There are many in life; whether of financial, physical, intellectual or emotional; whether we are born with certain God-given talents or lack them in excess of explicit ignorance; or whether we are born with that proverbial “silver spoon in our mouths” or not, the burden we carry is like John Bunyan’s heavy knapsack, of the sins we create and carry.
Some obstacles are objectively in existence and have no relationship to the ones we create; others, within ourselves and created by the ghosts of our past deeds. To what extent are the obstacles which prevent us from advancing merely the emotional difficulties we bring about?
Certainly, this world is an “unfair” one — one in which who one is born to, where one is a citizen of, and to which “class” we belong to plays a large role in who we can become; and in the end, sheer will and determination to succeed may not be enough. The 5’ 10” young man who is born with spindly legs and lack of coordination will likely never become a professional basketball player no matter how hard he tries; and the individual who lacks a foundation of talent in any given area certainly faces obstacles beyond the reach of dreams or hopes; but is that the definition of “fairness” or “unfairness”?
Early on, it is important to assess one’s circumstances, talents and opportunities, and tailor our goals accordingly. Should you “shoot for the stars”, nevertheless? Possibly — but still, with an objective assessment.
How about when you engage in a process like filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits? Should you make a similar assessment about the obstacles to be faced? As in life generally, so should the same rules apply before entering the complex arena of Federal Disability Retirement Law.
As trying to obtain a Federal Disability Retirement annuity presents multiple obstacles, so should the Federal or Postal employee contemplating filing for the benefit of Federal Disability Retirement reach out to a FERS Disability Retirement Attorney who specializes in Federal Disability Retirement Law and consider the options, the difficulties — the obstacles — before pursuing such a benefit.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
OPM Disability Retirement, Et Cetera… 