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SAVE THE DATE |
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October 15-17,
2009
North American Brain Injury (NABIS) 7th
Annual Conference on Brain Injury and 21st
Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Brain
Injury
For more information on Abstract
submission, exhibiting, or sponsoring
opportunities e-mail
conference@nabis.org
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Ikigai Newsletter
"That which makes life worth living..."; |
January 2009 |
Dear Shelley,
To begin this new year, we
offer a story of hope and
inspiration for those facing
the challenges resulting
from traumatic brain injury
or a cognitive disability.
Donna Jones encourages us to
look for the rainbows in
life, for even on the
darkest days, they are
there, struggling to be
discovered behind the
clouds.
We look forward to bringing
you more messages about
"that which makes life worth
living" in 2009.
Best regards,
David Seaton
President, Seaton Foundation
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Yes, I Can
by Donna
Jones
Many
times in my life I've
heard the familiar
phrase "You can't do
that," but it never had
such an impact on me as
when I heard it after
learning I had a brain
injury as a result of a
car accident. Prior to
my injury, if someone
said I wouldn't be able
to do something or that
a job was too big for me
to handle, I became so
determined that I would
end up succeeding. After
sustaining my brain
injury, my world became
very different. My work
life, where I had been
very confident and
successful, suddenly
seemed complicated and
overwhelming. People
were talking to me and I
couldn't understand what
they were saying. I
couldn't remember the
names of coworkers I had
known for years. I spent
my days confused and
trapped inside my head.
It even seemed difficult
to walk and breathe.
Doctors explained that I
wouldn't be able to hold
down a full-time job, I
wouldn't be able to
learn anything new, I
couldn't ski down my
favorite mountain or
live in "mainstream
society". In short, I
wasn't going to be able
to live the way I had
prior to the accident.
Well, seven years later
I'm holding down a
full-time job and have
taken on more
responsibility. I
continue to learn and
I've skied down my
favorite mountain in
Colorado - not like I
used to, but I was still
able to stand on top of
the mountain and see the
view I dreamed about
seeing again.
The doctors were right
in saying my life would
be very different.
However, I've been truly
blessed as a brain
injury survivor. Before
my accident, I was very
obsessed with my job. I
went to work very early
in the morning and
stayed very late each
night. I was your
typical overachiever. I
was the type to always
try to please everyone.
I loved my job and I
loved working, but I was
missing out on life. My
injury has forced me to
change how I live and to
pay more attention to my
health, like focusing on
the types of activities
I can handle and the
time I'm able to spend
doing certain tasks. I
have a greater
appreciation for my
life, the health I have
and my family and
friends. I surround
myself with people who
accept the NEW me. You
find out who your real
friends are when you
live with a brain
injury. I've been so
blessed to have people
in my life who will do
almost anything for me.
They're always
encouraging me and right
behind me in case I
stumble. My friends have
taken the time to learn
ways to help me without
making me feel disabled
or helpless. The little
things they do make such
a difference, like
driving me when we go
out or getting me
something to drink or
eat when we're at an
event. For me, not
having to concentrate so
hard puts less pressure
on my brain, which, in
turn, helps reduce my
pain and gives me more
energy to enjoy time
with my friends and
accomplish more.
I don't want to paint an
unrealistic picture. I'm
still faced with many
challenges. It can be
painful to remember the
things I'm not able to
do anymore. I still
forget people's names, I
get lost during
conversations and at
times my brain and body
completely shut down on
me. I live with
different types of pain
in my head almost every
day. When I get
extremely tired and
exhausted, I lay around
feeling unproductive and
lazy. It's hard to be
young and forced to take
naps - I didn't like
them when I was a kid -
when I want to be out
having fun. After being
very active in sports,
it's very difficult to
be a spectator. So I
focus on what I have
accomplished over the
last seven years. I work
full-time at the same
type of job I had before
the accident. I can run
small errands for
myself. I'm currently up
to a mile and a half on
the treadmill. I can go
to a movie and
understand most of the
story. I can take the
train alone to visit my
niece and nephew. I can
climb two-stories' worth
of stairs, tackle the TV
Guide crossword puzzle
and I've danced at my
friend's wedding. These
may seem like small
achievements to most
people, but they're
major milestones for me
and bring me tremendous
joy. I love getting up
in the morning and
making my bed. It's
taken me seven years to
be able to successfully
tackle this task, and I
do it each morning with
such excitement!
I work very hard at
finding ways to
strengthen my brain and
body. I've taken Yoga
and Tai Chi classes
helping me to stay
relaxed while
strengthening my
muscles. Staying relaxed
and having less stress
in my life reduces the
pressure in my head. I'm
tackling computer games
that teach me to focus
and to pay attention. My
eight-year old
goddaughter, Jessie, and
four-year old nephew,
Cameron play memory and
word games with me to
help my brain stay
active. Jessie loves the
idea that she is helping
to heal her Aunt's
brain. She even invents
games and is very
protective of me. I
believe accepting and
understanding my
limitations has provided
me with more freedom to
try almost anything. A
positive attitude can go
along way.
I've never asked the
question "Why me?" I
think there's a good
plan for my life, even
when I may not be able
to understand all that
happens. This experience
has strengthened my
faith and drawn me
closer to God. I know my
faith gets me through
each day and helps me
face the challenges. I
also believe God has
been using me to help
encourage others with
disabilities and who are
faced with
disappointments in their
lives. I believe all of
us can have a positive
influence on others.
Recently, my oldest
goddaughter was asked to
write about courage for
a high school
assignment. She wrote
about the challenges
I've faced and overcome.
I was very moved, and
I'm humbled to think I
could be a role model
for her and her friends.
There is a rainbow in
every day for me as a
brain injury survivor.
The challenge is looking
for it, and when I find
it, to let it shine
brightly in my life. I
pray each day that you
will find your rainbow,
too.
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Random Acts of Kindness Week
The Random Acts
of Kindness Foundation has
designated February
9-15, 2009 as Random Acts of
Kindness Week. Kindness
costs nothing, but the value for
the person on the receiving end
is oftentimes priceless.
It's all too easy
to get caught up in our own busy
lives and be out of tune with
those who may be struggling or
simply in need of a kind word or
deed. Chances are you or someone
you know has been affected by
cognitive disability. Perhaps
it's the neighbor who cares for
an elderly parent, or maybe it's
a family member or friend coping
with a brain injury or cognitive
disability. Take time during
this week in February to include
them in your busy schedule. A
simple act of kindness on your
part might just make someone's
day... it might even be your
own.
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