stroke facts for patients

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

- Thomas Edison

Last weekend I was on the hill and surrounded by briers and thorns as long as 3″.  It was overwhelming for my little brain.

It takes very little to overwhelm you after a stroke, even if it’s been a long time since you had one.

The oddest and simplest thing can shut down the brain.  Sometimes it’s pain.  Sometimes it’s the frustration of not being able to make your body do what you want it to.  Sometimes it’s dealing with people around you and feeling alone because no one understands.

It’s very easy in those moments to let discouragement get the best of you.  Let’s face it.  It gets tiring having to fight everyday to overcome our new obstacles.  It’s easy to want to give up.

But!  What if I’d given up when I was overwhelmed in the thickets?  I’d been in big trouble.  I had to get out so I could get home.

Problem was, the thickets were thick, massive and painful and before I knew it - I was surrounded.  My focus was completely engrossed on my surroundings, so much so that I couldn’t think my way out.

I was so overwhelmed, I knew I wasn’t getting out without help.  Thankfully, I had Jeff my cat to help me.

Jeff’s really good at keeping an eye on me when I’m in the woods.  When I don’t show up when he thinks I should, he comes looking for me.

He has a particular call he makes that means I need to follow him.  He called for me and I followed.  Before long I was out of the mess and feeling very grateful to my little Jeff.

What I learned from that experience was this.  A goal can help you re-direct your thoughts when you’re about to become overwhelmed by a mess.  Rather than focusing on the mess, you simply turn your thought’s to your goal and the mess will weaken and work it’s way out.

Sometimes having a goal doesn’t help and you need someone else to help you refocus on your goal.  It can happen through hearing their voice, through a hug or a simple touch.

And as you’ve learned from the story, that someone doesn’t have to be human - a pet can do the same thing.  :]

Never surrender!  Never give up!

Yo

PS: Picture is Jeff when he was a little tot.

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