There’s a big ever-changing world out there. When you’ve been living with brain injury for several years, as I have, you learn to adapt to change by using various compensatory strategies. Change becomes a way of life.
A lot of people freeze at the thought of any kind of change in their life, but if there is any advantage to living with brain injury, it might be that we have to learn to live with changing the way we do things in order to establish independence. I have become somewhat used to the idea of finding new ways of doing things when faced with an obstacle that threatens my independence.
I don’t know if you hold any credence to astrology signs, but I’m a Taurus (the bull). I happen to believe my stubborn, hard-headed personality is one of the things that kept me alive and helped me work through the more challenging changes in areas of my life that threatened my independence. I don’t like to be “told” what to do or how to do it. I especially don’t like to be told I “can’t” do something. I’ll usually find a way to do it to prove them wrong.
That’s not the best practice for all circumstances, but I believe it is one of the reasons I have progressed to the place I am now as I live day to day with brain injury.
Our book, Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide, speaks of the changes Larry and I had to make to our lives in order for me to live the most independent lifestyle. Our websites share ideas to help those living with brain injury establish some independence in their lives by taking advantage of support groups, the use of compensatory strategies such as a daily journal, and the use of credit cards.
Any acquired brain injury, regardless of the extent, changes lives forever. However, I found it possible to improve my level of independence with the use of compensatory strategies, the strong will to do it, and support from my family.
A lot of people freeze at the thought of any kind of change in their life, but if there is any advantage to living with brain injury, it might be that we have to learn to live with changing the way we do things in order to establish independence. I have become somewhat used to the idea of finding new ways of doing things when faced with an obstacle that threatens my independence.
I don’t know if you hold any credence to astrology signs, but I’m a Taurus (the bull). I happen to believe my stubborn, hard-headed personality is one of the things that kept me alive and helped me work through the more challenging changes in areas of my life that threatened my independence. I don’t like to be “told” what to do or how to do it. I especially don’t like to be told I “can’t” do something. I’ll usually find a way to do it to prove them wrong.
That’s not the best practice for all circumstances, but I believe it is one of the reasons I have progressed to the place I am now as I live day to day with brain injury.
Our book, Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide, speaks of the changes Larry and I had to make to our lives in order for me to live the most independent lifestyle. Our websites share ideas to help those living with brain injury establish some independence in their lives by taking advantage of support groups, the use of compensatory strategies such as a daily journal, and the use of credit cards.
Any acquired brain injury, regardless of the extent, changes lives forever. However, I found it possible to improve my level of independence with the use of compensatory strategies, the strong will to do it, and support from my family.
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