Many survivors that I have met including myself, have often wondered why me? The questions surrounding a traumatic experience surrounding a stroke are similar. Many reasons for the cause of ones stroke vary, but when I hear the question of why did I survive? I take pause and express my opinion that you are unique. You have characteristics that make you different, or give you your individual personality. I believe your "uniqueness" is why you survived. I think for survivors and care givers, it is important to understand these unique qualities and try to bring them out consistently. The, sometimes, long road to recovery needs to begin with the understanding of who you or your loved one is. Examples being; are they creative, do they have a good sense of humor, what passions do you or they have? reminders of the unique qualities, I believe help the brain work and find ways to recover, resilience is made up of experiences and attributes both mental and physical. When I talk with families in the hospital I try to convey my opinion that constantly remembering who the survivor is, is what will help them move towards recovery. Pictures, music, objects smells, touch, all things that remind the injured brain , and I think conjure a familiar sense of "normal"... Don't lose sight of the attributes and character that has gotten you or your loved stroke survivor to this point in life. You survived because of who you are and the things that make you different, remember these "things" encourage these "things", and continue to survive and thrive.