by Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief
In February of 2014 I slipped on a path of black ice, landing full-force on the back of my skull. I had suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in for a journey unlike anything I had ever imagined.
I was originally told by doctors that I should be feeling better in 6-8 weeks — even though I couldn’t remember what I was doing while in the middle of doing it, had a constant headache, and was constantly dizzy and off-balance. Even though I doubted their words, I chose to believe them because, after all, they were the doctors.
When the eight week mark came and went I began to panic, thinking something was terribly wrong. Doctors just kept telling me to give it more time, there was nothing they could do for me. When I reached the one-year mark, I was told that this was likely the best I was going to get. A neuropsychologist went so far as to tell me I was faking it, and that I didn’t really have a TBI — I was just depressed.
Well, that wasn’t good enough for me! I knew I had to make a choice: I could either blindly believe what the doctors were telling me, or I could take my recovery into my own hands and DO something about it.
Recovery is defined as: the act or process of becoming healthy after an illness or injury.
Resilience is defined as: the ability to overcome challenges of all kinds -trauma, tragedy, personal crises, plain ‘ole’ life problems – and bounce back stronger, wiser, and more personally powerful.
For many survivors, we get stuck on the word “recovery” even though we may never make a full 100% recovery. I personally prefer the term “resilience” because I have definitely overcome the challenges that TBI put in front of me.
I chose to get better. I made the deliberate decision that even if I couldn’t get back to 100%, I knew I needed to get better than where I was at. I chose positivity and resilience.
Which one are you going to choose??
Amy Zellmer is an award winning author, keynote speaker, and TBI survivor and advocate. She is Editor-in-chief of The Brain Health Magazine. www.facesoftbi.com
This post originally appeared in Mind Matters, a quarterly magazine by the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance.
![We start TONIGHT —
join my virtual writing group for a rare chance to work directly with me while completing your writing project
Are you finding it hard to carve out time for writing and creativity?
Life gets busy, and it can be challenging to prioritize your creative projects—whether you’re working on:
a book,
blog posts,
social media content,
or even crafting an email series or a new product for your business.
That’s why I’ve created our Virtual Writing Group—a dedicated space where you can focus on your writing, whatever form it takes, and connect with a community of like-minded creatives.
JOIN NOW: https://creatingwellnessfromwithin.com/writinggroup/
Why Join?
- Monthly Writing Sessions: We meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 6-8 PM CST. This is your time to sit down, focus, and make progress on your writing projects.
- Creative Community: No matter what you’re writing, you’ll find support and inspiration from fellow writers who understand the challenges and rewards of the creative process.
- Accountability & Connection: Share your goals, overcome writer’s block, and enjoy the camaraderie of working alongside others on their own creative journeys.
- Whether you’re crafting a novel, drafting blog posts, planning social media content, or developing a product or email series for your business, this group is here to help you stay on track and make your creative dreams a reality.
If this sounds like the support you need, I’d love for you to join us! For just $108 a year—about the cost of a fancy coffee drink each month—you’ll have a year of inspiration, connection, and dedicated writing time.
Ready to prioritize your creativity? Click [here] to secure your spot in our Virtual Writing Group. We start September 4th!!
I can’t wait to see what you create!](https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/458341018_483345868037283_1467344792046745902_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=6-U_b0ZNcRQQ7kNvgECTgHg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=AR2fHWh7tBgephvsy_2FqwJ&oh=00_AYBEVLDMLeugLAFWh8UabNCgEhWYeBvy8hTNaiAUKIl2Ww&oe=6743A61F "We start TONIGHT —
join my virtual writing group for a rare chance to work directly with me while completing your writing project
Are you finding it hard to carve out time for writing and creativity?
Life gets busy, and it can be challenging to prioritize your creative projects—whether you’re working on:
a book,
blog posts,
social media content,
or even crafting an email series or a new product for your business.
That’s why I’ve created our Virtual Writing Group—a dedicated space where you can focus on your writing, whatever form it takes, and connect with a community of like-minded creatives.
JOIN NOW: https://creatingwellnessfromwithin.com/writinggroup/
Why Join?
- Monthly Writing Sessions: We meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 6-8 PM CST. This is your time to sit down, focus, and make progress on your writing projects.
- Creative Community: No matter what you’re writing, you’ll find support and inspiration from fellow writers who understand the challenges and rewards of the creative process.
- Accountability & Connection: Share your goals, overcome writer’s block, and enjoy the camaraderie of working alongside others on their own creative journeys.
- Whether you’re crafting a novel, drafting blog posts, planning social media content, or developing a product or email series for your business, this group is here to help you stay on track and make your creative dreams a reality.
If this sounds like the support you need, I’d love for you to join us! For just $108 a year—about the cost of a fancy coffee drink each month—you’ll have a year of inspiration, connection, and dedicated writing time.
Ready to prioritize your creativity? Click [here] to secure your spot in our Virtual Writing Group. We start September 4th!!
I can’t wait to see what you create!")
