TBI Survivor Blog Series 2022 - Never Forget How Wildly Capable You Are
Never Forget How Wildly Capable You Are
How Inspiring…
Are you feeling the electric current that emanates from these words?
I am. How about you?
How invigorating these words are for me at this moment in my life where I am able to connect the dots looking back at the multitudes of micro-changes that took place in my healing journey.
9 years ago at the beginning of the new life assignment, I received after having a mild Traumatic Brain Injury I am convinced I was clueless about how capable I was.
How could I be?
How could we feel capable when we are still trying to understand what happened to our life?
Just like you, I was tired, lost, very confused and the pain was clouding my fragile capacity to envision the future even the near future.
This imperfect recovery journey was arduous, long and unfolded with many ebbs and flows. So many more ebbs and flows than I expected.
Over the years, I started to lift the heaviness that paralyzed me. One of the first tasks I took was to assess my life. Spending countless hours by myself mostly in silence, I looked closer at my moral values and finally, I started to edit them.
How did I aspire to live after having a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Peacefully
Gratefully
Harmoniously
Authentically
Assertively
Lovingly were words that surfaced with lightness.
Slowing down was a call I didn’t hear pre-concussion even though I am certain it was loudly and persistently appearing in my life from time to time.
Connecting with my needs and my desires was a must after ignoring or discarding them so easily.
As the days and the months unfolded, I let my inspiration give me more clues; paying attention to the signals and synchronistic signs that were coming my way.
Who did I desire to become?
What attributes did I desire to enhance?
I desired to be more Patient…. Kind…. Gentle….Tender….Compassionate…Empathic…
Curious…
Creative…Joyous… Free to be…Open...Brave…
Courageous…Flexible…Inspiring…Trusting…Grounded…
And certainly more confident.
These questions became the balancing act to create something tangible and I was hoping I would eventually with time be able to create something beautiful where authenticity would shine brightly.
Healing from this invisible injury became a full-time commitment and my inner quest brought me many discoveries.
More than once I was surprised by how capable I was. Determination showed up punctually at first and with time determination and I became a fabulous duo especially when I met hope along the way.
More than once patience invited me to extend my faith in her, so many setbacks and disappointments eluded my trust with patience. I learned over time to be more patient. Patience and I needed to be in harmony so we could move closer to some of my dreams.
Finding tools and support to assist me to create a different life brought me to realize the unexplored potential inside of me. This discovery process was possible due to a great number of trials and errors as well as many attempts to become more efficient and at ease with new activities while my brain was healing.
I just needed to find ways to adapt to some of the tasks. Here are a few ways I discovered in my post-concussion recovery: taking frequent breaks, pacing myself, reaching out for accountability, and using a timer or metronome during my vision therapy homework was offering me a way to achieve my goals in a shorter period of time.
Being open to exploring new projects or activities like improv classes, watercolour printmaking, NIA dance, writing blogs or tai chi made me understand I can adapt, learn, unlearn and create new neuro-pathways if I was willing to persevere and stay focused on what I want. After all, I just needed to believe I had the qualities or abilities that were needed to do or accomplish something. When in doubt I had many encouragers, loyal supporters who profusely gave me kind encouraging words.
When we venture into newness and doubt appears we can always revisit some of our victories, and some of our attempts and find solace in our immense repertoire of accomplishments. What we have overcome is phenomenal, extraordinary and extremely valuable. My wish for each one of us is to be proud of all our efforts and to continue to create our own reality.
I hope you will always remember to Never forget how wildly capable you are… Everything is possible.
*You can follow me on Instagram at Standingbyyourside65 where I share stories, sharing insights about living a beautiful life & meaningful life 9 years after having a Traumatic Brain Injury from a cycling accident.