Role Models and Inspiration
 

I wonder, who or what inspires you in getting over your concussion?

While browsing the web, I have found Jane McGonigal's (superbetter.com) and Ann Zuccardy's (http://www.iwantmybrainback.com/) stories to be a real source of inspiration. They both fought their bad concussion and not only endured it, but created something positive out of it or in spite of it—a product and a business that help other people.

Who or what inspires you? Have you too already managed to build something after your accident?

Thanks for sharing.

**

I wasn't inspired with my first two injuries. I just got better over time.

This last one is leaving me with some permanent reminders and I get inspiration from people who have chronic brain injury symptoms and keep fighting. can't name them off the top of my head.

and I get inspiration from me because even though I wake up the same way every morning, feeling lousy, I tell my mother I feel fine, even if she knows it's a lie, and I get through another day somehow.

and I find my girlfriend inspiring for taking on such a burden as me when she didn't have to.

I came across this TED talk today. It's not about concussions, not about about building things, but very inspirational, not only for people who are recovering from an injury:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kBcgY3F444

Enjoyed watching the second link, thank you.

I don't consider these women as role models or inspirations. Yes, they have accomplished much. But, they used pre-morbid skills sets and passions that were still intact. They just reoriented the direction of those skill sets. While I applaud their efforts and successes, I don't consider them to be examples of how others should respond or be able to respond to our conditions.

I have had a miserable day cognitively and know that I can not take on projects where my cognitive abilities need to be consistently available. I can sometimes push through for a short period but other times, like this morning, I can not even get my brain to get started.

It is obvious that many others are in the same boat as me.

About the same time I got my concussion, Justin Morneau (a baseball player who played for the Minnesota Twins at that time) was recovering from a concussion as well. It was encouraging to me to hear about his difficulties, and it was great to see him able to finally get back in the game. It gave me encouragement that I might be able to get back in my game someday, too.

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