It is a
pleasure to do what you're good at. I, like many folks, can't think of anything
more boring than accounting, but I have a good friend who enjoys accounting. I
asked her how she can enjoy such detailed precise work, it must get really
boring. She told me that what she enjoys about it isn't necessarily the work
itself, although being so exacting fits in with her character, it is the fact
that she is very good at it.
That made
sense. I can really see that, because where I work, which is a factory,
although the work is repetitive and boring, what people like is doing a job
well. They like that others appreciate their effort. Part of my job involves
spending part of each day working with a machine which is very fussy. No one
likes running it and so they gave it to me to do and I stuck with it and
learned all its foibles and tricks. Now I take immense pride in being the
person who operates that machine. I like that part of my job.
If I bring
this concept to brain injury it becomes immediately obvious what is so
depressing for myself and others - I can no longer do things very well. I am
not very good at anything I used to be good at and I don't seem to be able to
do much of anything else. I used to be able to do many things well; I used to
be able to do a few things very well. Now I'm doing handstands because I can tie
my shoes. It is a major adjustment.
Sure I'm
grateful for what I have, but with that gratitude comes an appreciation for
what I have lost, and any loss stings and the greater the loss, the greater the
sting.
