The Cards That Are Dealt: Changing the Trip's Course

Life can show a person the dirtiest, ugliest, and darkest perceptions of the world and the people in it. What an individual must remember is that viewing the world as an ugly place only creates fear, isolation, and distrust in society.

Positivity is the only way a person can be happy with themselves and everything around them. Keep your mind clear and play the best game with the cards that you are dealt with.

From personal experience I can attest to being challenged by life and having to choose how I would view the situation.

Last April my mother had a stroke.  It was a very emotional and unexpected dilemma. I can remember leaving her hospital room that night and thinking that it was just another episode induced by high stress. All my mom needed was rest and she would be fine.

The next morning I rushed back to the hospital, not expecting the heavy load of reality that would be dropped on me.

She told me that she had to go to the bathroom and as I reached out my hand to give her support out of the bed, she struggled to lift her arm. I could see a slight droop in her face as she strained. I stepped away as my dad carried her to the bathroom. He then explained that she lost partial function in the left side of her body.

I felt like I lost my mother overnight and I feared that she would not be the same. The stroke did change her but it did not break her. After all of these years of her taking care of others, I witnessed my mother rebuild herself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In the two weeks that my mother resided in the rehabilitation center, the nurses expressed how they had never witnessed such a speedy recovery.

I remember her sending me a video of a nurse helping her walk down the hallway. I did not expect to see me mother out of a wheelchair or walker for months but by God's grace she overcame. I had never been filled with such happiness and relief. I was relieved that my mother did not give up on herself and, as a result, I made it my obligation to give her all my time and attention.

Coming back home and helping my mother get back to a state of independence changed me as well. It proved that no matter what a person faces, it is not impossible to overcome that obstacle.

My mom is  a very active person now and although she cannot work anymore, she is still the busy-bee she’s always been. She works out every day to strengthen her arm and leg and hasn’t used a walker since June.

My experience showed me that your mind is a powerful mechanism. Your thoughts can either build or it can break you. Don’t become a prisoner to your fears and doubts, be open-minded and optimistic. You can’t control the cards that you are dealt with but you can control how the game is being played. Change the game and dominate!

-De'Laurenz