After My 2019 Stroke, I Learned: Surviving Isn’t the Same as Living

 

After My 2019 Stroke, I Learned: Surviving Isn’t the Same as Living



In 2019, my life changed in an instant.
One moment I was pushing through a “normal” day in church, and the next, I was in a hospital bed, my body refusing to cooperate, my mind racing to keep up. I had suffered a stroke.

I thought the hardest part would be surviving.
But I was wrong.

Survival Is Only Step One



When you’re in the middle of a medical crisis, all you think about is getting through it, breathing, healing, making it to the next day. The focus is on survival. And survival matters.

But once the crisis is over, you’re left staring at a new reality.
Your body feels different.
Your energy is unpredictable.
Your mind is clouded with questions about who you are now.

It’s a strange, lonely place, one that many people never talk about. I survived, but I wasn’t living. I was existing.

Learning to Live Again



It took months, really, years, for me to realize that I had to rebuild not just my health, but my life. That meant:

  • Letting go of perfection and learning to listen to my body.

  • Prioritizing joy over busyness.

  • Saying no to environments and people that drained me.

  • Asking for help without shame.

I began to see that “living” wasn’t about rushing back to my old self, it was about creating a softer, more intentional life that honored the person I had become.

Why I Share My Story



I share this because I know I’m not alone. Maybe you’ve been through a stroke, an illness, a trauma, or a major life change that shook you to your core. Maybe you’re standing where I once stood, grateful to be alive but unsure how to really live again.

If that’s you, I want you to know this:
You can create a life that feels peaceful, meaningful, and worth waking up for. You deserve that. And it’s okay if it takes time.

My Work Today



Today, I use my experiences to guide others through difficult life transitions. As a trauma-informed notary, legal document assistant, and life coach, I help people navigate the stressful parts of life: paperwork, legal forms, big decisions, so they can focus on healing and rebuilding.

Because life after survival isn’t about going back to the old you.
It’s about becoming the person you’re meant to be.

💬 If you’re ready for compassionate, judgment-free support, visit www.SofterLifeBeyondTrauma.com or text 775-400-1184.




#StrokeRecovery #LifeAfterStroke #HealingJourney #SurvivingVsLiving #TraumaHealing #Resilience #OvercomingAdversity #EmotionalHealing #LifeTransitions #MentalHealthRecovery #SofterLifeBeyondTrauma


Roni~

Comments

Post a Comment

Leave a Comment
We’d love to hear from you! 💬
Share your thoughts, questions, or personal experiences below. Your voice matters, and your story could help someone else on their journey. 💛

✨Kindly keep comments respectful and supportive.
🛑 Spam, self-promotion, or inappropriate content will be removed.

Thank you for being part of our community. 🌱
~Veronica @ Softer Life Beyond Trauma

Popular posts from this blog

Drive Up in Your New Ride, PERKS TO BEING AN AVON REPRESENTATIVE

Image
SIGN UP NOW! YourAvon.com/lifecoach702   New wheels, bigger deals with TrueCar in Your Avon Discount Portal. Log In » Find Your Next Car Get a cash offer on your current car and shop new & used vehicles online. Plus, get an extra $1,500 Bonus Cash* on select models. Shop Now Shop Top Car, Truck and SUV Brands Research and compare price offers, calculate payments and more! Shop Honda Shop Toyota ...
Read more

From Dismissed by DOGE to Rooted in Renewal: Lessons from the Soil After AmeriCorps

Image
   From Dismissed by DOGE to Rooted in Renewal: Lessons from the Soil After AmeriCorps On April 28, 2025, I received a text message from my project manager inviting me to a "required Zoom meeting." Like many other AmeriCorps members, I joined, unaware that it would be my last official acts of service, ending May 9, 2025. Within minutes, I and hundreds of others across the country were dismissed. Not for misconduct. Not for poor performance. But because the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) decided our roles were expendable. Just like that, my position as a Literacy Mentor with The United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierras was over. For months, I had poured my energy into helping children unlock the magic of reading. I tested, tracked progress, encouraged hesitant learners, and celebrated every small victory. The work was slow, like planting seeds. And suddenly, it was gone. But life has a way of continuing, and so does growth. Finding Grounding in the Ga...
Read more

A Mother in the Classroom: My Journey with United Readers and What Comes Next

Image
  This past year has been one of the most transformative chapters of my life. As an AmeriCorps Member and United Readers Literacy Mentor through United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierras (UWNNS), I had the honor of serving in the classroom of Cottonwood Elementary School in Fernley, Nevada. But I wasn’t walking this path alone, my eldest daughter, Donica Davis-DeLoney, served beside me at Cottonwood, and my youngest daughter, DonRica Davis-DeLoney, mentored students at EC Best Elementary School in Fallon. Together, we were not only literacy mentors, we were mother figures, life coaches, safe space holders, and, most importantly, part of a village nurturing the next generation of readers. My Youngest daughter @DonRica Balancing full-time service and full-time online college was no small task for any of us. It demanded early mornings, late nights, and a deep, unwavering commitment to our students and our studies. But we poured ourselves into this work because we believe in the p...
Read more