Blog Archives

Piano

3/26/2021

It has been very difficult to learn the piano after a TBI because my memory is so impaired. It is also giving me inspiration to keep going and pushing myself so I can get to a place in my recovery where I am able to remember more. What I like about the piano is that it brings me back to my childhood of watching my brother play. It was a much simpler time. I wanted to learn the piano to help my memory. Being able to remember the keys, where they are, and connect that with my fingers requires a lot of cognitive skills. Learning an instrument is helping my brain. I already have such an emotional attachment to the piano, so I thought why not! Remembering the keys is difficult, but the stickers we put on each key definitely help. My goal is to be fluent and play “How Long Will I Love You”.

0 Comments

Physical Therapy

3/19/2021

0 Comments

My physical therapist’s name is Jennifer. I saw her regularly for a couple months. I no longer see her often, but she is still there if I need her. The primary reason for her was to work on my ankle strength and balance. I remember doing heel raises and balancing on one foot. I did a lot of the exercises myself and that’s why I didn’t need a physical therapist that much. I was doing bench presses, curls, sit ups, pushups, walking, and running. At first they wanted me to take it slow, but I really wanted to push myself. I felt like they were holding me back and I wanted to improve quicker.
According to “15 Best Physical Therapy Exercises for Brain Injury Recovery” from FlintRehab, they recommend doing hip rotations, quad exercises, hip abductions, lateral trunk flexors, weight shifts, seated trunk extensions, Romberg stances, calf raises, forward punches, staggered stances, core toe taps, pushing movements, shoulder abductions, bicep curls, and shoulder flexors.

0 Comments

Understanding Life

3/12/2021

0 Comments

I previously spoke of Teriyaki-To-Go, my first job when I was fourteen. The owners were the Lees, a husband and wife. Mr. Lee was more the workhorse, like “get it done”. The wife focused on the customer service and operated the cash register. I was not allowed to touch the register which might bother someone else, but it suited me because that just enabled me to spend more time at the grill. That showed me that money had a lot of control over people. I do understand why I could not touch the register because this was their livelihood and it put things into perspective. I never would have thought money would have so much control in my life, but you see I am conserved so I really have no choice in the matter anymore. I have thought about this so much and will not change anything. I do understand and I am learning to deal with this reality.

0 Comments

"I Put Things Down and Lift Them Up" - Arnold Schwarzenegger

3/5/2021

0 Comments

Where I live, it’s nice that I don’t have to follow the guidelines of gym restrictions. It is a private gym that is located within the facility, and thankfully on site. Of course I have to get in my bicep workout, so I’ll start with dumbbells. Then I will go over to the multi-gym to workout my legs by using the leg lifts. Then I move over to the mat and do core work which includes sit ups and push ups. I will then go to the track that’s ⅛th of a mile and I’ll do 20 laps. I also use a stationary exercise bike with hand cranks and will do that for approximately 40 minutes. I like having that at the end of my workout because it doesn’t require much work. It’s a great way to get me exhausted so I feel like I got in a full workout. Before the pandemic, I used to go to Coyote Park and run six miles. It was free, open, and no one was around. I like to stay active because using your cardiovascular system allows your body to produce oxygen that will go into the bloodstream, and then to the brain. I try to work out every day.

0 Comments

Thoughts

Piano

Physical Therapy

Understanding Life

"I Put Things Down and Lift Them Up" - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Come back soon for new blogs weekly!

Archives

Categories