Identity

What is your identity?

Absolutely my brain injury is not my identity. It surely is a huge part of my every day, though. It affects so much of what I do, how I conduct my day, and it very much affects my behavior.

I was talking to someone I know about an aspect of my life, and she said, “Your brain injury is your identity.” I felt insulted because I don’t agree.

Identity – often refers to a person’s sense of self. Resource: Identity definition and meaning-dictionary.com

Sense of self – refers to your perception of the collection of characteristics that define you. Personality traits, abilities, likes and dislikes, your belief system, or moral code, and the things that motivate you-these all contribute to self-image or your unique identity as a person. Resource: Sense of Self: What it is and How to Build it-Healthline

Who are you as a person?

To me, my identity is my personality. It is the way I care for others, my thoughtfulness, empathy, sympathy, and understanding. I’m a giving person. I am friendly and loving, generous and compassionate.

I am not my brain injury.

I talk about my book about brain injury, about Veronica’s and my brain injury presentations at high schools. These are my passions, my big accomplishments. I talk about my frustration that I cannot post on any of my many brain injury support groups for the next year.

With moderator’s permission, In the past, I posted a link to my brain injury website blogs weekly. The day I wrote it, I would post the same link on many sites. To my surprise, when you post the same thing several times, Facebook automatically considers it spam and you are then restricted from using that site, or page. Without knowledge of this I was first restricted for three months. After that time was up, I began posting my blog links again. Two days later I was restricted for a year. Restricted means you cannot make a post on that page.

I joined these brain injury support groups for the support of others like me and because now that I cannot get the support I need there, I end up talking about these things with my family.

Although my brain injury is not my identity, it affects most things I can and cannot do. It affects how I drive, where I go, how long I stay, my ability to read, my energy, how I enjoy things and can be the reason I don’t. It affects how long and how well I sleep, my capability to converse with others, and how much I remember, to name a few.

I do have a need to talk about these aspects of my life. They are a part of me that cannot be ignored.

Think about who you are as a person.

All the qualities you possess, that is who you are. A brain injury is not an identity, it is a medical condition.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and reading my blogs.

If you would like to know more about our family and how we live with two people having brain injuries in our family, please read my book titled,

A Miracle a Day, One Day at a Time: Hope After Traumatic Brain Injury

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/a-miracle-a-day-one-day-at-a-time

Press the link above and it will take you straight to it if you are interested.

Have a beautiful and blessed week remembering how truly wonderful you are.