It’s been hard to focus on what I can do. I’ve definitely spent a lot of time focusing on what I can’t do. But the reality is despite my limitations due to brain surgery, there is still a lot I can do and that’s all I need to focus on.
In life we often focus on the can’ts and what we were or are unable to do instead of the cans and what we are able to do.
I realize now how I would focus on what I didn’t do in a race or game instead of what I did do. It was the negatives I would focus on rather than the positives.
I still remember my last Lions Invitational in outdoor track, where I won the 5k (fairly easily I’ll add) but was upset with my time. Rather than focusing on that I ran my best without anyone to push me I was just disappointed in my time and couldn’t enjoy that I won the race in our only home meet of the track season.
In softball I often focused on the runs or hits I gave up (I was a pitcher) rather than on if we won or I got some of my pitches (often my drop) down. In basketball I would focus on all the shots I missed or how I struggled to drive to the basket instead of focusing on things I did well even if my shot was off, like play good defense or pass the ball well.
There are times now I get caught up in what I can’t do. I can’t drive for awhile, I had a period after brain surgery that will be extended due to the seizure I had. It’s hard not being able to go where I want, but if I can’t drive for a bit, that’s ok, I’m here and doing what I can.
I can’t work out like I used to but I’m able to walk and can do a mile or a little more each day. I could barely walk to the end of my block after my surgery with a cane and now I can walk around my block without a cane.
We may not be able to get to the beach this summer but there’s still a lot of activities we can do and we’ve already done some fun activities at local libraries and a carnival this week.
It’s easy to focus on what we can’t or weren’t able to do and harder to find what we could and can do. But the cans are what we need to look for and
remind ourselves are what matter. Even with limitations there are things we can do. It may not be a lot but that’s what keeps us going.
There are still times I get caught up in what I can’t do right now but I need to remind myself of what I can do just 8 weeks after a craniotomy.
Where we put our trash is called a garbage can not a garbage can’t. I saw this line once and couldn’t help but find it amusing. Focus on what we we are improving or ridding ourselves of and not on the trash or garbage being thrown away. There’s a lot we can do even when we think we can’t.
#ican #focusonthepositives #brainsurgery #craniotomy #recovery #limitations