Resilient by Rick Hanson,Ph.D

 You need massive amounts of resilience and persistence post stroke to keep trying to recover when your therapists and doctors KNOW NOTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT RECOVERY!

In here is a frog story; 

Once upon a time, some frogs fell into a bucket of cream. The sides were steep, none of the frogs could escape, and one by one they gave up and drowned. But one frog kept swimming, working its little legs methodically to stay afloat. And slowly, ever so slowly, it churned the cream into solid butter. Then the frog hopped out of the bucket and lived happily ever after.

Another frog story on the same theme: 

It reminds me of the other frog story I've heard.

Two Frogs

By: Author Unknown 

A number of frogs were traveling through the woods. Two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. This story teaches two lessons: 

1. There is the power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be the push over the edge. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. Anyone can speak words that can rob another of the spirit to push forward in difficult times. 

I have given up on consistent stroke rehab because it's pretty much useless until somebody solves spasticity. I don't need to beat my head against the wall when life is out there to live and useless rehab doesn't get me anywhere better.

Wharton's No. 1 professor Adam Grant: 'Never give up is bad advice.'

 

Why "Never Give Up" Is Bad Advice - Heleo

 

Why "Never Give Up" is a Bad Motto - The Berkeley Science Review

 

3 reasons why "Never Give Up" is really bad advice - The Chief

 

15 Reasons "Never Give Up" Is Terrible Advice | TheTalko

 

When "Never Give Up" is Bad Advice - The Meaning Movement

 

Don't ever give up

I've seen this image a few times over the last week. Even using tineye.com I can't figure out who originated this.  This needs to be posted over every survivors bed.  I imagine the bird being my doctor.

It reminds me of the other frog story I've heard.
Two Frogs
By: Author Unknown
A number of frogs were traveling through the woods. Two of
them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered
around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they
told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.
The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out
of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept
telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.
Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs
were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.
Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the
pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made
it out.
When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear
us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He
thought they were encouraging him the entire time.
This story teaches two lessons:
1. There is the power of life and death in the tongue. An
encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up
and help them make it through the day.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be the
push over the edge. Be careful of what you say. Speak
life to those who cross your path. Anyone can speak
words that can rob another of the spirit to push forward
in difficult times.

spontaneous physical therapy for stroke

I was at a bar(Shamrocks) tonight listening to a college friend play in a band Rythym Pups. They have a wonderful mural in there with ghosts hovering over patrons eating at the tables. A good friend, Sue brings various musical instruments for the audience to play. I grab the hollow wooden percussion frog and a drumstick. I pry my fingers open enough to get the frog into my left hand. This provides hours of spasticity relaxing therapy. When I beat on the frog with the drumstick , this sends vibrations trying to find their way back to my sensory cortex. Trying to get growth cones and axonal sprouting going. This is just a continuation of my 24 hour a day therapy. There is no time to waste , every minute of the day can and needs to be used for therapy.

The mural can barely be seen here. Some day I'll figure out the camera on my phone