Ik kwam uitgebreid in aanraking met de meest radicale eigenschappen van ‘mens zijn’ in de moderniteit. De verwezenlijkingen van onze uitzonderlijke cognitieve vermogens hielden me in leven. Daar tegenover stond het feit dat ik slachtoffer geworden was van de hedendaagse inrichting van de openbare ruimte die vele nadelen veroorzaakte.
De meeste openbare ruimte wordt grotendeels beschouwd als een functionele plaats, die ons van het ene punt naar het andere moet brengen in gevaarlijke, snelle voertuigen. Omdat contact met anderen hierin vaak enkel als hinderlijk en ‘te vermijden’ wordt gezien, vervreemden we uitvoerig van elkaar.
De persoon die mij omverreed, beschouwde de weg naar haar bestemming blijkbaar niet meer als een ruimte waarin verantwoordelijkheid ten opzichte van andere mensen moet worden in acht genomen.

Militant pessimism will get us nowhere.  Fast.

strictly set feasible priorities; 

respond to irrationality with peaceful resistance;

turn emotions into allies, especially the ‘difficult’ ones;

to acknowledge demonstrable problems without making them bigger than they should be;

​to fight and to laugh.

CProsperity obviously contributes to our happiness, but not infinitely. In fact, at some level, we become happier by sharing our wealth with others. That gives a good feeling and there is nothing wrong with that. It seems to me a valuable manifestation of a rational principle: a healthy expression of well-understood self-interest. It increases our own happiness as well as that of people in extremely vulnerable positions. So no reason to doubt! Off we go …
This insight is confirmed by my own experience. It gives a good feeling to be able to make a difference as a victim with many permanent disabilities by fighting the suffering of others: to gain added value from the extremely banal bad luck situation. Never thought it would be possible, but now a compelling focus with bonus points. Sharing also makes me happier. But is that bad? I do not think so. On the contrary.
Despite extreme bad luck, being able to take advantage of favorable circumstances has meant the difference for me between living on without more and a truly valuable existence. Being well surrounded has been (and still is!) essential for me to achieve valuable goals. I wish that for everyone. Being able to contribute to this and thereby clarifying the insight that this benefits everyone (including ourselves) is an enormous motivation. My empathy for people in vulnerable positions needs no additional guidance. I know how it is. Nevertheless, a meaningful restart in those circumstances feels like a basic right. And also from a rational point of view it is extremely defensible.
Let's go for it. The conditions for eradicating unjust inequality without making oneself unhappy or in need of help, have never been greater. Good support and guidance can be made available to (almost) everyone. Let's go!
It is my intention (with a targeted effort) to get 'some kind of added value' out of an extreme bad luck situation. For the happiness of others and also myself. So I want to make one plus one three.
That's why I support Effective Altruism: charity based on the scientific method. All personal proceeds from my books go towards unconditional basic incomes for extremely poor people and the reduction of animal suffering in our industry.
All the best,
Stijn

​In response to the complications and feelings of depression that his accident entailed, Stijn developed a ‘mental resilience reflex’, which he defines as “the ability to embrace bad luck and the feeling of injustice that comes with it”. Inspired by the Socratic method, the system consists in choosing rational reactions to events beyond one’s control and constantly questioning their validity. This reaction is a focus on what is still possible, away from the permanent aspects of his impairment - a positive outlook enabled by Stijn’s fortunate circumstances (friends, family, passions, the hopeful evolution of his recovery) and so-called ‘tested expressions’ (a concept elaborated upon in later chapters). Its ultimate purpose is to offer his daughters a meaningful perspective on life: that even when life gets hard, there are often still valuable options. However, the reflex faced serious challenges, especially Stijn’s chronic fatigue, the unfounded time pressure he experienced and the uncertainty about the definitive outcome of his recovery.

​Dear all,
The book 'Between hope and brain injury' was published, in Dutch, by Garant on 1/10/2019. It has meanwhile reached its second printing. At the end of March this year, a scientifically elaborated and supplemented edition in English will be published internationally by Routledge. Under the title:
Reconstructing Identity After
Brain Injury.
A Search for Hope and Optimism after
Maxillofacial and Neurosurgery
The book will be distributed within peer groups and among professionals who are confronted with an acquired brain injury (ABI). Traffic victims, people in education, humanities scientists, rehabilitation scientists, physicians, neurologists and neurosurgeons, locked-down fellow humans, ... are also part of the target group.
The personal profit of the work goes to Effective Altruistic causes. Peter Singer will also make the book known via social media.
I myself provide lectures and testimonials, including in various colleges and university courses.
I am looking for the widest possible reach and for that I need support. From media and other organizations.
There was/is already the 'continued rehabilitation in the workplace' under the supervision and support of UZGent, Ghent University and GO! Ghent school group. Now I am looking for continued rehabilitation in the broad cultural sector. Curious how inclusion will crystallize there!

​Hypothese:
"Onze moraal is een instinctieve zoektocht naar sociale samenhang: het dient er basically toe om niet alleen te moeten zijn."
Indien dit juist is, laat ons de kwestie van behoren dan zo min mogelijk netelig en zo veel mogelijk waardevol maken.
All the best and thanks!

​Het is vrij eenvoudig... mijn vrijheid eindigt waar jouw gezondheid begint en jouw vrijheid eindigt waar mijn gezondheid begint. Vooral in heel onzekere omstandigheden. En ideologisch geruzie is schaamlijk. Na bijna vijf jaar medische onzekerheid en angsten vraag ik beleefd om pragmatisch samen het gedoe te stoppen en solidair te zijn op basis van de meest betrouwbare kennis die we hebben. Perfectie en almacht bestaan trouwens niet.
Dank vanuit kwetsbaarland
Ik maak een punt over de actualiteit en over de balans binnen onze morele instincten, die beter kan naar mijn mening. Dat is zomaar mogelijk en er is nu de kans om als maatschappij op te schalen naar een hoger moreel niveau. Als we het rationeel aanpakken en ons geweldloos verzetten tegen irrationele, snelle reacties op complexe uitdagingen.
Ook onze overheden zullen sneller dan ooit ingehaald worden door de realiteit en onder druk van voortschrijdend inzicht de voortgezette revalidatie moeten ondergaan. Met andere woorden: niet alleen een boompje opzetten zal nog volstaan. Een bos aan aanpassingen zal zich van nature opdringen. 3 2 1 .. nu dus.

​Wat ik in het boek doe, gebruik ik ook tijdens het lesgeven: onder meer de mogelijkheid benoemen van een evidence based vooruitgangsoptimisme. Iets wat die jongen gasten goed kunnen gebruiken en wat een realistisch tegengewicht biedt voor doemdenken en ramptoeristische mediaformats ... Waarom? Omdat het kan!