It’s show-n-tell day! Before I head to the Lake of the Woods Fine Arts Show & Sale tomorrow, I’m giving you a peek at what I’ve been creating, from Christmas ornaments made with vintage jewelry to Spoon & Cup Theory bracelets and my newest obsession of handmade junk journals. Everything at my booth has been created with recycled, repurposed, and vintage materials. Recovery has taught me that everyone and everything can change, be reborn, and become something beautiful.

Come see what I’ve been making, hear the stories behind some of the pieces, and experience my perhaps slightly excessive excitement about my very first art show.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

Rather listen on Apple Podcasts? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-daily-podcast/id1693924779

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

After my stroke, there wasn't much room for laughter. My life was consumed by pain, fear, doctors, visual disability, and trying to understand what happened to me and if I’d get better. Over time, thanks to my husband, laughter found its way back in. Laughing at some of the ridiculous moments of life after stroke doesn't minimize what I've lost. I can grieve my limitations and still laugh when my brain plays Mad Libs with my words, I walk into a room with absolutely no idea why I'm there, or my husband and I pull out our favorite excuse for my humorous mistakes: “Well, I had a stroke.”

Humor is another tool in my recovery toolbox. Laughter helps me loosen my grip and stop arguing with reality. It helps me relax. Taking my disability seriously doesn't mean I have to take every moment of my life seriously. My stroke took a lot from me, but it didn't take away my ability to laugh at myself.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

Rather listen on Apple Podcasts? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-daily-podcast/id1693924779

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

I wondered what I had left to offer without alcohol in my life. After my stroke, that same fear came back. So much of what I could do had changed that I started questioning what I could still bring to my relationships and my life. I must separate my limitations from my worth, let go of the “I should be able to” thoughts, and stop measuring Rachel 3.0 against the person I was before my stroke. My capacity changes from day to day, and my self-worth can’t change with it.

If I want to be happy, I need to do things that make me happy.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

Rather listen on Apple Podcasts? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-daily-podcast/id1693924779

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling