This post is written by Disabled& guest contributor, Peri Finkelstein.
Once upon a time, there was a girl trapped in a castle of her own making, her circumstances preventing her from fully living the life of her dreams. She was born different, an anomaly. Her body simply exists, but her brain is her most prized commodity. No one can save her except herself, and the villain is the possessed creature living inside her, haunting her for eternity.
But then, just when she is ready to give up, something magical happens. Her words, her intellect, give her the freedom to shape her truth, fingers become possessed as they dance across the keyboard. Despite her demons, she finds herself through her creative and literary work, breaking free from the chains weighing her down in the prison cell of her own existence. A body that refuses to come alive is no match for the headstrong woman yearning to find not only herself, but her place in this world. Sometimes, you have to bargain with the devil that is your physical body and make room for all that you can become. It is about working through all of the sh*t that embeds itself into your life.
In 1946, English novelist, essayist, and journalist George Orwell wrote “Why I Write,” an essay exploring the driving forces behind writers, whether it be sheer egoism, artistic passion, the desire to uncover the truth, or political purpose. In 2022, I interviewed author, journalist, and producer David Simon on the Team Peri Step Out of Line podcast, where he discusses how words and narrative can be the great equalizer. As he says, “You’re only as good or as bad as the words or the imagery that you’re able to produce to make your argument or tell your story.”
What is most intriguing about Orwell is his honesty and motivations for writing. Simon explained that Orwell believed he was the best person to tell his own story, that only he could make it great, and that others should pay attention. Writing is about making someone stop in their tracks, stop the scroll, and listen.
You see, all writers have an ego. They have to. You need the courage to stand up for your story, defend your findings, and share your inner truth despite the backlash you may face. It means standing, or rolling, onto that stage, commanding the microphone, and letting it rip. That is where you finally free yourself from your inner critic. As Simon says, you get into trouble when you think writing is all noble. You have to recognize the streak of vanity that comes with believing your story matters. It is about being unapologetic, laying yourself completely bare, and hoping your words leave some kind of impact.
I write to escape the castle and prison cell that is my body. I write to break free from the restrictions placed on me. I write to gain some sense of control, to feel free. The click and clack of my keys is how I know I am alive, each heartbeat louder than the last. If I cannot control my physical being, at least my intellect can become the sword I use to fight for my voice.
And so, what if I am egotistical enough to believe my story matters if people take the time to listen? I do not want to perish like Emily Dickinson, whose work received posthumous recognition. I want to be noticed. I want to be heard. I want to be read here and now.
My memoir, The Velvet Bow (And Other Dark Sh*t), debuting this September, is full of dark sh*t and my story in all its gory details. It is a burn book, a journal, and therapy for the younger me. After two years of writing and countless drafts, I finally finished the book I had been carrying in me for 26 years. At last, I am in the right headspace to share my story.
My body may have written the limits of my life, but my words get the final draft. Every time I sit down at my keyboard, I chip away at the walls of that castle until one day, there will be nothing left to keep me locked inside.
The Velvet Bow is about my story and how it is like navigating life with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy while refusing to be defined by disability, trauma, or society’s expectations. Sometimes I use a communication device, other times I use my physical voice, but no matter what, at the end of the day my voice and story will be heard by all.
Peri R. Finkelstein is a Marketing Consultant, Digital Creator, Keynote Speaker, Founder/CEO of the Team Peri Foundation, and has raised over $1M for charity. Peri was featured in Forbes in December 2022, holds a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, is an Emmy Award Winner, and recently released her TEDx Talk titled “Always Wanting More & Stepping Out of Line”. In September 2026, she plans to release her memoir titled “The Velvet Bow (And Other Dark Sh*t)”. As a marathoner, nonprofit leader, and producer, creator, and co-host of the Team Peri Step Out of Line podcast, she inspires listeners through her dedication to community engagement. While she was born with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, Peri only allows that factor to be a blip in the equation, and in turn, her medical challenges have fueled her fire and her drive to believe that with hard work, a sharp mind, wit, and a whole lot of moxie, she can accomplish anything. Over the years, Peri has honed her craft relentlessly and lives by the mantra of Step Out of Line. Her life’s mission is to share her story in the hope of inspiring others to be the change and always venture out of the lines. To learn more about Peri, visit www.teamperi.org.
