Comments on: Listen to the Wisdom of Your Little Voice

By: Lois

Lois — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 23:09:30 +0000

Carrie,

I have two thoughts that came to my overactive mind. A quote by Dr. Seuss, “Don’t worry so much about what people think. They don’t do it that often.” The second is a mantra I say to help build my self-confidence. I borrowed it from Al Franken’s Stuart Smalley from year’s past SNL, a catchphrase
“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog-gone it, people really like me.” I say it with conviction. It makes me giggle and fills me with gusto.

By: Lois

Lois — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 23:00:40 +0000

Helen,

Thank you for your kind remarks. I’ve been thinking about what you said, too. I’ve noticed there are layers of denial that the “old self” is gone forever after a brain injury that get tangled up with layers of recognizing and accepting the “new self.” Sometimes it’s the brain injured person who “gets it” first, that he/she is not the same person, nor ever will be who he/she used to be and his/her family and/or friends refuse to accept this new reality. This is often the case when the brain injured person by appearances looks and sounds the same, but cannot function the same. Other times, it’s the brain injured person’s family and friends who first understand that the “old person” is forever gone because they notice the “new person” is different. In this case, it’s the survivor who is in denial and often it’s the injury that interferes with the survivor’s ability to realize he/she is not the same person as before his/her injury. What’s sad is that either way, the brain injured person will continue to try living their life as he/she did previous to the injury and will continually struggle with confusion, frustration and a life of chaos. Rehabilitation will be delayed until the survivor lets go of the “old self” and learns how to live as the
“new self.” If family and/or friends won’t or can’t let go of the past and accept the new reality, then the survivor will have to find another support system to help them adjust. My heart aches for your ex-husband. Even though it’s a painful process to accept your “new self,” think of how painfully desperate it must feel to try to live up to expectations you can’t meet.

By: Carrie Smith

Carrie Smith — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:09:41 +0000

I love that “little voice” because it is so uplifting and independent. What I need to learn to overcome is those negative people who walk through my door and tell me that I am no good.

Thank you, Lois, for your inspiration.

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:01:50 +0000

I so enjoyed meeting you at the MAR confrence in Missoula last week. I just keep thinking about some of the things you said and how they apply to not only my clients but to my ex husband who suffered a brain injury as a result of a car wreck and was in a coma for 10 days. He is not the person he thinks he is 5 years later because it has not been ok for him to be the person he now is. Y a that sounds strange but everyone alaways though he would be who he was and he isnt. Maybe god and time will bless him with healing and he will move on with his life.

By: Kim Gibbs

Kim Gibbs — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:27:58 +0000

That little voice speaks to me on occasion and I’m always amazed at what happens when I listen to it.

Not long ago when I was in the middle of a crazy-busy day, that little voice told me to go grocery shopping – NOW. So I dropped everything I was doing and drove to the store. When I got there I ran into a friend who was crying and in distress.

When she told me what was wrong, all I had to do was make a few phone calls to the right people to get the ball rolling to set things right again. Soon her problem was resolved.

It’s not that there was anything special about me, I just happened to know the people who would help her fix her problem.

Recently, that little voice told me to learn Spanish. Sounds strange but I know enough to follow it. Quien sabe? (Who knows?)