... Life After Traumatic Acquired Brain Injury...
patrick.goodacre@yahoo.co.uk
Welcome to my blog. I post on this, roughly once a week (it does vary). I sustained a 'Traumatic Acquired Brain Injury', and a six month coma from a 'road traffic accident' whilst cycling, in October 2006. I spent the following 4 years (22-26yrs old), in a combination of hospitals and rehabilitation homes. Now, I have been living independently in Surbiton, England since October 2010. This blog begun life in December 2010, as i realised that there are many people worldwide that i want to share experiences with. I know that, as a wheelchair user, I am obviously not as mobile as i wish, so, use the internet to connect to you. I enjoy letting my thoughts represent through type. I type honestly. As numerous readers, as well as email recipients, will understand, I find typing to be very therapeutic. Thank you :)
Please note that this website cannot be viewed 100% successfully everywhere. It is designed for optimum viewing on a screen of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
A big time. Global political talks in Paris, on Climate Change. A big demonstration walk in London, campaigning in support of these vital talks. I have designed, with support, the new 'South West London Green Party Newsletter' here It is vital for everyone to support these issues...
Whilst it is good for our psychology to aim at correct decisions, and therefore our morale improves. However, it is best to just realise that ultimately, our choice has little impact.
Be content. Live life expecting very little. Beware that s**t happens, equalling all of the potential positives that you will experience. Keep your mental belief that good things will happen because somehow they will. Do not attempt to plan mysterious routes to find these positives. They will find you! Sometimes you may think that you should do something, do not hesitate over it, do it and fate will choose another path for you. Events are destined to occur, whether we like them or not, we actually have little control. Our destinies are not fully pre-determined. Everyone has a destiny but they evolve, altering minimally with time, following everyone's unique path of fate/route of life.
What's the best thing about living in Switzerland?
Well, noticing the flag is a big plus.
A negative positive = neutral
The national flag of a neutral country.
It embarrasses me how amusing i find that joke above. (bold)
I follow it with an interesting graphical comment when considering a white cross on a coloured background.
Initial, basic research tells me that i am wrong. It has evolved from medieval military insignia!
I am sooo unbelievably fortunate that I have experience as a cyclist of improving and training my mind and body, working towards targets/realistic goals
You may all be sick and tired of my cycling analogies, but I mainly provide them as analogies. Please use the analogies, applying them to your own stories, recognising the deeper meaning.
Old music, but new in my collection! Good music enhances a good mood. How to sing the blues?...
Ella Fitzgerald - Cry Me A River (Verve Records 1961)
Ella Fitzgerald (High Quality - Remastered)
When you understand that anything can happen, nothing is impossible. Realising this lets us only believe in ourselves. Friends, families, lovers, whoever, may have similar minds, but you are unique. When you have your self-belief, you can achieve whatever you wish, if you put your mind to it. Never rule anything out. Nothing is certain.
Wise words from Jean-Paul Sartre
The next note is stupidly embarrassing, and a statement of the obvious.
Amazing things ... Hoods
Due to recent life in a wheelchair, and my experiences beforehand, I had begun accepting getting wet in the rain. It has only been this week, that I successfully wear my raincoat closed, and a hood. My fear had been my lack of peripheral vision, but not anymore, as I am confident of my awareness.
Leaking taps
Close friends will know that I am lying through my teeth, when I say 'I am laid-back, and easy-going', but I have to admit my severe irritation/anger when discovering leaking taps. There is nothing which irritates me more than discovering a wasted, running stream of water, pouring from an open tap! If it cannot turn off, tell someone!
TURN IT OFF, DON'T LET YOUR LAZINESS BE HARMFUL!!
...After all, that water could be used for coffee!
... Is the duration it took me to complete the Sudoku puzzle, presented last week. After printing it out, it took me 30 minutes to complete.
This blog is approaching it's fifth birthday, but reached 30,000 total page views. This is slightly crazy, and five years is a long time.
30,000
C'est la vie
The toughest difficulty that I have faced, was psychologically accepting my situation. I was mentally strong enough though, realising that I had no choice but to accept. The only other way out, was to give up. I have always been slightly masochistic, and enjoy a challenge , so accept it, I obviously have done! My graduation course-mate friends, we're all proud of what we achieved, 'Design' is all about problem-solving. Designers graduate in 'problem-solving'! My pride led me on from a 3D Design course, to a 2D Design course, as well. I had done all the work to achieve the grade, when I was given the biggest problem of all! Total solution is impossible, but I will continue to develop solutions to problems that I face.
I fell
More stories from the gym. This week, I had a flashback. I had pushed myself too hard, and had done the exercises in a different order, resulting in weak legs, when required the most. I fell. I had banged my left arm. I was fine, just alarmed! Pleased that I knew I had 'pushed too hard'. A cyclist's 'bonk'.
Daughter - Doing the right thing - favourite current song not a fan of the video, but love the song dearly... a live version...
Album out next year 'Not to disappear’ - Jan 15th more Daughter songs,,,
A comment that I am 99% sure of receiving from girls, that I 'like'. Everyone always denies that any negative comment has anything to do with my injury or my current need of a wheelchair. OK, I have lost time, but OH I DONT KNOW! Grrrrr
I used to be talked very condescendingly about, early in my rehabilitation, as being far too quiet. I have developed and it amuses me now, shocking/surprising everyone on a bus, when I call loudly to the driver! I am also indirectly alerting the passengers to clear out of my way!
Monday morning. The start of the week. The weekEND finishes on Sunday, so the week begins at 00.00.01am, Monday. It infuriates me the way, some people differ! Anyway whatever, I was in the gym, Monday morning, as ever. I was concentrating on my aerobic capacity for only ten minute sessions. I assess my statistics after five minutes, it is ok, I continue. The eight minute mark proves that I am doing well. Nine minutes, very well. Nine minutes and thirty seconds, my final sprint to beat my PB begins... Then black screen!
Whaaaaat!!?
No power. The staff member had changed the wrong plug.
Deep breath
Never mind.
She apologised. Next time...
Independent not lonely. Nothing warps the mind more than lying in hospital. I had a constant stream of visitors, but I knew that essentially, only I could battle my way out, myself. I was offered help from everyone but had to remain with lonesome self-belief. I learn to live alone. Years of rehabilitation followed by success of 'release' allowed me supreme self-belief!
Ryan Francesconi provides brilliant guitar accompaniment. Super acoustic guitar, plus astonishing female vocals, will always provide a winning sound, for me!
Sudoku
Initially recommended to me by my former girlfriend, in my previous life (she knew me very very well)! Three or four years later, I remember completing a Sudoku book, whilst stretching in the gym of my rehabilitation home. Eight or nine years on from 2005/6, I rediscovered my fascination, last week. It is whilst solving them, I realise that it totally suits my personality. I am not scared of numbers, although it is not a mathematical puzzle. I consider it more similar to many 'design' problems that I have faced. Consider each digit as a different graphic. Each graphic must be spread, dispersed logically, over the grid.
:)
i am yet to attempt this one...
A quote from my current read. An amazing find, as I have just finished Jean Paul Sartre, but this book is an amazing story of a seemingly impossible invincibility. 'Invincibles' by Amy Lawrence
This quote is from one of those mighty few, Mr Sol Campbell.
Skype
I am feeling pleased and happy with myself. Yesterday, I successfully had a pre-arranged meeting with who I am currently working for, via Skype. We initially talked on telephone, however it was so much more effective to use Skype. She's based in Kingston, but it was advantageous for us both to be on a computer. I have used Skype before, but I am very happy to have used it professionally.
