Healthcare executive turned writer on “becoming you” after a stroke

Florence Acosta spent years building herself around her credentials of nurse anesthetist and executive director of a surgical center. On the weekends? She was doing work she loved but never fully committed to: facilitating women's circles. Then she had a stroke. And overnight, the career, the title, the independence — all of it — was gone.What followed was two years of sweats, silence, and grief she didn't know how to name. That is until her son moved 1,231 miles away and something in her finally shifted.In this episode, we talk about:What it actually looks like to rebuild in small, almost invisible stepsWhy driving alone for the first time in three years felt like getting her freedom backHow writing became the way she finally found her voice — and why those two things took decades to connectGrieving a version of yourself you're not sure you're ready to let go ofThe power of writing to heal yourself and others How a Raggedy Ann doll taught her it wasn't safe to ask for what she wanted, and how she’s building that safety todayThis one is quiet, honest, and particularly important for anyone who has ever faced a setback that took more than they expected.Chapters00:00 Welcome, Florence Acosta01:23 Life after the stroke05:45 Navigating grief and recovery08:00 Finding independence after a stroke09:38 Help, grief and signs of recovery13:08 Writing on Substack15:51 Not taking independence for granted16:53 Appreciating the past18:12 Are you happy?19:51 Facing challenges20:33 Finding a voice through writingWhere to find FlorenceBECOMING YOU with Florence Acosta on SubstackFor more from The Unemployment DiariesStay up to date on InstagramGo behind the scenes on SubstackWatch on YouTube