Stories, encouragement, and gentle wisdom for the healing road.
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Family Values… or MINE?
Sometimes healing begins with a simple question: “Are these my values… or someone else’s?” Many of us grow up learning beliefs from our families. These values help shape who we become. Some give us strength, kindness, and resilience. But others may leave us feeling guilty, afraid, or unable to be ourselves. For someone living with…
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Everything Is Working in Your Favor
Our thoughts have power. During recovery from a brain injury – or any major life challenge – it’s easy to become overwhelmed by uncertainty, frustration, or fear. While positive affirmations don’t erase difficult circumstances, they can help shift our mindset toward hope, resilience, and possibility. This video shares a collection of encouraging affirmations designed to…
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Is There a Higher Power Behind This?
One of the most difficult questions many brain injury survivors ask is: “Why did this happen to me?” Whether someone turns to faith, spirituality, personal reflection, or simply accepts that some questions have no clear answers, searching for meaning is a common part of recovery. In this conversation, Carole Starr reflects on the role of…
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Why Carole Wrote the Book This Way
Reading after a brain injury can be very different than it was before. Many survivors experience difficulties with concentration, memory, word finding, visual processing, or mental fatigue. A book that feels easy for one reader may feel overwhelming for another. In this conversation, Carole Starr explains why she intentionally designed To Root and To Rise:…
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The Story Behind To Root and To Rise
A book cover can tell a story before you ever read the first page. For Carole Starr, the illustration on the cover of To Root and To Rise: Accepting Brain Injury represents much more than a beautiful design. It symbolizes the realities of brain injury recovery – the visible growth that others notice and the…
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Nothing with Brain Injury Is Fast
Brain injury recovery rarely follows the timeline we hope for. Many survivors want to return to their previous lives as quickly as possible. But healing often moves at its own pace, requiring patience, persistence, and self-compassion along the way. In this conversation, Carole Starr shares one of the greatest lessons from her recovery: nothing with…
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Facing Fear Through Exposure Therapy
Recovery after a brain injury often means facing situations that once felt simple but now seem overwhelming. Whether it’s returning to a busy grocery store, tolerating loud sounds, or spending time in bright environments, these experiences can trigger anxiety and make it tempting to avoid them altogether. In this conversation, Carole Starr shares how exposure…
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Living with Hyperacusis and Light Sensitivity
Many of the challenges following a brain injury can’t be seen. For some survivors, everyday sounds become painfully loud, bright lights become overwhelming, and ordinary environments can quickly lead to exhaustion or distress. These invisible symptoms are often misunderstood, yet they are a very real part of life for many people living with brain injury.…
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Words That Hurt and Finding Your Power
Some wounds can’t be seen. For many brain injury survivors, the most painful moments don’t come from the injury itself – they come from the words of people who don’t understand. Comments that dismiss invisible symptoms can leave lasting emotional scars and make recovery even more difficult. In this conversation, Carole Starr reflects on how…
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Life Before Injury
Life before a brain injury can feel like a different lifetime. Many survivors remember the careers they loved, the hobbies they enjoyed, the relationships they built, and the dreams they were pursuing. Those memories can bring both gratitude and grief as they compare life before and after injury. In this conversation, Carole Starr reflects on…
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