Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Love Your Brain?


"You're alive...That means you have infinite potential."
- Neil Gaiman
Two weeks ago,  I had a stroke. 
I was alone on a walk, phone-less, in the middle of nowhere.
I got wobbly. My vision went out. I thought I would faint.
I crouched on the ground, trying to recover,
couldn't lift my arm, and my head hurt all on one side.

They say a stroke can happen to anyone, at any age.
Anyone.


I diet and exercise like a heart-healthy zealot, rarely drink, don't smoke, and yet...

After more doctors and hospitals than I ever thought I'd need, I'm home.
Fuzzy and shaken. Tripping over my own feet.
Headache-y.

And so beyond thankful
that I still have words and sight, and everything!

I tried to explain this to my hubs, tried to tell him
how important my words, my wit, my thoughts, all of it,
how essential it is to me,
and he patted my hand,
"We all love our brains, honey."

We do. We love our brains!
But do we realize?

It's my revelation of the year.
Would you rather have brains or beauty?

39 years,
many of them obsessed with cals and carbs,
grapefruit juice and healthy exercise...
and guess what?

When it all flashes in front of you,
who cares if you are a size 2 or a size 20?
Alive!

Love that mirror.
Enjoy it. Every inch of yourself, no matter your size,
no matter your foibles.
Enjoy your bumps and lumps, your warts, your wrinkles.
You are a living masterpiece.

Enjoy your messes, your arguments, your in-laws, your guffaws.
Family? Snuggle with them!
Friends? Keep warm by them!

Not published yet? Not a beauty queen?
Our measure of success can be so misleading.
Alive!

It took a stroke to remind me again of my SACRED DIRT -
this life, every blessed day of it,
dishes, mismatched socks, paper piles,
my beautiful, beautiful life.

I have coherent sentences,
the ability to wipe tears
and kiss each sticky face,

even if sometimes things change,
even if it takes a while to paddle back out and find my rhythm,

what a beautiful, sacred dirt I stand in
every day.

Alive!


 

If you get anything from this post, please get this:

Anyone can have a stroke. 

If you or someone you know has an episode 

with ANY of these symptoms, 

call a doctor, or 911 immediately. 

They have ways to reverse a stroke
if they catch it right away.
Learn the signs.
You might save a life...
even your own!

Thank you to my dear ones who have reached out 

during this time.

Bless you, bless you.

Your love brings strength.

 


15 comments:

Barbara Davis-Pyles said...

Bless beautiful you and this beautiful post, Faith. Count me as one of the many who are so grateful you're here!

Dawn Simon said...

Amen! Thank you for the reminder of what matters. I'm so thankful you're here, Faith.

Words A Day said...

Thank goodness youre here to tell us, to share your wisdom. Thankyou Faith, and take care of yourself :)

BJW said...

Well you can still write that's for sure. Love you Faithy, and loved reading your writing as always.

Faith E. Hough said...

Oh, Faith, I thank God you're okay! It is amazing how we run from suffering and difficulty, but sometimes that's precisely what wakes us up to how beautiful life is. You portray that so eloquently.
Take care of yourself!

Cuppa Jolie said...

Dear Faith,
Your brain is beautiful!
Jolie

Julia Kelly said...

Amen too! Thanks for the reminder of what is important- glad you are on the mend!

Vijaya said...

Faith, please take care and be taken care of. Thank you for reminding us to be grateful for this life, here, now. I pray you will have a complete recovery.

Stacy Post said...

Faith you are a treasure to all of us! Sending healing thoughts your way. I vote for brains, hands down. Hug those kids as often as you can. Sending virtual hugs your way, dearie!

Molly/Cece said...

Hi Faith, thinking about you often. Sending up prayers and the best thoughts. Hugs. Every day is a gift. Big fat present wrapped in a bow. M.

mommamoocow said...

Hi Faith,
I met you at the SCBWI conference last weekend. Thank you for taking the time to talk.
I'm the one with 5 kids. I'm sending prayers your way.

Jan Morrison said...

Faith - everything you say is pure dharma - thank you for coming back from the brink and sharing your experience. It is so easy to forget what is truly important. Lots of love being sent to you from Nova Scotia!

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Oh, my dear, dear Faith. I am stunned and devastated this happened to you but so glad you have pulled through and are here to love and write and paint. I think you are a treasure.
You're in my thoughts, sending love to you and yours.

Amy-Baskin.blogspot.com said...

Love you and your beautiful brain, Faith. And your heart to boot.

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