 I actually do not have any photos of the kids opening their gifts because, you guessed it, we were on FaceTime. It was so nice in the moment to see them open their gifts, but now I can not go back and reminisce on the moment. It is a blessing to be able to “be together” and a curse there are no pictures to look back on.
Photos are important for all of us to help jog our past memories over the years. We all catch ourselves saying, “Oh I forgot about that day!” when we see an old photo. With a TBI, photos become even more important. They are like a time capsule. They capture the space in time to help me look back and remember. When you are navigating a TBI, that ability to do that in your head is broken. Photos then become my mnemonic technique (a pathway to remember) to hold on to the special moments. So maybe it would be better in my position to record the Facetime so I could replay it when I have moments of really missing them. Also, it would be so cool to replay the footage when they are older. It can be a time capsule for 2025 Christmas. If you have a loved one with a TBI, or just struggling with memory, I would recommend videos and pictures shared with them often as a way to connect and hold on to the memories. You can also share Google Docs with images and words to connect the dots between phone calls and visits. Take advantage of the technologies we now have to stay connected.
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 It took a catastrophic injury to get me to realize that I needed to reset how to set up for my future. So now instead of dwelling on the past, I look towards the future. Not everything is black and white. I mean, you can be told that you can’t do something but I have learned that with determination, grit, and God you can do anything that you put your mind to.
You always want to remind yourself where you came from to see how you have grown. A lot of times we are critical of ourselves. We focus on what we haven't done. We need to focus on how far we have grown. Look at yourself a year ago and see how far you have come. Has it gotten better or worse? It is never too late to start again. Remember that God should be at the forefront. Remember all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed. “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” ( Matthew 17:20) Just remember, that yes, the mountain will move or the situation will become better or transform. But it may not happen all at once. It may be that the mountain or situation will move one rock at a time. Endure to the end. Will you be able to keep your faith during the process? There are situations and things that are happening in the background that you have no awareness of. That is where your faith comes in. We do not have control of every situation, so we leave it to Him. The Father knows best.  Nordic wild blueberries (bilberries) are beneficial for one's health and can help with the following:
I personally usually add them into a smoothie but you can also just eat them as a fresh snack, in yogurt, as a cereal topper or add them into baking. Something to consider in the way you eat frozen blueberries is you can not just stick fresh blueberries in the freezer. If you do that it is going to kill the nutrient. However if you flash freeze them they will maintain (or even enhance) the nutrients. If you would like to read more about the health benefits of bilberries, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bilberry-benefits If you would like to know how to flash freeze your bilberries, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esKBqVsodyw&t=55s Focus on self-compassion, setting achievable goals, and surrounding yourself with supportive people. Focusing on self-compassion is actually a form of self-growth. It means being kind to yourself and recognizing when you need to heal, whether that healing comes from exercise, recovery, or simply navigating the daily grind. Think about it this way: what would you tell your wife if she were struggling? You would encourage her to take care of herself and to speak kindly to herself. So do for yourself what you would want for her. When you take care of yourself, you become a better person, partner, and parent. The bonus is that when she is cared for, she is also able to take better care of the family as a whole. Setting achievable goals is key to making real progress. Using the same analogy, you wouldn’t want your wife to clean the whole house and prepare an entire Thanksgiving meal in one day on her own. You would tell her to break it up over the week so she doesn’t burn out. Life works the same way. Push yourself, but not to the point where you break or lose the joy that life has to offer. Finally, surround yourself with supportive people. You want your wife to spend time with people who support her, your marriage, and the positive environment you are trying to create for your kids. The same applies to you. The people you surround yourself with matter. Their energy can be contagious, for better or for worse. Stay close to the ones who bring out the good in you. What can you do for yourself today that shows self-compassion? What small thing can you do today to set you up for success tomorrow? Who are the supportive people you surround yourself with?  |
Come back soon for new blogs weekly!I will be writing about my TBI recovery tools, favorite healthy recipes, workout ideas and encouragement, and ways I stay engaged. Archives
February 2026
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