November 2018 ABI Conference
It was both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. To be able to share the impact of my brain injury on my journey towards recovery with medical and legal professionals, clinicians, survivors and caregivers was like opening the floodgates about my ongoing attempts in “Tempering Fatigue”.
Preparing for this speech took me over a year from the suggestion by my SLP to consider submitting an abstract, to processing the idea of speaking about “That Omnipotent Beast… FATIGUE”, putting it down on paper, then powerpoint, and finally practicing it with anyone who would listen. But the bigger story is that because of my occupation during my pre ABI life I spoke to small and large groups of people over a course of 30+ years. ABI impaired that ability for a long time. The difference now, as I find my way back to speaking to people, is that this is my story, and a story that many other survivors are able to relate to also. It was a team affair and I would like to thank everyone who had a role in helping me along the way, but finally to those who attended my talk thank you for allowing me to validate my trials and tribulations along this new pathway.
I have also come to learn that had I not continued the journey towards becoming Mindful and being able to Meditate, in order to quiet my brain chatter, then speaking to groups of people, no matter how small, would not have happened. It didn’t happen all at once but over a period of time so that now I have the ability to be able to ground myself and become more present in the moment.