[Living_Dazed]

I've come to realize how much more these four words mean to me now. No one knows for any of us what tomorrow or the future will bring.

Some of us may be sure things will be the same, or some may believe they will continue to get worse or better.

I've been trying to use strategies to keep my spirits up and the four words
DREAMS, GOALS, HOPE, PLANS are a part of my perspective now.

Everyday I'm going to consider these words and how they can help focus my emotions by putting meaning in my life to each.

As big or little as I need each to be it's all about what they mean to me.

For dreams...I one day hope to fulfill my dream of skydiving. It's the top thing I didn't do out of respect for my husbands desire to live. He didn't think he could survive the stress of me going. If ever I am able to I know he will let me now.

Goals...to make a schedule for myself at home and keep tweaking and experimenting til it works.

Hopes...I hope more of my friends' hearts find peace about how I am now and choose to be a part of my life. I miss them. I've been told that after TBI most friends leave.i find that to be true in my support group too.

Plans...must always have something to look forward to besides dr appts and therapy. Looking forward to vacation in northern Michigan on the beautiful blue, teal water.

I don't have great knowledge of medical information as many of our other TBI friends do. It's still all very confusing to me. I appreciate them so much.

If I can help with encouragement, friendship, ideas of how to keep busy, stay positive, just to chat...I'm here.

I hope for all of us peace and wellness.

Jenna (Jace).

ANY ONE ELSE WANT TO SHARE?

[Mark in Idaho]

Go skydiving. The tandem rigs they use for first timers are great. We gave a tandem skydive to my daughter as a birthday present. She had a blast.

Go for it.

[music-in-me]

Hello Jace,

I just read your post this morning. Since I have stopped Neuro Rehab, I have found myself struggling to stay goal oriented. Even daily tasks are more difficult, because I seem to have a hard time getting started or keeping up with my pre-determined schedule of the day.

It's much harder to stay focused when you lack that accountability.Sometimes the routine of it is just maddening.

But what your post here today got me to thinking about was the future. I realized I'm usually looking to the immediate future (day-to-day). And your comment about only looking forward to "doctors appt.s and therapy" was somewhat funny, but all too true.

After this injury for me, looking into another future is filled with questions, concerns and unpredictability. I am not fond of what is unknown.

Now you've given me perspective; and the hope that I can look into a more distant future and allow myself to think about this. To dream and hope again. Not just for the things I can do relative to my current condition, but for things that don't have to be based on it, like your skydiving dream (you brave soul!)

I realize now how much I took for granted. When I worked, I was always looking forward to vacation time, or "time for myself". Now that I have that in multitude, I wish I was back at work! Time is the great equalizer. Everyone is accountable for it, and everyone and everything is ultimately affected by it. But it doesn't have to be the negative thing that looms over me. I can make it as full and rich as the next guy in my own way and by my own terms.

So thanks, Jace. I have never met you face to face, but I consider you a friend. Thanks for giving me a new perspective. Take care, M-i-m

[Living_Dazed]

I never thought of doing it now Mark. All I ever think of is my vertigo. I would definitely tandem. My niece came home from Isreal last year and went. She loved it. Broke my heart that I wasn't doing it with her making a memory together. Maybe this can be a sooner dream that a later dream.😊

MIM

TIME! We have a lot now. I want my time to feel full and more satisfying. That's up to me. I know that these things will help me from getting down into that pit of despair.

That daily plan is so important to me. I lack motivation sometimes (mood orientated) ? For my psyche I need to feel productive. I too am not in rehab right now. Just neck head therapy so I do have daily exercises and look forward to them. It's something I control. Ahh control.....such a big topic.

I am chewing on your words also. Looking past our situation now opens up more positive feelings. Over the last 19 months I've only looked at a future with this disability until now. I've thought about teaching and driving but when I do I have the disability chained to my leg like it's going to pull me under the water and drown me! 😳

My neuro psych really encouraged me to make social experiences a part of my life balancing social with the consequences of the event. It's a new outlook. I can choose to go do something social but I will pay the price. The last event put me out 6 days and my mood fell into the pit. Now that I am feeling better I also am enjoying the event itself still.

My prior self was filled with social interaction and events all day and night. I was an organizer of events. I've missed that a lot.

So much to keep my brain busy. Thank you for your post and friendship! 😊

Jenna

[MomWriterStudent]

My goal is to run a 5K again one day. I'm sad today because all my friends are training for Muckfest, and I was supposed to be training with them.

I also want to go back to college. The school keeps calling, and I let it go to voicemail.

[Mokey]

I feel as if I lost my future. So hard to imagine being whole again. But your strategy is a good one.

I suspect it requires a lot of practice!!

I agree that so much effort is spent on getting the essentials done!

I will have to think about dreams, goals, hopes and plans.