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The grand, consistent & personal support that I’m receiving from my family & friends is unparalleled, certainly, but there is something invaluable about receiving spontaneous, unassuming support from strangers.
My Lyft driver today, once I told him why he was driving me to counseling, replied that he had 2 close friends from his home, that had received brain injuries also. Though I didn’t clarify that mine was an extremely severe brain injury, and it didn’t sound like his friends’ were (and the percentage of living patients that experience a severe TBI, is very), I still received encouragement & validation from him. Most astutely, he pointed to how very long & tedious recovery from a brain injury is.
Although my struggles gradually (extremely gradually) lessen over time, due to a lot of hard work, my hardships are still substantial. I am pleased to experience (& therefore relay), the support that’s been offered to me by strangers, particularly when they see me attempting and falling short (clearly in need of assistance).
Wether the hardship at hand, is writing my name to sign in, remembering a host’s name at my co-working space, or carying my food & coffee to a table at a cafe, spontaneous support in any circumstance, is very uplifting. It reminds me, that while yes, I am a unique individual (adamantly so), I exist within a largely loving & caring community: the best of humanity.
Another slight, but poignant example of an absolute stranger uplifting me, happened a few days ago, when I was walking in my neighborhood. A young man, said “up high” as we were crossing paths in a crosswalk, while simultaneously extending his hand toward the sky. I attempted to high-five him & upon failing to meet his palm, immediately tried to meet it once again. My second attempt was a success, but even more satisfying than the success itsellf, was his resulting exclamation: “determined!”
This proclamation was & is undoubtedly true of me.
This injury has jumbled a whole lot, but 1 thing that’s well secured within me (still!) & has served me mighty well, in all things, but in this ridiculously tedious healing journey especially, is my determination.
This determination, is supported by a multitude of external sources (like the aforementioned) and I’m awfully happy & thankful that it is!!