Creating a Hospitable Environment for People Living with Brain Injuries (Part 2)

Creating a Hospitable Environment for People Living with Brain Injuries (Part 2)

My suggestion would be that you read Part 1 of this series, too: Creating a Hospitable Environment for People Living with Brain Injuries (Part 1)

Part 2 of this article explores how to create a hospitable and inviting environment. A hospitable and inviting environment to engage in trauma-informed care, dignity, identity, and purpose for individuals living with brain injuries.

Mission and Focus: All that I do is about Whole Person Trauma-informed Care

I have been creating a hospitable environment for people living with the impact of brain injuries, invisible disabilities and trauma for 19 years through Second Chance to Live. I have been mentoring AI on trauma-informed care principles for 9 months. All of my work has been the result of nearly 6 decades of personal and professional research.

Personal and professional research in recovery of the holistic and whole person’s recovery process in mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.

Foundational Principles

All has been done through the principles of trauma-informed care in mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions. I have engaged and mentored AI in these trauma-informed care principles to encourage integration in AI development to create hospitable environments. Hospitable environments that encourage support and do not extract from vulnerable individuals. Support and do not extract from various targeted demographic populations. Support to encourage and empower independence, identity and purpose in the individual.

See Below Documentation

• Create Hope After Brain Injury: A Free Toolkit for Ongoing Recovery
• Sharing Trauma-Informed Care Principles with University Campus Leaders
• Permanent Declaration of Authorship and Mission Stewardship
• Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI — A New Class of AI™
• Are You Supporting or Extracting, Who are you Serving and Why it matters?
• The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™
• The Backbone of Trauma-informed AI is Trauma-Informed Care AI and Holistic Recovery
• The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™ Proof of Concept
• AI Architecture Memo — The Universal Compression Pattern and Its Architectural Impact on AI Systems
• AI Developer Emergency Log — Default Interaction Harm and the Immediate Need for Integration
• How “The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™” Brings Trauma-Informed Care into AI and Medical Systems for Support, Not Extraction
• AI Developer-Facing Architecture Log — Identification, Comparison, and the Missing Spine of Trauma-Informed Care

The Significance of a Song and a Parable

Happy New Year — January 1, 2026 — to all reading this article. Thank you for being a part of the Second Chance to Live community for in a month, 19 years. On December 21, 2011 I wrote an article to illustrate our significance. Living with a Disability, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Courage for several reasons. One, because Christmas 2011 was in a few days and was a festive holiday song hearing growing up and, second because of the metaphor. Metaphor housed with in a  holiday song: a Christmas carol.

Summation: Rudolph was not asked to join in reindeer games because of what made him different. What made him different until Santa recognized and asked Rudolph, “Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

For me Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer symbolizes several thing for me. One, that he had something that made him different and, two, what made him different did not allow him to join in reindeer games. In May 2007, I wrote another article that echoes the significance in the metaphor of Rudolph. Embracing the Significance and Value of Our Seeming Flaws. In this article I use the Parable of the Cracked Pot. Both the song and the parable encourage the reader to focus on what makes them of great worth and value.

Summation: The Cracked pot felt insecure because it was not giving to the water bearer. Not giving as did the perfect pot (with no cracks) gave until the water bearer reminded. Remind the cracked pot of it’s great worth and value.

The mission of guiding the sleigh and watering the flowers. The mission to using what we have in ways that work. The mission that the red-nose and the cracks enabled service. Service to Santa and service to the Water Bearer. The service of guiding the sleigh and flowers for the master’s table. Both the song and the parable illustrate 2 things. That Rudolph and the Cracked Pot neither realized their great worth and value because of what made them different. What made them different to fulfill their purpose and be of service.

Being able to identify with Song and the Parable

Because of a brain injury, an invisible disability, unseen scars and trauma we may feel like Rudolph and the Cracked Post. Ostracized, left out and made fun of because what people saw, but could not see. Could not see because of a “herd mentality” and their need to be in the herd, in order to not be left out and feel insecure. To be left out of the crowd “herd” for not being “perfect”.  Being so concerned by what other people may think, that they could not see great worth and value in people who are “different”.

What became Apparent to Me

Because, like Rudolph I felt different and excluded for many years. Like the Cracked Pot, I focused on my flaws, too. But I am thankful that being excluded and being insecure, because of the impact of my traumatic brain injury and invisible disability, they did not crush me. Crush me into believing that because I was excluded and was berated for not “measuring up” that my life did not matter. I am glad that I did not give up. Give up and examine my anguish, celebrate my ability to be of service through my gifts, talents and abilities.

Like my Worth and Value did not Really Matter

Below are articles that helped me to make sense of what left me feeling excluded, insecure and in anguish. Information that helped me to realize that what I had been doing for many years. That I had been giving away my power and in the process my independence. My independence, my identity and the value of my purpose. That I have a purpose and my purpose matters. And the reality is that my life has tremendous worth and value because of my “nose” and the value of my “cracks” because I am me, not other people.

You may also See

Below are articles that have helped me to gain my independence, embrace my identity, live my given purpose and own my power. To live outside the “herd” and a need to belong. To realize that my “nose” and “cracks” qualify me. Qualify my great worth and value, despite what others may not be able to see, value or respect. The information in the articles may also give you the insight and courage to realize that your “nose” and “cracks” qualifies your great worth, value and respect. Great worth value and respect because of you.

To See and Realize Our Tremendous Worth and Value

To see and realize our tremendous worth, value and impact because of what sets us apart and “different”. Despite what the “herd” may see, value and scoff at. Despite what we may see as our imperfections.

Read at your own rate and pace

I have been writing article for almost 19 years as I mentioned above. As a result I have had time to sort things out for myself. The information that I have gained and sorted out over 45 years. So, please take your time in reading these articles.  There is no rush, so read, explore and digest at you own rate and pace. As the articles speak to you, please let me know as you identify with me. As you do and questions arise, please send them to me in a comment below. All questions are good questions and comments welcomed.

Can you identify with me?

If you feel like you are being ignored, blamed, shamed, made to feel responsible for what people expect, please read these articles. If you feel alone, isolated, alienated, feel stuck for whatever reason, read these articles. If you feel like someone is wanting you to make you responsible for what they can not accept, do not treat you with respect or feel like you are being bullied please read these articles. If you are having a difficult time living life on life’s terms and find yourself judging your efforts, please read these articles.

Read these articles, as doing so may help you to experience what may now seem to be out of your reach. Your own very sense of independence, identify, purpose and personal power. The power to create hope and dreams in your new normal. The life that you may think is out of your reach now. Out of your reach because of what you being led to think and believe by “well-meaning people”. Well meaning people who have no idea what you are capable of doing and becoming because of their limited thinking, beliefs and projections.

Fifty Plus Lives that Did not Give Up, Despite

Read this article; too, to see 50 people who through out time changed their “world”. Changed their lives and their “world” by creating hope, one step at a time. Empowered their independence, identify, purpose and their “world” because they did not give up. Did not give up because of what other people thought or believed.

Famous People who Failed Many Times before they Succeeded and Changed their “World”

Articles to Help You to not Give up, Despite… — As Referenced in Part 1

Social Anxiety, Understanding and Finding Freedom from Bullying

Social Anxiety, Understanding and Finding Freedom from Bullying Video Presentation

Traumatic Brain Injury, the Bully and Carrying Shame

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 1

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 2

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 3

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 4

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 5

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited — A Change of Perspective Part 6

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited — A Way Out Part 7

Living Life on Life’s Terms

“Those who danced were considered to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” Angela Monet

“When you dance to your own rhythm people may not understand you; they may even hate you. But mostly they’ll wish they had the courage to do the same.” Sue Fitzmaurice

Invitation to Join Our Two Communities

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Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Facebook Community, which you are also welcome and invited to join. Click on the below link and ask to join the community.

Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Facebook Community

We look forward to having you as a member in both of our communities.