There are a few effects of brain injury that are shared among the majority of people.
American theologian Reinhold Neibuhr was born in 1892, and most of us know a little part of his work.
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
Serenity is certainly something we should all hope for: peace of mind. Serenity also means "a disposition free from stress." Free from stress. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Once the bell has rung, what good does it do to stress over it. We cannot un-ring it. We cannot make the sound unheard. We can only accept this "thing" we cannot change.
Courage is a state of mind that allows us to face our fears with confidence. Brain injury makes it pretty difficult to be confident about anything other than the fact that things are not the same.
And the fact that things are not the same causes fear of the unknown. Building confidence is not an overnight accomplishment. Think more like the ancient Egyptians building a pyramid. It takes time, and it takes effort on our part.
Confidence building is just one of the reasons we recommend you keep a daily journal and never go anywhere without your planner. Using those two items will make it possible to build confidence more quickly.
Confidence is one of those things you can change...with courage.
Wisdom is the ability to judge what it true. It is true we cannot un-ring a bell. It is true that we can build self-confidence. It is true that we can overcome stress by taking a moment to apply the serenity - courage - wisdom test to any situation.
Okay, so you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury. Beth's brain injury happened in 1990. That brain injury has affected your life forever. You will never be the same person you were prior to the injury. And that goes for those who have a brain injury and those who know them.
Put on some of your favorite music, sit down and have a talk with your brain. Tell your brain that you are not happy to be living with brain injury, but that you know you cannot go back to the way it once was. You cannot go back to a time without a brain injury.
Then, tell your brain that by working together, there are a few things you would like to change. Make a deal with your brain. "Here's what I'm going to do, and here's what I want you to do."
"I'm going to write a daily journal so you don't have to worry about remembering all this stuff. I'm going to use a planner and write down things so you don't have to remember them. But I would like for you to help me remember where the journal and planner are!
If you can't remember in the beginning, no big deal. I know that you will learn, because I have the courage to teach you. I have the help of thousands of people all around the world who want to see us do better.
"That's right. Us. Brain, you and I are a team now more than we have ever been in the past. And, buddy, I got your back."
