4 minute read
Tough Times Don’t Last; Tough People Do
TOUGH TIMES DON’T LAST;
What hurts more; physical or emotional scars? No matter the circumstance it can be difficult going back to normalcy after suffering a tragic event. At eight years old, I remember shattered glass, blood, screaming, and cries. A car accident had just occurred. I can recall every detail of what happened that day. I had suffered multiple and complex injuries that truly broke me, mentally and physically. My injuries included fractures to my ribs, internal bleeding, and because of the force and powerful impact, I suffered a ruptured appendix that involved an urgent emergency surgery. I became depressed lying in the hospital bed for over three months. It’s hard for a child to be in such a position. I should’ve been outside playing with my friends, watching tv, eating snacks, but no, instead, I was being fed by a tube, constantly being monitored. The doctors said it was a miracle that I even survived the crash and the surgery where I lost a lot of blood. The days and weeks later, family and loved ones came to visit me. It made me realize the love and support system that surrounded me. They would make a huge difference in the way that I felt. However, my recovery process would be the real struggle and where my fears and insecurities grew. It was the emotional scars that stayed with me for a long time. As the years passed, I cried more and became more sensitive and paranoid about almost every hard situation. I closed off and completely turned down driving because of the thought of going into another accident that would possibly kill me. I grew intense and was scared to try to live out any new things without being fearful. It’s almost uncanny how instead of getting better, I was getting worse as I soon became a young adult. I was unhappy, and my family noticed that I wasn’t the same girl anymore.
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However, I kept feeling sorry for myself, but for what reason? I was alive and had the opportunity to enjoy new things and just live life. Unfortunately, after car accidents, many don’t even survive, but I did! I knew that I couldn’t stay fearful my whole life. If I did, I was going to be unhappy and even inconsiderate of being alive. I was only fifteen and this bad attitude had engulfed my energy and thinking at such a young age. There are no easy routes in the healing process. I went to therapy. Having to deal with constant memories and having to get back to life at a normal pace was hard. Others wouldn’t understand because they never felt those actions or events. Having to recall every detail isn’t easy. I had to relive and take on this process every day with full nights and sessions of crying and scared emotions. However, I got the necessary help to recover from my trauma. It was difficult to talk about the accident and describe the situation back and forth, but it soon helped me heal. It helped me get back into the “driver’s seat” and get in control of my life. I learned to let go of the pain and fear and to simply be in the moment by staying active and involving myself to participate in more sociable activities. I am so thankful for the help I received because it truly changed me for the better.
Thirteen years later, and at age twenty-one, I’ve learned so much and am continuing to learn. It all starts in the mind, then that’s where you can make your physical changes. It was only three years ago that I got to learn to drive on my own in a car.
By Vasthiestefany Flores Senior Staff Writer
TOUGH PEOPLE DO!
Yes, it is still difficult, at times those emotional wounds open up, but they don’t bleed, because now I fully understand what it means to live life and to look at the positives because tough times don’t last; tough people do. My surgery gave me another chance at life, and helped me realize that my life is worth something—I’m worth something. I am so committed to making my time mean something.
Everyone has a story, and it shows that no one is alone. We’ve all gone through a similar situation or two. It’s not about the tragedy but it’s about how we get back up and repair the broken parts of ourselves. Focus on putting a value on those emotions. Once you do, you can navigate where and what you need in order to feel like yourself again. For those reasons, I realized how important it is to tell my story because it can inspire others to get that necessary help too. Remember that those hard tragic moments will be in the past, and better moments will come, once we focus on our purpose and what’s important. Those changes could bring a greater appreciation of life, valued self-esteem, and connectedness to others. So remember, it is never too late to feel and be happy again, I promise you won’t regret it.
Illustration by Serena Wong on Pixabay
