Learning something new with a brain injury can be daunting. The first step is deciding what your new challenge should be. Pick something you are interested in. For me, this was figure skating.
Of course, you never really know what you are going to be passionate about until you try it. Sometimes you will have to change because you decide the effort isn’t worth it.
I tried different sports and hobbies. I ended up choosing figure skating as the thing to learn and put the effort in.
What about the activity you are learning is strenuous depends on where the brain injury is. This may dictate what you decide is more enjoyable to learn.
The activity or task that you decide to learn will probably take a lot of work. Unless you are born with the talent you need for the thing you choose to do, it will take some pushing, and a brain injury will make it more challenging.
It sucks. I said I was going to quit skating many times, but I am still here. It took a ton of work to get to where I am in my skating. I am never going to be an Olympic skater.
I think that the main reason I have been able to stick with it is that I am passionate about it and I have found something I love to do.
This is essential. If you do not wake up and think about practicing or want to go to practice, you may want to try to find something else. That is okay.
You will know you have found the right challenge when it doesn’t feel like work most days.
If you haven’t read my story please click here.