This is a thank you blog that marks my second anniversary of living with ABI. I say thank you because the readers who have been reading my blog entries over the past year have been a strong source of support and encouragement.
It has been two years of trying to adjust to living with ABI. It has been two years of learning to compensate for my limitations. At times I will reread comments readers have posted in response to my thoughts. Some of the comments provide words of hope. Some comments are words of thanks for sharing my experiences. Other comments are simply letting me know I have not been forgotten.
In reading the comments I’m being reminded of the help I’ve been able to give others, including caregivers of those with brain injuries. Some readers have found some additional insight into living with brain injury, an injury which is difficult for neuro-typical people to grasp. I find it heartening when people make an effort to increase their understanding. Whenever I’m asked questions about ABI I give it my best effort to bring some insight to the topic.
When it comes to writing my healing has been noticeable. When I first started sharing a year ago I was able to compose a blog once every two weeks. After a few months I was able to share on a weekly basis.
Last fall I decided to expand the diversity of what I was experiencing. For me it was a way of confirming that my world was gradually opening up. My dear readers’ responses to that has brought a new kind of encouragement.
On the second anniversary of my ABI let me give a heartfelt thank you for the warm reader support. I’m happy to report that I have just completed another ‘first’ since my ABI. Each time I complete another ‘first’ marks another step in my recovery. The most recent ‘first’ being a plane flight with all its pre-boarding and customs procedures, allowed me to be plunked down on a Caribbean island for a week.
Living in God's Pocket with ABI 
I’m glad you’re doing so well! Congratulations on getting further and further from it, take care of yourself ! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It is a matter of mindfulness to not reinjure myself. There are still significant residual effects that still dog me. That’s what causes my day to day functioning to be unpredictable, making it difficult to commit to volunteer work in which I agree to make my services available on a schedule.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, take all the time you need – I tried to rush back into volunteer work a few times and had to stop, sometimes we just aren’t ready. Look after yourself 🙂
LikeLike
I was so glad to find your blog, via a mutual blogger. Your writing is so encouraging & uplifting. So great to read that you are experiencing progress & many congratulations on your first flight, must feel great. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It warms my heart when I have been able to encourage others. This first flight is a key piece of planning a supported cycling trip across Canada a reality. I needed to know what recuperation time and other complications to expect to fly to the starting point of the cycling tour. I found out that a four hour flight looks manageable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s excellent. Being able to calculate recovery time makes so much difference in the planning process. A whole new & very helpful skill.
LikeLike
Thanks again for your stories and your pictures. Not sure how thankful I am this morning for your picture of sunshine and green plants. It is snowing in Lambton county. Enjoy and bring some back with you please for us and your solar panels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My first time in a ‘third world’ country. The 30 to 35 Celsius weather feels great. The more telling contrast was the subsistence standard of living that we observed there. A hospitable and generous people, genuinely grateful for the small ways in which we tried to help them. The next visit will be longer and hopefully more effective in providing help and resources for the local population.
LikeLike
Finding new paths is hard work. May you continue to find new rewards along your journey.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The hardest part of the trip was dealing with the contrast of lifestyles. Being in a country with a high level of literacy and an excellent health care system, yet living a subsistence lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to where I live. Having visited a remote village and then having to tell a 14 year old that I have no more things to give away, things that add to their quality of life. I gave him the only thing I had on me, a can of pop. Nothing as lasting as a brightly coloured t-shirt. A tough ride back after seeing the disappointment. My injury has left me without the ability to filter my empathy for others. It leaves it’s mark on me, but won’t stop me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The rePurposed Life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done, Jasper.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Let me give YOU the Moe-down and commented:
An inspiration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
People like you keep me writing. Thanks.
LikeLike
No worries, brother.
LikeLike
I don’t understand the illness because I find no indication of anything misfiring reading your posts and in your funny comments on my post. You seem more together than most people I know.
LikeLike
No two brain injuries are the same. For me composing my thoughts by writing has not been affected. I can take my time, I can edit for clarity etc. In my career I have done a lot of writing, including publishing 5 trade books, joint writing projects and having done dozens of workshop presentations. However, engaging in a conversation with more than 2 or 3 people is very taxing and will leave me fatigued very quickly. Being in stressful situations I am totally at a loss within a few minutes. Sensory loading from live music, vestibular loading, driving a car for more than an hour, limits my activities. My ability to empathize is a challenge because I can’t filter the experience and keep reasonable distance, causing me to ‘crash’. Doing routine physical activities is my most successful means of coping and getting past the tough times. I have a friend who has has been living with a brain injury for the past 16 years and I have always had a hard time understanding his disability till I got into a motor vehicle accident that left me unable to perform my administrative duties. Can’t multi-task, keep track of multiples tasks each with their own timelines, conversations that need follow up, or problem solve. Limitations that make me unable to effectively run a school.
I appreciate your question and an opportunity to try and give some clarity. Properly understanding a question and responding on the spot as in a conversation is challenging.
LikeLike
Glad to hear you two got to the Caribbean. That opens up possibilities, doesn’t it??
LikeLike
Thanks Esther. Definitely a learning experience but more to the point an eye opener as to how we can be of greater help on our next visit.
LikeLike