Writing By Laura

The other day was the 6 year anniversary of the accident that caused my coma and severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Usually I try to post upbeat content about how I am moving and writing my way through my brain injury. Unfortunately I haven’t posted in a while because I haven’t felt upbeat and I haven’t been writing much. However, I most certainly am not miserable or wallowing in my pain so I wanted to make sure that I marked this anniversary with a little something. I have decided to mark the occasion by looking to an inspirational quote and use that to come up with a mantra to keep me moving in my progress even during the moments when progress feels stagnant.

I have developed a way of talking to myself post TBI in an encouraging way that is thankfully much different than how I used to talk to myself. Before my TBI I suffered from chronic pain, Fibromyalgia and daily chronic migraines. Because I was still trying to live an independent life full of work and responsibilities I felt like I was constantly letting myself down. I didn’t talk to myself in an encouraging way at all. And I think the negative way I spoke to myself certainly didn’t help my plight (if I only knew then what I know now).

A key difference between pre- and post-TBI Laura is attitude. I am much more positive now. Which brings me to a quote I found by Maya Angelou (see the image below).

I plan to use Maya Angelou’s quote as inspiration for an encouraging mantra that I can recite to myself during times of distress, discomfort, pain, etc. The long version is: I survived. Now I can thrive. The short version is: Now I thrive. I can see this being really helpful and encouraging.

I recently discovered I like to make little videos. So here’s one with my mantra.

A Selby Sweetie Conclusion