Today was a good day emotionally, and it’s been a few weeks since I could say that. Attending the Vestibular Disorders Association Conference has been validating for me. I accepted that I’m permanently disabled and know my limits, but there’s always this lingering feeling that I should be doing more. An attendee shared with me today how he navigates the world using noise-canceling headphones, special glasses, and even a wheelchair while still needing a week to recover from an overstimulating experience. That hit home for me and validated the inner turmoil I feel when I make decisions about what I can attend and what I can’t. When my symptoms are triggered to an extreme that takes weeks to recover, I obviously question if the experience was worth the pain. I realized today that I’m not failing when I choose not to push myself into situations that will take me out for a month just to prove something.
There’s no playbook for stroke and vestibular recovery, but there is for sobriety, and I’ve been using that as my guide. This morning’s sobriety reading reminded me that life gets better when I stop trying to control the outcome. I need to show up but also know when to let go. My decisions create a ripple effect, often leading to outcomes far better than anything I could have planned. Coincidences don’t happen when I try to control the outcome. I can’t force life to happen my way. And today, by honoring my limits instead of fighting them, I’ve given myself the space to truly have a good day that wasn’t forced but simply allowed to unfold.
Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube.
Visit my Etsy shop, Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling
Visit me at recoverydailypodcast.com or email me at rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com.
For more information about vestibular disorders, visit https://vestibular.org.
#VestibularRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #InvisibleDisability #OneDayAtATime #RecoveryJourney #HealingTakesTime #HonoringMyLimits #LetGoAndTrust #SelfCompassion #ProgressNotPerfection
