BORN with Tetra-Amelia syndrome, Chassidy Young, 34, has no hands and short legs, but she doesn't let that hold her back. Chassidy invited Truly into her home, so we could get an insight into her daily morning routine. She explained: "Some people may think my morning routine is very abnormal, but it's very normal." The disability advocate checks her TikTok messages first thing and responds to her followers. Chassidy said: "I started making content about my disability in 2016." With the help from her sister, Chassidy gets washed and tucks into breakfast before reading some positive affirmations to kick off the day. Talking about her disability, she says: "I always tell people there is not one way to do something. So because you're doing something one way, doesn't mean Chassidy has to do it the same way. That's what I do every day!"
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00:00 Some people may think my morning routine is very abnormal,
00:04 but it's very normal.
00:06 The name of my syndrome is tetramedia,
00:08 which is the absence of certain limbs.
00:11 Having no arms on a day to day,
00:15 it creates challenges of course,
00:17 but I was born this way,
00:19 so I've spent a lot of time finding ways
00:23 to do daily activities my way.
00:27 My neighbors probably be like,
00:28 "What's going on up there?"
00:30 All right.
00:31 One of the first things I do when I wake up
00:33 is hop out, grab my phone.
00:37 I check my text messages,
00:39 check my Instagram comments or TikTok,
00:41 because I have been posting more
00:42 to be more on the influencer side of things.
00:46 I started making content about my disability
00:49 in 2016 on Instagram.
00:52 I decided to become more active with TikTok
00:55 because I could share my message to more people.
00:57 It was another platform for disability awareness
01:00 and advocacy.
01:01 I do check any responses to a reel or photo
01:05 or TikTok that I've posted.
01:07 I have a friend, she sends messages every morning.
01:10 Motivational positive stuff.
01:13 Today says, "You are too blessed to be stressed.
01:16 Stop focusing on the negatives.
01:18 Only embrace the positives."
01:21 Once I'm out of bed, I go to my bathroom.
01:24 I take me a bath.
01:26 I live with my sister, Ashley.
01:28 She is my younger sister,
01:31 who thinks she my mama and everybody else mama.
01:33 I usually brush my teeth and wash my face in the tub.
01:38 Every now and then, my sister will help me
01:40 and assist me in doing it.
01:41 - I'm not gonna help her brush her teeth.
01:43 She can do that part.
01:44 - Learning to brush my teeth and wash my face
01:48 was very natural.
01:50 I wanted to do it.
01:52 I saw my siblings do it,
01:54 and I learned how to do it for myself.
01:57 - My sister got my face bleeding now.
02:01 Report her.
02:03 This ain't a part of my normal morning routine.
02:08 Although I wish it could be,
02:10 you would do it every day.
02:11 I have to make up for it every day.
02:13 - If there is an event that I need to go to
02:15 or just a reason that I feel I wanna get cute, jazzy,
02:20 I book my makeup artist, Jackie.
02:22 My face is gonna be done, so you know what that means.
02:24 I'm doing me some TikToks today.
02:26 I do wanna learn to do my own makeup,
02:29 which is one of the things that Jackie is helping me with.
02:32 - I know a girl, like she lives in Dallas
02:35 and she doesn't have any arms
02:37 and she does her makeup with her feet.
02:39 And I'm like, okay, I can at least learn
02:41 how to do a little part of it.
02:43 But, I don't know.
02:46 I like the glam.
02:47 - When I have my makeup done,
02:50 it gives me the energy.
02:51 Like, okay, I can make me some videos.
02:53 It just gives you that boost.
02:54 - Still have a normal life.
02:56 I want my life to be disability awareness,
03:00 not always the subject be that.
03:03 It's a part of me and a part of me
03:05 that I wear very loud and proud.
03:08 - I'm already a very confident person,
03:11 so wearing makeup just brings the inner beauty
03:14 outside of me.
03:15 I feel like Beyonce.
03:20 - My sister is a very important part of my daily routine.
03:24 Every morning she brings my breakfast.
03:26 On the mornings where she can,
03:28 we do sit down and eat together.
03:31 - Yeah, I usually make her breakfast
03:33 and then I do her lunch at the same time.
03:37 Most of the time we aren't able to see each other
03:40 till probably the end of the day.
03:42 So usually I have to make sure
03:44 that she's able to reach everything.
03:47 I am home a lot due to work.
03:51 I normally spend the day by myself.
03:52 But yeah, she's usually here alone
03:54 for about eight to nine hours.
03:56 I leave the door unlocked,
03:58 but that's only because if there's a fire, she get out.
04:01 All right, I'm gone.
04:04 - Bye. - Bye.
04:05 - Every morning I like to read something positive,
04:11 the scripture, a quote.
04:13 I bought this self-care workbook.
04:16 It has a lot of things that you should incorporate
04:18 in your daily routine.
04:19 It kind of puts it at the forefront.
04:20 This one here, it says,
04:23 "Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness.
04:26 "It's a spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul."
04:29 You know, those things keep you in a good place.
04:32 You know, when you may have that five, 10 minutes of bleh.
04:36 - I definitely have moments of frustration.
04:40 This is really a part of my routine.
04:42 I do have those moments like,
04:44 "Ah, I need those fingers right now."
04:47 I allow myself to have that moment.
04:48 And then it's like, you don't have the fingers.
04:51 So find a way to do it and make it happen.
04:54 You know how to do that.
04:56 And you get through those moments like everyone else.
05:00 I always tell people there is not one way to do something.
05:04 So because you're doing it one way,
05:05 doesn't mean Chastity has to do it the same way.
05:07 That's what I do every day.
05:09 Find a way to make it happen.
05:11 Thanks for joining me.
05:13 I'm gonna go ahead and get on with my day
05:15 and make me some videos.
05:17 Bye y'all.
05:18 (silence)
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