I am reminded of the many things and people I am thankful for every Thanksgiving season. That awareness of thankfulness was especially evident at the first Thanksgiving after my acquired brain injury as my extended family gathered at my Mom and Dad’s house. It was so good just to be alive and to feel their love and support.
Each year I become more aware of just how much I have to be thankful for and how I didn’t realize it earlier after my anoxic brain injury. Every minute of every day that passes is one I would not have been able to experience had I not become a brain injury survivor. I am always aware of that fact, but naturally dwell on it more this time of year.
I think about what I would have missed had I not survived the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome that occurred after a routine (but major) surgery I had in 1990. Here are a few things I would have missed. Perhaps you can relate them to your own circumstances.
---Having my independent back (both physically & mentally)
---Finding out how much Larry loves me and spending more quality time with him
---Seeing my youngest son graduate from high school
---Seeing both sons graduate from college and become successful in business and their personal lives
---Being Mother of the Groom when my oldest son got married to my wonderful daughter-in-law
---Watching my granddaughter grow up from age 2-1/2 and now about to graduate from high school
---Experiencing the birth of my grandson who is now 7 years old
---Spending more quality time with my Mom and Dad
---Realizing how great it is to have not one, but two brothers to love and who love me back
---Spending quality time in St. Martin, French West Indies (my home away from home)
---Having the senses to enjoy nature (it gives me a mental lift)
---Feeling satisfied after a good day at the office when I fell I have contributed
I could go on and on, but not everything in my life has been pleasant. However, sometimes the bad times turn into something good after all. It’s about attitude. Although I would not want to go through the bad events in my life again, I do not have the desire to be who I was prior to my brain injury. I believe my personality change and the direction my life took was for the better. Even with my limitations (no short-term memory, no peripheral vision, cognitive issues), I don’t want to change back. I do, however, strive to improve my quality of life by using all the compensatory strategies available to me and by coming up with a few new ones now and again.
I know not everyone has the magnitude of family support I have, but it is my hope that there is at least one person in your life you can count on to be there for you. And, I realize that many times those who seemingly have the least to be thankful for are the ones who are most likely to count their blessings at Thanksgiving.
Each year I become more aware of just how much I have to be thankful for and how I didn’t realize it earlier after my anoxic brain injury. Every minute of every day that passes is one I would not have been able to experience had I not become a brain injury survivor. I am always aware of that fact, but naturally dwell on it more this time of year.
I think about what I would have missed had I not survived the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome that occurred after a routine (but major) surgery I had in 1990. Here are a few things I would have missed. Perhaps you can relate them to your own circumstances.
---Having my independent back (both physically & mentally)
---Finding out how much Larry loves me and spending more quality time with him
---Seeing my youngest son graduate from high school
---Seeing both sons graduate from college and become successful in business and their personal lives
---Being Mother of the Groom when my oldest son got married to my wonderful daughter-in-law
---Watching my granddaughter grow up from age 2-1/2 and now about to graduate from high school
---Experiencing the birth of my grandson who is now 7 years old
---Spending more quality time with my Mom and Dad
---Realizing how great it is to have not one, but two brothers to love and who love me back
---Spending quality time in St. Martin, French West Indies (my home away from home)
---Having the senses to enjoy nature (it gives me a mental lift)
---Feeling satisfied after a good day at the office when I fell I have contributed
I could go on and on, but not everything in my life has been pleasant. However, sometimes the bad times turn into something good after all. It’s about attitude. Although I would not want to go through the bad events in my life again, I do not have the desire to be who I was prior to my brain injury. I believe my personality change and the direction my life took was for the better. Even with my limitations (no short-term memory, no peripheral vision, cognitive issues), I don’t want to change back. I do, however, strive to improve my quality of life by using all the compensatory strategies available to me and by coming up with a few new ones now and again.
I know not everyone has the magnitude of family support I have, but it is my hope that there is at least one person in your life you can count on to be there for you. And, I realize that many times those who seemingly have the least to be thankful for are the ones who are most likely to count their blessings at Thanksgiving.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment