Trust

“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” – Benjamin Spock

It’s hard to trust yourself after any trauma, including a stroke.

Depending on the severity, you may have both physical and emotional challenges.

It’s a lot to process. And none of it is easy.

The old quote about falling off a horse and getting right back on doesn’t apply here. 

Leave the horse out of it.

Focus only on what you can control and only the changes you can realistically make. Then trust yourself to do it.

Trusting yourself is one thing, but trusting other people with your finances, mental and physical health, and everything else in your life is quite another. 

There are people you don’t want around you. People who don’t listen to your concerns. People who ignore your feelings. People who always make it about them.

And people who betray or take advantage of your trust.

I used to know one of them. We had known each other for many years. I was resting one afternoon, and they showed up, unannounced, and pushed their way past me into the house. They wanted to see the renovations I was doing and asked if I would give them a tour.

I couldn’t say no; they were already halfway from the living room into my kitchen. They commented on everything, asked me why I did certain things, and opened some closed doors. That was enough. I ended the “tour” and sent them on their way. 

I trusted myself enough to know that a friendship like that wasn’t healthy for me anymore.

Trust your caregivers and medical team to guide you in the right direction. If you don’t trust them, make the changes that will make you comfortable. Tell them how you feel, get a second opinion, or whatever is appropriate.

Trust yourself to do what’s best for you.