Hi Everyone:

I've been meaning to write something here but my life is, well, really busy right now in a very good way. I never really fully recovered from my head injury in the way that I would imagine. Indeed I am even better than I was before, I think. My injury changed me in many positive ways, the most of which is I never take one day for granted. Life is a gift.

But let me also say that although I am not exactly the same person I was a little over two years ago, I'm darn close. I don't have the same equilibrium in busy stores (very minor now) for instance, or airports. My vision will never be the same. I am a little more prone to anxiety and depression. I just ignore these very minor symptoms, however, and get on with my awesome life.

Here's a recap of my week so far:

Sunday: After a busy work week get up at 5:30 and ride bikes a hard 50 miles on gravel roads with friends. One hour later after arriving home start driving down to an amusement park 4 hours away to ride roller coasters with my family. Swim at the hotel pool with my girls in the evening.

Monday: Ride roller coasters part of the day (these do make me queasy now, whereas they didn't before) and wander the park in the heat with my family, have an awesome time. Even if slight balance problems do arise, just ignore them and move forward. Swim at the motel pool with my girls that night.

Tuesday: Drive back with my family from the park and mow the lawn in the evening. Go for a short run. Prepare for the busy rest of the work week after this little vacation.

Wednesday: Kick *** at my job.

Two years ago I thought my life was over. I didn't think I could do my job anymore, be a competitive cyclist again, or be the same father I was. I didn't know how I was going to support my family. I felt ill, exhausted, anxious, blurry and dizzy every day except when I was trying to find sleep which were generally terrible. My brain just didn't work at all for months after my concussion and it manifested itself in relatively minor but near constant and overwhelming symptoms which I paid far too much heed to. I was a mess and would crap out at about 1pm at my demanding job. I didn't know how I was going to support my family.

But I pressed on, with the help especially from Mark from Idaho, who is a saint, and a very good Neuropsychologist I ended up working with at a brain rehab center. I de-stressed my life, got a neuropsych test, some CBT and an SNRI, cut back hours at work, started a very gradual fitness program, and really started to get back in the game.

Stay hopeful! Move forward from minor symptoms, even if they are there for the rest of your life, you can move forward. The brain can take a LONG time to heal. Just yesterday I was thinking about how driving didn't bother me anymore. Driving long distances left me feeling pretty wonky still just a year ago.

Cheers!!