Second Chance to Live

Second Chance to Live and Happy New Year 2010 Part 2

secondchancetolive — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:10:29 +0000

Please read Part 1 for context. Thank you.

My experience has taught me that what happens in and to my life is not as important as how I respond to what happens in and to my life today.

I am not saying that what happens in my life is not important. On the contrary, I am saying that I have come to realize that what has happened and happens in my life is all working together for my good.

Consequently, I have discovered that I am empowered by how I chose to respond to the circumstances and experiences that become a part of my life because:

I realize that I no longer need to believe that I am being victimized by what happens to me.

I realize that I can be empowered by each and every circumstance and experience that becomes part of my life.

I realize that my circumstances and experiences — regardless of how they may look at the present time — are in reality gifts.

I realize that the lessons that I am learning — through the gifts that I am given — prepare me for the opportunities that are given to me.

I realize that the lessons that I am learning and the opportunities that I am given are collectively pointing me in the direction of my destiny.

I realize that I do not have to know or have the big picture, because the process is more important than the destination.

I realize that I can trust the process, a loving God and myself, because I no longer have to rely on my own understanding.

I realize that I can own how I react to people, places and things — in my life — because my reactions are more about me than anyone or anything.

I realize that I can own my uncomfortable feelings instead of projecting my uncomfortable feelings onto my relationships.

I realize that I no longer have to be perfect, but instead when I have wronged someone I can take the necessary steps to make amends.

I realize that I can change what I am doing — when I become sick and tired of being sick and tired — to get different results.

I realize that I no longer have to feel trapped, because more options exist — than I may presently may be able to see.

Through my experience I have discovered that by taking advantage of the above realizations, I am able to have an active, rather than reactive role in my life.

If I may ask, as you think about the phrase, “Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up!” please take some time to share your thoughts with me. Thank you.

You may share your thoughts with me through a comment or a confidential email.

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Second Chance to Live — Happy New Year 2010 Part 1

secondchancetolive — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:52:36 +0000

Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. Today is January 1, 2010 and the start of a new year and a new decade. If no one has yet to tell you, let me be the first to say Happy New Year. May your new year and decade be filled with satisfaction and contentment. I look forward to being on the path with you — one day at a time.

In a little more than a month — on February 6, 2010 — Second Chance to Live will celebrate a 3 year anniversary.

At the inception of Second Chance to Live I decided to encapsulate my mission and my vision into a one line phrase.“Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up”. As I flew back from visiting with my family during the Christmas break, I thought about what the phrase means to me.

As I reflected, several thought came to mind. I will share several of those thoughts with you.

Please Read Part 2 for context. Thank you.

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Posted in abuse and neglect, Acquired Brain Injury, Bob Woodruff, brain injured soldiers, celebrities with brain injuries, Closed Head Injury, Fulfilling your Destiny, head injury, learning disabilities, Living with a Disability, living with a traumatic / acquired brain injury, Living with an Invisible Disability, living with meaning and purpose, messages of hope and inspiration, No Longer a Victim, Parents of children with Acquired brain injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Revealing your Destiny, self-esteem, Self-Respect, Soldiers and Marines who sustained traumatic brain injuries, stroke, traumatic / acquired brain injury, Traumatic Brain Injury in children, Traumatic Brain Injury Support Groups / Meetings, What is my Destiny?

Traumatic Brain Injury — Facing Alienation and Isolation – From Confusion to Clarity Part 6

secondchancetolive — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:42:15 +0000

Please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 for context. Thank you.

Continuation of Today’s Thought

By letting go of outcomes you and I can rest assured that we will be used by a loving God to be of maximum service — because we are different.

You and I can trust that our lives will be used to empower and give hope to individuals living with in the “herd” — because of what makes us different.

You and I can trust that our lives will be used to empower and give hope to individuals living outside of the “herd” — because of what makes us different.

You and I can trust that our lives will be used by a loving God — because of what makes you and I different — as Santa used what made Rudolph different.

Be encouraged my friend. What you have to give to the world is of great value, worth and significance.

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Posted in 12 Step Recovery, abuse and neglect, Acquired Brain Injury, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Bob Woodruff, Caregivers, celebrities with brain injuries, Closed Head Injury, Codependency, Department of Veteran Affairs, empowerment, family, Fulfilling your Destiny, Living with a Disability, living with a traumatic / acquired brain injury, Living with an Invisible Disability, messages of hope and inspiration, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, Revealing your Destiny, self-esteem, Self-Respect, Soldiers and Marines who sustained traumatic brain injuries, stroke, traumatic / acquired brain injury, Traumatic Brain Injury in children, Traumatic Brain Injury Support Groups / Meetings, What is my Destiny?

Traumatic Brain Injury — Facing Alienation and Isolation – From Confusion to Clarity Part 5

secondchancetolive — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:32:27 +0000

Please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 6 for context. Thank you.

Today’s Thought

Be encouraged my friend. If the “herd” chooses to laugh, reject or ridicule you can let the “herd” believe what they want to believe.

You no longer have or need to convince the herd or anyone of your value, worth or significance.

You can create your own reality because you are of great worth, value and significance.

You can rest assured that your life will be used to meet a much greater need than you presently may be able to imagine.

You can go about doing your footwork – by developing and using your gifts talents and abilities — in ways that work for you.

You can trust the process — while letting go of the outcomes — because you no longer have to worry about the Big Picture.

Please read the conclusion of Today’s Thought in Part 6 for context. Thank you.

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Traumatic Brain Injury — Facing Alienation and Isolation – From Confusion to Clarity Part 4

secondchancetolive — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:39:55 +0000

Please read Part 1, Part 2,Part 3 , Part 5 and Part 6 for context. Thank you.

My confusion turned into clarity when I realized that my being different equipped me to be of maximum service to a Loving God, to the herd and too many other people.

In your experience you may have found that – as Rudolph and I have discovered – there is something that makes you different. Consequently, you may find that the herd chooses to laugh at you, call you names and exclude you from activities and games.

You — like I have — may find yourself internalizing the herds scorn as reality. In the process, you may find yourself buying into a lie. The lie may tell you that what you have to offer is of little value, worth and significance.

Through my recovery process I discovered that the lie I was in fact a lie. I then discovered that the truth of the matter was the direct opposite of what the lie was telling me. What makes you and I different also makes you and me of infinite value, worth and significance.

What makes you and I different empowers and equips you and I to be of maximum service to a loving God, to members of the herd, and too many other people.

Please read Part 5 for context. Thank you.

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Traumatic Brain Injury — Facing Alienation and Isolation — Turning Confusion into Clarity Part 3

secondchancetolive — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:36:21 +0000

Please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 for context. Thank you.

What made Rudolph different from the herd drew him to a unique place of service. Rudolph’s gift empowered him to fulfill what none of the other reindeer could hope to do. What made Rudolph different equipped him to be of maximum service to Santa, to his fellow reindeer and as the song inferres, to many boys and girls.

Because I allowed the herd to define my self-worth, self-esteem and value — for many years — I remained in a state of confusion. I had no idea who I really was, nor how my life mattered. My confusion perpetuated my dis-ease. I remained in this state of confusion until — through my recovery process — I had a spiritual awakening.

My spiritual awakening revealed to me that I could no longer afford to be distracted by what the herd could not understand or accept. My spiritual awakening revealed that I could no longer wait for the herd to recognize or validate my vision and mission.

My confusion turned into clarity when I realized that I no longer had to make excuses for being who I am. My confusion turned into clarity when I made the decision to stay committed to my mission and vision — regardless of how the herd or members of the herd chose to react or respond to me.

My confusion turned into clarity when I realized that I could trust a loving God to use me because of what makes me different. My confusion turned into clarity when I realized that I am equipped to be of maximum service to the God of my understanding, to the herd and to many individuals who are not accepted by the herd – because of what makes them different.

Please read Part 4 for context. Thank you.

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Traumatic Brain Injury — Facing Alienation and Isolation — Turning Confusion into Clarity Part 2

secondchancetolive — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:51:54 +0000

Please read Part 1, Part 3,Part 4 , Part 5 and Part 6 for context. Thank you.

Although Rudolph is merely a fictional character in a Christmas song his plight can easily be identified with by individuals who have experienced similar rejection and ridicule — because they are different from the “herd”.

As an individual with a disability I found that I could easily identify with Randolph’s position — in the herd. For many years, I found that I did not fit in nor was I accepted by the herd. As Rudolph, I too found myself being called names, laughed at and excluded from being included by the herd. Through my process I discovered that because I based so much of my self-esteem and feelings of self-worth on what other people thought of me I remained in a state of confusion.

Although I attempted to go along to get along — to find my place and position in the herd — I experienced alienation and isolation.

As we continue to listen to the song we hear, “then one foggy Christmas night Santa came to say…” . In this part of the song the obvious becomes clear. Santa recognized what the herd choose to laugh at and ridicule…the gift that Rudolph had to give… his bright red shiny nose. Upon reflection I can only imagine that when Santa asked Rudolph “Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” that Rudolph as well as the other reindeer were amazed. Could this be true — that Santa wanted to use what made Rudolph different?

At this point in the song, what became clear to me was that Santa recognized, valued and esteemed what made Rudolph different.

Please read Part 3 for context. Thank you.

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Traumatic Brain Injury — Facing Alienation and Isolation — Turning Confusion into Clarity Part 1

secondchancetolive — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:20:14 +0000

Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me my friend. You are always welcome around my table. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your family.

During this time of the year we may hear and maybe singing various carols. These Christmas carols / songs have become synonymous with this time of the year. One of these carols /songs is Rudolph the Red nose Reindeer. As a youth I heard this carol / song sung with the thought that, “This is a happy song”.

As I have grown older the words of this song have taken on a different meaning. As the song begins, we are drawn to the names of Santa’s reindeer: Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. As the song continues special attention is drawn to Rudolph.

The song tells us that Rudolph had a bright red shinny nose that some say even glowed. We are told that this trait distinguished Rudolph from the other reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.

With the next several lines of the carol / song we hear that Rudolph finds that he is laughed at, called names and not allowed to join in reindeer games. Although the reason (s) for Rudolph being shunned, laughed at and called names is not made clear — what is made clear is that Rudolph’s bright red shinny nose made him different from the other reindeer.

Please read Part 2 for context. Thank you.

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Traumatic Brain Injury — In hope Part 8

secondchancetolive — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:27:28 +0000

Please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 and Part 7 for context. Thank you my friend.

In closing this series let me share with you several of my favorite quotes.

The messages found with in these quotes have given me strong encouragement — as they remind me to follow hope.

May you also be encouraged to follow hope.

Because our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up!

“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined…you will meet with success unexpected in common hours” Henry David Thoreau

“Insist on yourself, never imitate. Your own gift, you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous half-possession…Do that which is assigned to you, and you can not hope too much or dare too much.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Posted in 12 Step Recovery, abuse and neglect, Acquired Brain Injury, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Bob Woodruff, brain injured soldiers, celebrities with brain injuries, Closed Head Injury, Department of Veteran Affairs, family, Friends, head injury, Living with a Disability, living with a traumatic / acquired brain injury, Living with an Invisible Disability, messages of hope and inspiration, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Motivational / Inspirational Speaker, Parents of children with Acquired brain injuries, Personal empowerment, Revealing your Destiny, self-esteem, Self-Respect, Soldiers and Marines who sustained traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic / acquired brain injury, Traumatic / Acquired Brain Injury and Anger, traumatic brain injury and frustration, Traumatic Brain Injury in children, Traumatic Brain Injury Support Groups / Meetings, What is my Destiny? Tagged: How will I find hope?, When will I find hope?

Traumatic Brain Injury — In hope Part 7

secondchancetolive — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:59:24 +0000

Please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 and Part 8 for context. Thank you my friend.

Rest assured my friend. The pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. You will come to realize how your present circumstances, events and experiences were being used for your good. You will come to understand, value and even appreciate what you may presently have a difficult time understanding or accepting.

You will come to realize how events, circumstances and experiences — that are and have occurred in your life — have been used to point you in the direction of your destiny. What you may not be able to see — now — will be made clear. You will come to understand how hope was taking root and being formed in and through you.

Be encouraged my friend. More will be revealed to you as more will be revealed to me — one event, circumstance and experience at a time. Nothing wasted. So be encouraged my friend; all things will be made clear — through hope — in time.

Please read the conclusion to this series in Part 8 for context. Thank you.

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