PA,

Welcome to NT. Sorry for your reason for being here but this is the right place.

I find it helps if I am very critical of what I read. If I see a overly descriptive writing style with too many adjectives and adverbs, I know the risk is high.

I also will take a long posting and copy it into MSWord and reformat it into shorter paragraphs and larger font size. This may sound extreme but I consider it and exercise as much as an opportunity to read the post/article. It takes time but that I what I have lots of.

I have recently taken on some challenges to exercise my mind. It is way outside my expertise and experience, but I am slowly learning and succeeding.

I have always liked fixing things with my hands. So, I just finished rebuilding an automatic transmission. It has taken a while at I waited for parts but the waiting has taught me better patience skills. I used to get obsessed with finishing a task. Now, I can hit a wall and totally let go of the task.

When I surrender to the obstacle and relax my mind, I can become a very creative problem solver. If I just try to push through, I crash miserably.

I think an important task to master as you build a new life is communication. Learning how to express your needs or struggles so someone can assist you is paramount. We need to be introspective and then transparent. We can break down or struggles into very simple components.

My wife just started her first full time job in over thirty years. I need to pick up some of the household tasks so I asked her to label things so I can do these tasks. Things like a big 1/2 cup label on the laundry detergent.

We use a white board on the refrigerator very successfully. Simple reminders work great. I use it to remind myself of finishing a task. My wife uses abbreviations for her reminders to herself. I need to use complete description. Not just 'load dishwasher' but also 'Turn It On.' It is easy for me to get distracted and not finish the most important part of a task.

Do you find yourself just staring at a room wondering what you wanted to do. Allowing ourselves to get spaced out is OK. I can completely lose track of what and where I am during the day. I can walk into the kitchen thinking I should have lunch. I can put something in the microwave, then completely forget it. I will even not notice the reminder beeping.

But, that's OK. Life goes on and is too short to get hung up on the foibles.

have you found a local brain injury support group? Most are oriented toward the seriously brain injured but welcome anybody with neurological injuries and related struggles.

Well, my mind is struggling this morning. Time to find something else to focus on. Maybe a nap.

My best to you.