Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that my journey began when I woke up from a life saving surgery to find myself paralyzed from the neck down. The raw fear, the claustrophobia, digging deep down into a place I could no longer feel to summon my inner strength and all I learned throughout my life to pull me from my traumatic and devastated condition. Yes, physically I was almost completely shutdown, but everything was still intact from the neck up and that was all I needed to battle my way back.
I remind myself daily why my story is so important to tell and that’s because it’s not just my biography. This journey of mine is actually many stories, and it’s important to tell and acknowledge all of them that I can. My hope is others can find similarities and know they’re not alone as they fight their way back, too! This is a story of how so many beautiful people affected my life as I fought back and I hope my examples encourage others to do the same.
When we’re faced with a mountain of pain each day and little internal energy, it’s so easy to just give up hope and withdraw ourselves from society or life itself. But we can’t give in to that temptation. We need to know there are others out there like ourselves who similarly struggle as we do and if they can find a way forward, then so can we, and there’s our inspiration and our fuel to break through our mental and physical bonds. You should also always know that people do care about you and if you can’t see it, then take a leap of faith, open your heart, and give someone a chance to prove it.
For those of us who have survived strokes and aneurysms, or anybody who has survived trauma in any manner, you’ve been given a second chance at life and sharing your own story and awarenesses are your means of being an active contributor to encourage conversations amongst many and strengthen our community. It’s also our means of releasing pain from within. Yes, share it, but then let it go, and don’t dwell on it. Get it all out either by being vocal about it, journaling it, or both, but you must move on and prevail. Don’t let your circumstances define or determine your life. You survived a life test and sharing your experiences positively helps others even if you don’t realize it.
Yet, part of the healing process is not only communicating, but getting back in the game of life. You may have to alter how you go about living and change the way you doing things, but don’t ever forget that you survived. You may even find along the way that when you speak to others in similar circumstances that you’re thankful and you see life in a much better light now. You’ve might even realize that you have appreciations that most never realize too. In other words, allow yourself to open up and let peace and happiness back into your heart.
Interested in reading my survival story? Finding Forward: You Have the Will Within releases in just a few weeks. If you feel inclined, you can preorder the book at the below links:
I encourage you to practice mindfulness, patience, and gratitude each day. Wishing everyone happiness along your journeys.