Thanks Ellen. I will look up that book, thanks for recommending it.
I too was all about my career but now I have also lost my parents – my mum died 3 weeks after my accident and I’m losing my dad to Alzheimer’s. So finding a way to accept how my life has changed is important.

I just read that your accident and resulting TBI was 2 years ago. Mine was 13. Life isn’t what it used to be but I’ve gone through a grieving process. I didn’t “get over it”, as life will never be the same, but I’ve learned to live with it. You can too. It takes time and hard work.

Prior to the stroke (at age 34), my life was wrapped up in my career. I was a social worker and thrived on helping other people. After the stroke, I was the one who needed help. For even the most basic of tasks like eating.

I’ve regained a lot of things I couldn’t do after the stroke, but not all of it. Driving again took 3 years and I still don’t work. I don’t know if that’ll change. I won’t be able to return to my career as a social worker though.

One of the key lessons I learned was that my identity is more than just what I do for work. I’d been so wrapped up in my career that when it was gone, I’d essentially lost who I was. I got many insights from a book called “Recovering From the Losses of Life” by H. Norman Wright. There’s a book and a workbook. I worked through the latter and found it immensely insightful. It made me realize some things I was experiencing but hadn’t identified. I delved into those issues and have come out the other side. I recommend you look into it.

Good insight that you’re in mourning for the life you used to have. Keep moving ahead. Even small steps will move us closer to our goals than where we are now.

I wish you all the best. Feel free to contact me if you’d like.

Ellen

I think I’m still in mourning for the life I used to have. But I need to pick myself up and embrace life. Things might be different but we can still achieve so much.

Thanks Joanne that really helps! I used to enjoy how much people enjoyed how lovely I made their presents look. So I do think it is a shame that isn’t the case anymore but there are such bigger things to worry about.