook a photo of myself pasting up a poem on the Disability Pride mural in Footscray, 'You get proud by practicing' by Laura Hershey. And a few people have since asked me about it, so I thought I would post it here for you to read. This is the fourth time I have pasted up this poem in public space. Discovering this poem a few years back, was one of the things that led me to undertake leading a Disability Pride Mural. 

Laura Hershey was a writer poet and disability rights activist in the USA. 

You get proud by practicing by Laura Hershey



If you are not proud


For who you are, for what you say, for how you look;

If every time you stop


To think of yourself, you do not see yourself glowing


With golden light; do not, therefore, give up on yourself.


You can get proud.



You do not need


A better body, a purer spirit, or a Ph.D.


To be proud.


You do not need


A lot of money, a handsome boyfriend, or a nice car.


You do not need


To be able to walk, or see, or hear,


Or use big, complicated words,


Or do any of those things that you just can’t do


To be proud. A caseworker


Cannot make you proud,


Or a doctor.


You only need more practice.


You get proud by practicing.



There are many many ways to get proud.


You can try riding a horse, or skiing on one leg,


Or playing guitar,

And do well or not so well,

And be glad you tried


Either way.


You can show


Something you’ve made


To someone you respect


And be happy with it no matter


What they say.


You can say


What you think, though you know


Other people do not think the same way, and you can


keep saying it, even if they tell you


You are crazy.



You can add your voice


All night to the voices


Of a hundred and fifty others


In a circle


Around a jailhouse


Where your brothers and sisters are being held


For blocking buses with no lifts,


Or you can be one of the ones


Inside the jailhouse,


Knowing of the circle outside.


You can speak your love


To a friend


Without fear.


You can find someone who will listen to you


Without judging you or doubting you or being


Afraid of you


And let you hear yourself perhaps


For the very first time.


These are all ways


Of getting proud.


None of them


Are easy, but all of them


Are possible.

You can do all of these things,


Or just one of them again and again.


You get proud


By practicing.



Power makes you proud, and power


Comes in many fine forms


Supple and rich as butterfly wings.


It is music
when you practice opening your mouth


And liking what you hear


Because it is the sound of your own


True voice.



It is sunlight


When you practice seeing


Strength and beauty in everyone,


Including yourself.


It is dance
 when you practice knowing


That what you do


And the way you do it


Is the right way for you


And cannot be called wrong.


All these hold


More power than weapons or money


Or lies.


All these practices bring power, and power


Makes you proud.


You get proud


By practicing.



Remember, you weren’t the one


Who made you ashamed,


But you are the one


Who can make you proud.


Just practice,


Practice until you get proud, and once you are proud,


Keep practicing so you won’t forget.


You get proud


By practicing.