Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Thank you. During my work out last night at the Y I saw a friend of mine, who is an emergency room physician. He and I have interacted when seeing on another at the Y over the past 10 years. Last night, he asked me how old I was when I sustained my traumatic brain injury. He asked me several other questions, which I will share with you in this article.
I told him that I was 10 years old at the time when I sustained my open skull fracture. I told him that I sustained right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise – due to coup contra coup – and brain stem involvement. I shared with him that I remained in a coma for 3 weeks. I also shared with him that I was not expected to be able to succeed beyond high school academically, but went on to obtain my undergrad degree – in 10 years – and my graduate degree – in 5 years.
He told me that I was a miracle to have kept going forward, despite the disappointments, discouragement and the set backs that I experienced during my life time. He asked me how I persevered given my circumstances. I shared with him that my Dad was a perfectionist and that I strove to meet his expectations, in an attempt to gain his approval, which were seldom quite good enough. Because I was unaware of the impact of my traumatic brain injury, I strove all the more.
I shared with my friend that I was able to succeed beyond all reasonable expectations – according to the results from a neuro/pyche exam — by most of all the grace of God and hard work, persistence and tenacity. I shared with him that I kept looking for ways to use my passions, gifts, talents and abilities in ways that would work for me. I shared with him that I am continuing to learn to use what I have to give in ways that will work for me through Second Chance to Live.
I then shared with my friend, the emergency room physician that I am using Second Chance to Live to encourage, motivate, empower and instill hope in individuals. Individuals who, like myself, have experienced some kind of trauma, abuse or adversity during their life times. I shared with him that I encourage individuals to use their passions, gifts, talents and abilities — in ways that work for them – and to not give up on their process, a loving God or themselves.
“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.” Walter Elliott
“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all.” Dale Carnegie
“Success is often not a matter of talent, but a matter of tenacity.”Nathanial Bronner Jr.
“People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” George E. Allen
“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined…you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau.
To read more about my journey that led me to create Second Chance to Live, please click on my About Page.
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