Recovery

The point I’m trying to make is not that an oversized focus on sports at the expense of academic achievement is ideal; rather that, a child’s passion for a sport shouldn’t be dismissed as unimportant. In fact, this principle applies just as much for a student devoted to art, whether that be music, visual arts, or theatre.

This was exactly the challenging situation faced by Dr. Martin and Marilyn Spivack, who in 1980 meet with five family members to discuss the need for an organization “to effect change for individuals with brain injury.”

It seems that acceptance is a word, and certainly a concept, that is thrown around often in recovery communities. Whether it be recovery after a brain injury, a sudden loss, or from active addiction; acceptance is nearly always one of, if not the most important steps in an individual's journey.

 I have to be honest, as much as I always loved both my Grampy (paternal grandfather) Jim Scott Sr., and my father, Jim Jr, sharing a name with both has brought a bit of pressure. No one ever told me I needed to accomplish big things, but seeing the tremendous work ethic of all my family members left me wanting to follow suit.

For a kid who remembers the dread of giving presentations to classrooms full of my peers in school, it surprises even me how much I enjoy sharing my experience with others. While individuals going through similar struggles or dealing with losses that look the same can certainly provide invaluable support, often easing that horrific feeling of isolation, I find that struggle and grieving occur universally among humans.