TBI Survivor Blog Series 2023 - Don’t Stop Believing: Lessons in Resilience
Don’t Stop Believing: Lessons in Resilience
By: Laurie Thomas
I wish I had the resilience of my chin hair. Those spiky little fibres boast tenacity, strength, and ingenuity. They are forever greeting me from new locations. I can trust that no matter what happened the day or night before, I’ll find a fresh crop in the morning. I can also trust that I’ll find them when I least expect it. On my way to an important meeting? There’s one, sticking out in triumph with its unwavering support. Sending me a message – you’re not alone, we’ve got this!
With the power of super glue and Flex tape combined, those humble hairs also send messages of strength. Pulling them out is an exercise in physics and determination. They’re rooted in my bones it seems. Breaking off in segments, they valiantly hold on to their foundation. Not a bad metaphor for my body that keeps struggling with visual, vestibular, immune, digestive, and cognitive issues (to name but a few). No matter how many things pop up, my mind, body, and the entire system are still grounded and resilient.
Maybe I don’t have to wish for resilience? What a lesson it would be to learn to trust my body as much as I trust that those hairs will always appear. The hair on my head has been falling out in shocking handfuls for months, but those wires of my southern face seem determined to hold down the fort.
As I’ve faltered lately and failed to heed Journey’s mantra, it strikes me that I’ve believed in my body before. It’s possible to find inspiration in the most ridiculous of places. I’ve done it in the past and I can do it again -- trust that my body is solid, predictable, and can find its way to regenerate. Even if I question it as I’m searching for the tweezers to pluck another hair in the light of my rear view mirror. If my entire system has the ingenuity of those happy bristles, I’ll be just fine.
Laurie Thomas’ Bio:
My entire life, I have loved reading and writing, and I’m lucky enough to do what I love as an editor, writer, and mom. Although I have sustained multiple concussions throughout my life (All my clumsy, unlucky friends, raise your hands!), I have not lost my love of learning and communicating. Even when my speech was slurred or the words of others didn’t make sense, I found ways to connect with what brought me joy. I hope my stories can help you smile in recognition and hope.