hobbies Archives - Jumbledbrain https://www.jumbledbrain.com/tag/hobbies/ Discover - Empower - Thrive Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:26:08 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/www.jumbledbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-tab-logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 hobbies Archives - Jumbledbrain https://www.jumbledbrain.com/tag/hobbies/ 32 32 115417566 Next chapter after brain injury, am I in it now? https://www.jumbledbrain.com/next-chapter-brain-injury/ https://www.jumbledbrain.com/next-chapter-brain-injury/#comments Tue, 25 Apr 2017 12:33:37 +0000 https://www.jumbledbrain.com/?p=1726 When I was still receiving counselling following my brain injury, I was warned against allowing it to define me. And I wholeheartedly agreed. But as I am mostly a capable human being these days, am I falling into that trap? I worry that as I still can only live one day at a time, I’m […]

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When I was still receiving counselling following my brain injury, I was warned against allowing it to define me. And I wholeheartedly agreed. But as I am mostly a capable human being these days, am I falling into that trap? I worry that as I still can only live one day at a time, I’m allowing my brain injury to take over me. How do you know it’s time to turn the page and wave goodbye to that chapter of life?

Have I graduated from the life lesson that is brain injury?

Lots of other defining moments in life come with a marker of some kind. The key to the door, the examiner informing you that you successfully passed your driving test, the “sorry your leaving” card on your last day at one job ready to start another, or the first kiss at the wedding. They all tell you something has changed and you need to step up to the mark. Usually they fill you with nervous excitement as the change should be a good one. A new door has opened and you need to walk through and make a difference.

I've come a long way since my brain injury, but I'm not sure what is next. Or maybe that chapter has closed and I need to plan phase 2? Hmmmm, what do you think....?

My blog on living with brn injury: When do you know you are ready to move on?

But when you are trying to recover from something as fundamental as a brain injury it doesn’t work like that. No one gives you a commendation signalling you can start the next stage. You just have to decide yourself if you are ready to start to the next chapter. Be it return to some form of work, study a new subject or take on some other life challenge, it’s tough to know when is the right time.

Have I gained a new skill?

I have mentioned before how I was a pretty able student when at school. Never really having to apply myself too much to get good grades most people would be proud of. Perhaps that made me a little arrogant at the time. I remember being surprised and a bit insulted when my Mum one day said my older sister was better at English than me. To be fair I didn’t find it came as naturally to me as some other subjects. I felt uncomfortable with it being subjective, and unlike maths there is no definitive answer.  I wasn’t great at reading between the lines in literature, or being able to write something creative.

And I’m still not creative, but I think I’m doing OK at writing my blog, which is effectively an open diary. But perhaps it’s do to with having a purpose. After my Mum uttered those words to me, I saw it as a challenge. I pushed myself to prove I could do better, and I did achieve higher grades in English than my sister in the end. And because my blog has a important purpose for me, perhaps that is why it seems to be working.

Is this the new chapter?

So have I stumbled across something? People say it’s not a job when you’re having fun doing it whilst being paid. Some lucky folks work out how to have that  reality for themselves. I never could imagine what that might look like for me, as I guess it didn’t have a strong passion. But whilst I’m not paid to do this, I really enjoy it. I just wish Mum could see me now, she’d still point out all my spelling and punctuation errors, but I think she’d be pleasantly surprised.

Therefore I’m wondering if I should be looking for a way to turn this into my next career. Don’t worry I don’t plan on charging people to read my blog, that would be criminal. But I need to start brainstorming, as I want to continue with it, assuming you guys want to keep reading it. Maybe some of you have found yourselves in a similar boat. If you have stories of how you turned a hobby into a career I’d love it hear them.

Everything has it’s good and bad points. Blogging has come with come challenges which you can read about in Confess to pressure: being a voice of brain injury.

2019 UPDATE: So yep I did find a way to build a career for myself! I am Freelance blogging for brands who’s services support brain injury survivors. I’m only working with companies who I believe are genuinely trying yo help our community and that’s why I with a regular column with CFG Law.  They are working closely with the NHS and brain injury charities to support survivors. They want to offer information to survivors and their families whether they are their clients or not. If you want to check out the advice I have written on their site, head on over to my page . For update on other brands that I’m working with I’ll put the details and links on Other blogs to watch.

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What does the next chapter look like for you? Do you know what you want to do next?

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