#braininjury

There are times when you get a job and later on decide it isn't for you. That is okay. Take what you learned and find your next new job

Sometimes, you need to switch jobs. There can be many different reasons to switch. Some of these can include a bad boss, a bad work environment, a need for different hours, changing industries, moving, an illness that makes you unable to work, etc. There are many valid reasons to want out of a job. However, before you quit, you probably need to think about a few things. Why Do You Want to…

31 March 2021

What and why do you need 'INITIATIVE' in your daily life?

I need initiative to implement my plans and achieve my goals. Without it, I will become frustrated and remain passive. I need initiative to improve my life.

INITIATIVE begins when you take the first step of your own accord to do something. Taking initiative is necessary to turn an idea or plan into action. Your brain injury can make it difficult for you to take the initiative.

But for me, it’s the other way around. Sometimes I need to have brakes on my initiative.

Fitness space in our home!

The following ways can support you in taking initiatives:

✅ Fixed day and week schedule

✅ Fixed appointments

✅ Linking

✅ Step-by-step plan

✅ Alarm signal

✅ Asking for help

I love juicing anything from vegetables to fruits. So I put it on my agenda to make smoothies twice a week at least!

You can use these methods separately but also next to each other. You don’t just sit around thinking of doing something, at some point you have to act!

For example, I called Nancy my new hairstylist to book an appointment with her. She came two weeks ago to cut and color my hair.

You have to learn and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE .

My Thoughts:

First and foremost, I want to prioritize myself.

Normita’s Story: Aphasia Alive! 

My name is Normita. My husband’s name is George. I’m a mother of 2 kids. I am a happy person! My husband and kids make me happy. I am a book lover! I like Reader’s Digest, novels, and my iPad. I like to travel with George, especially to California because all of my family is there. We went to Mexico City for our honeymoon. I love to cook, especially burritos and tacos. 

I am from Batangas in the Philippines. I came to San Francisco, California in 1978. I am 1 of 8 children. I have a big family, but I like that. I left the Philippines because I wanted to explore the United States and I wanted to be with my family who was here. I came with my youngest brother. I had a stroke in November 2010. I was at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. For 2 years, I couldn’t speak at all. My family came to visit me every day. After 8 years of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and working on things at home, I can walk really well, write a blog, and converse! I am now living my life and doing things I love to do. 

I have aphasia. I take classes at Saint Rose and at Sunnyview. It’s hard for me to understand. It’s hard for me to express myself. Writing it out is helpful, so is doing the blog. At Sunnyview, I see a trainer, then I go to aphasia club. I go to support group for 4 hours. I like it because we play Uno! 

I will always come to Saint Rose on Wednesdays to learn how to speak better. I have been coming for 4 years. I love the supportive feelings I get from other stroke/TBI survivors, the faculty, and the students. I come to Writing Group and Communication Group. In Writing Group, I post on this blog. I write about travel, family, and my favorite things. 

I want people to know that aphasia makes it hard for me to understand. I feel a little bit behind, and that is hard. 

To me, the Moving Message is a day to celebrate with my classmates and others who have been through what I have been through as a TBI survivor. 

since my injury, i struggle with planning. doesn’t that sound ridiculous? how do you lose the ability to plan. 

humans (brains) are complex. we all plan our lives in our own ways. some of us plan obsessively, some of us might not plan at all. planning was always something i did...

to reach my financial goals,          to map my life design,                     to be successful at work,                               to meet my nutritional/health needs,                                         to get me through the week. 

without a plan i feel lost.

what are the obstacles I face when planning?

CONFUSING days of the week, sometimes what month it is

FORGETTING what i am doing mid-thought, and it not coming back

 not understanding my NEEDS hour to hour, day to day

needing RIGIDITY in my routine 

memory RECALL is poor

what i do to help myself:

get plenty of SLEEP

keep a wicked PLANNER close by all the time 

come up with a WEEKLY plan every Sunday

spend time everyday to review YESTERDAY, TODAY and TOMORROW

try to be CONSISTENT in my routine 

to be honest, i still have TROUBLE with MEDIUM and LONG term planning. so my methods aren't the end all, be all. before my injury, planners were not my thing.some weeks my planner feels like a crutch, a lifeline. i tried going with out once and felt absolutely lost.... then the ANXIETY would set in. 

it has taken me awhile to readjust. once i was able to let go of the old way i used to plan, i could embrace the new ways i tackle my crazy world.