Early recovery felt monotonous, both in sobriety and post-stroke. The stillness is such a contrast to the chaos of drinking and the busy life before a stroke. In those early days, the work felt like hard work. Going to meetings, calling my sponsor, reading the literature, doing my prayers, and meditating happened every day. In stroke recovery, doing vestibular therapy exercises, support groups, and taking daily naps was BORRRING. I had never practiced consistency in my life, so doing the same thing over and over felt exhausting and joyless. Every choice felt like a mountain to climb, and the payoff wasn’t immediate. But over time, that monotony turned into consistency, and consistency turned into habit. What once felt like forcing myself to work became something natural, like brushing my teeth without thinking about it.

That’s when the mental energy I spent struggling to simply work at living better was freed up for other things, like relationships, growth, and purpose. In sobriety, the drama-less life that once felt empty became purposeful. Stroke recovery is the same, yet the work still seems hard for me. The quiet routine is laying the foundation for something better. The monotony is proof I’m doing the work, and that work is what leads to stability, freedom, and joy. The same rhythm that feels repetitive is the rhythm of the life I’m fighting for. I just keep showing up until the momentum in the monotony turns to consistency, then habit, and eventually effortless joy.

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To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

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