Now I know this may seem routine for some folks but I have been lucky in that my stroke this summer did not leave me with obvious physical challenges. It did however wreak havoc with my memory, retention and reaction response. I think I am doing OK when actually I am not functioning at my historical 100%. That is why being in this big city I have to restrict my driving to roads mostly and avoid the busy bustling highways and freeways. There is too much going on and I do not trust my abilities to react and monitor everything in a safe and timely fashion. So getting out and keeping an appointment yesterday at the lab to get blood drawn was a big deal. Being able to monitor the GPS system and pay attention was a big milestone for me. The other day my sister made the comment that you need to get out there and deal with the freeways since you live here now. But its not like I already did not have anxiety about driving on crowded freeways before the stroke it is even more pronounced post stroke. I am learning to give myself grace and celebrate even the small accomplishments like getting to my appointment by myself even it was on the neighborhood roads avoiding the freeways. 
Every achievement is still an achievement no matter how big or small. So congrats!
You can build up to driving on more congested roads until it becomes trivial. There is no rush.
Found it interesting you said not your historical 100%⌠what was your historical 100? Iâve asked myself this a lot. I canât say I ever âmeasuredâ how my cognitive abilities were, how tired Iâd feel after a big day at work, how my arm moves precisely to reach for something. So how can I tell how close to â100â I ever was?
You could be a lot closer than you think!
It is 5 am
Confidence really is a big issue post stroke.
So many people, professionals, peers, the person next door, set out to guide you on your journey.
After a lifetime of deciding who to be, where to go, what to do, when to act, designing your life the way you want it, you have suddenly reached this point.
It has all changed now. How do you find your way? Where can you get the best advice?
Doing nothing is so much safer. What can possibly go wrong when you simply stop deciding for yourself?
This begs the question, why canât you find your own way, make your own mistakes? You managed okay until now, scoring 100%, or so I have been led to believe.
Stroke is a strange territory. This is a brand new adventure. There are high points worthy of celebration, but around the corner are pits waiting to make you stumble and fall. Somehow you will navigate all this.
As you get back to whatever your optimum score is you will notice you are not alone. There are others, who see your successes, taking heart as you demonstrate that it is possible to pick up the pieces.
Iâm not going to define your 100%. You will do that. That is your responsibility.
You might decide 95% is good enough, or insist on pushing on to where 110% is the only outcome you will accept. You decide, you will set the course.
I wish you well as you move along.
keep on keepinâ on
Amazing achievement @blerdman 
Iâm sure youâll get back on the freeways when youâre ready. 
Anna
Hello @blerdman,
The thing about stroke is that we may look fine on the outside, but internally things feel a bit rough. I guess youâre doing great inside and out, but consider sns vs pns. You need to be for more time in parasympathetic nervous system state (rest & digest mode) than you spend in sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight mode). Yes, we need to challenge ourselves, but also manage our lives in a balanced way. When itâs time to step down / back off absolutely do so, because living in sns mode all day is going to lead to problems very soon.
Learn a bit about the pns. Take Nitric oxide (NO) for example. We produce 10-15x more when we hum (while you drive!) but also when we breathe through the nose rather than the mouth. NO is a vasodilator; itâs our friend for so many reasons, including keeping us in pns mode. Also learning about your vagus nerve is a must. I do Qigong and learn about TCM. Thereâs a lot waiting for you to learn. Then you can play around with this knowledge, have fun, and tweak your own health. Some people decide to bio-hack their lives, diet, exercise etc.
I didnât mean to give you a lecture ! Just my way of approving your style⌠âgive myself graceâ and âcelebrate small accomplishmentsâ is entirely the best attitude you can have⌠bravo!
ciao, Roland
@blerdman congratulations on your driving. Donât underestimate your achievement. Itâs a big deal post stroke. In time I am sure you will find the confidence to try those freewaysâŚbut there is no rush. Youâll know when you are ready.
Well done.
WowâŚI like your thought process and youâre correct what am I really comparing myself to? And I am trying to celebrate even what some may seem as small wins but they are big for me. 
Thank you so much for your encouraging words!!! I will keep on moving forward even when it is scary and uncertain.
Yes when I feel ready.
Wow those are all new terms to me and I guess I have more learning to do on this post stroke journey. Thank you.
Thank you. i am trying to give myself grace.
Hi @blerdman,
Maybe I overdid it, but you could consider those new terms as a springboard to inspire further research (optional of course)
ciao, keep going, Roland