Infinite vs. Finite

To me, the single greatest difference between being young and growing old is feeling infinite and immortal versus knowing you are finite. Six months into graduate school, I have finished a course on left hemisphere cerebrovascular accidents (CVA's, more commonly known as strokes), and am halfway through a course on right hemisphere CVA's and traumatic brain injuries (TBI's). More and more, I feel this omnipresent awareness of my, your, our finality. All around us, technology is getting better and faster. Somehow, that makes us feel that we are bigger and stronger. But we are as frail as we have been since the beginning of time. As our lifespans are increasing we become more susceptible to strange diseases and new pressures, and in a way we are even more frail. In keeping this post short and sweet, this is my simple soapbox message to remember the frailty of our lives. Working with clients who have suffered brain lesions and traumas is without a doubt rewarding, but also incredibly saddening. The brain is a mysterious, strange, precious organ - one with great neuroplasticity but also sensitive to damage. Remember that no matter the age, we are all finite. Think twice, wear a seatbelt, and be careful.