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To Encourage you to Not Give up On your Process and Journey.
“You may be the only person left who believes in you, but it’s enough. It takes just one star to pierce a universe of darkness. Never give up.” Richelle E. Goodrich
TBI occurred at 10 years of age in 1967. Took 10 years to get my undergraduate degree. 3 1/2 years to obtain my master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. 20 years of getting and losing jobs. Became a client of 2 Dept.’s of Vocational Rehabilitation. The 2nd result: unemployable. I applied 3 times for SSDI; 3rd was approved. Although it was determined that I was unemployable I am glad I did not give up! Give up on finding a way to encourage.
Passion to Encourage
To encourage other people living with the impact of brain injuries to not give up. In my search to find a way to encourage, I wrote a series of poems, an autobiography and then a book. A book that I got registered with the library of Congress, but was not able to get published. And then on February 6, 2007 I created Second Chance to Live to share what I learned personally and professionally living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability. What I learned to empower my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
During the Past 17 years
Impacting Lives in the Following Countries
United States, European Union, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, India, France, Finland, Denmark, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czechia, Croatia, Indonesia, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Philippines, Japan, Serbia, Slovenia, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Switzerland, Thailand, Israel, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Netherlands, Ghana, and South Africa
The Global Brain Injury Peer Support Network
Created 29 Keynote and Discussion Topic Presentations
Spoken 128 times through out the U.S., with upcoming Engagements
Written 2150 Article/Video Presentation Links within 13 Peer Support Categories
Created Building Your Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 30 Video Presentation Playlist
Been a Forerunner and Advocate of Creating New Neural Pathways and Brain Reorganization
Created a Playlist for Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury with 454 Video Presentations
Been included by160 National and International Organizations Using Second Chance to Live as a Resource
12 eBooks
It’s Never too Late to Create Hope eBook
Avoiding the Trap of Our Brain Injury eBook
Moving Forward Following a Brain Injury eBook
Living with a Brain Injury and Taking Care of Ourselves eBook
Celebrating Success after a Brain Injury Video Presentations eBook
Living with a Brain Injury eBook Putting the Pieces in Place 60 Video Presentations eBook
Living with a brain injury and Building Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance eBook
Living with a Brain Injury, Making Sense of Why and What is my Destiny? eBook
Don’t Let Anyone Tell You (Including Yourself) that… Video Presentation eBook
Being Your own Hero through Overcoming Adversity – Tool for Rebuilding Your Life eBook
Having a Relationship with Myself and Other People after a Brain Injury Video Presentations eBook
Living with a Brain Injury, What Helped Me to Stop being my Enemy and Create a life for Myself eBook
Categories Designed to Encourage and Empower Creative Hope
Category Creating Hope after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Self-Acceptance after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Fulfilling Dreams after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Building Self-Esteem after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding Purpose after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category My Journey Living with a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Relationships Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Overcoming Bullying after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Building Self-Esteem after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Brain Injury Recovery An Ongoing Process — List of Articles
Category Celebrating Success Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding and Knowing Peace after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category How to Stop Feeling Helpless after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Peer Support after Brain Injury — We are Not Alone — List of Articles
Among the places spoken publicly:
Among the places where I have spoken: Cleveland Clinic, Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Hospital, Overland Park Rehabilitation Hospital, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital, Inova Loudon Outpatient Specialty Rehabilitation Hospital, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Carolinas Rehab, Colorado Department of Education, University of North Dakota, University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill, Harvard University Synapse, University of California at Berkley Synapse, Columbia University Synapse, Synapse National Conference, NeuroRestorative, and various State Brain Injury Associations.
Keynote Discussion Topics to Inspire Purpose and Hope
You Are Not Crazy. You have an Invisible Disability Discussion Topic
Yes, I am Disabled, but Don’t Count Me Out because…! Discussion Topic
Learning to Accept Ourselves when Other People Can’t or Won’t Discussion Topic
Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principle of Neuroplasticity Discussion Topic
Creating Practical Hope in Our Lives through the Power of Identification Discussion Topic
Navigating Life’s Railroad Switch — Finding Purpose and Passion After Brain Injury Discussion Topic
Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves Discussion Topic
Embracing Change A Three-Stage Journey to Journey to Learning and Success Presentation Discussion Topic
Getting Comfortable in Our “Own Skin” Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Discussion Topic
Don’t Let Anyone tell You, You Aren’t Enough Because…You are Smart, Intuitive and Courageous Discussion Topic
Keynote Presentations Designed to Inspire Purpose and Hope
Finding Purpose and not Giving Up after Brain Injury
Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury
Facing Adversity and Having Options When Life Does Not Make Sense
12 Ways to Enhance Our Lives, Well-Beings and Relationships after a Brain Injury
Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process
Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves
Getting Comfortable in Our “Own Skin” Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability
Some Things to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with a Brain Injury Zoom Presentation
Believing in Ourselves through Self-Advocacy — A Guide to Owning Our Power after Brain Injury
Don’t Let Anyone tell You, You Aren’t Enough Because…You are Smart, Intuitive and Courageous
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury: Embracing Reality and the Journey to Acceptance Presentation
Celebrating Goals and Dreams in the Now, Overcoming Obstacles, Odds and Impacting Generations Presentation
Hope and Purpose after a Brain Injury after a Brain Injury, a Stroke or a Spinal Cord Injury Keynote Presentation
Finding Freedom from Feeling Alone, Isolated, Alienated, Intimidated and Diminished Living with a Brain injury and an Invisible Disability
Presentations Sharing my Personal Journey and Process
Second Chance to Live and Succeeding Beyond my Special Needs from 10 Years of Age
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call that never Came
Presentations Empowering Groups and Organizations
Living with Long Covid-19 Invisible Disability — Hope, Encouragement and Support Zoom
Empowering Current and Future Leaders in Brain Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation to Empower Self-advocacy in Individuals Living with Brain Injuries
How I Use the Principle of Neuroplasticty
How I use the principles of neuroplasticity to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization.
I have been drilling and training in different martial art disciplines since 1996. The process has been slow, but I am glad that I did not give up. In preparation for a keynote presentation in 2013 I asked a friend to video tape my progress to share during the presentation. Progress made using the principles (neuroplasticity) of repetitive mirrored movements to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization.
Each year following I asked other friends to video tape my progress. In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022 I was fortunate to have had several individuals record presentations. Because of a shoulder injury and Covid-19 I was not able to record in 2019 and 2020. Although I do not have a demonstration of 2023 I continue to drill and train in these disciplines to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization.
Scroll down to watch each of these short presentations.
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Bruce Lee
“Research your own experience. Absorb what is useful, Reject what is useless. And add specifically what is your own creation.” Bruce Lee
The Goal — Being a Work in Progress
The goal has been to improve my ability to mirror the same abilities on both the non-dominant side (left side) of my body with the dominant side (right side) of my brain and body. As in the below demonstrations, I engage both sides of my brain and body (my hands, arms, elbows, legs, knees, and feet).
I engage both sides of my brain and body to improve my gross, fine motor skills and muscle memory. I engage both sides of brain and my body to improve my dexterity, hand-eye coordination, agility, balance, stamina, precision, focus and awareness. I engage both sides of my brain and body to improve my skills and abilities.
I engage both sides of my brain and body to improve and enhance the quality of my life and well-being. I engage both sides of my brain and my body to create.
Create Your Own Program
In the event that you have not begun, I would encourage you to create a program. Create a program that will empower you to create neural pathways and brain reorganization. Brain reorganization through repetitive mirrored movements on your dominant and non-dominant sides of your body. Brain reorganization to improve and enhance your quality of life and well-being. To engage your brain and body.
Neuroplasticity through Martial Arts 2013
Neuroplasticity Demonstration August 2014
Brain Injury, Neuroplasticity and Personal Gains August 2015
Balance and Coordination through Repetitive Mirrored Movement 2016
Brain Injury Recovery and Repetitive Mirrored Movements 2017
Improving Our Brain and Body’s Ability to Excel after Brain Injury 2018
Due to a shoulder injury I was unable to create a video presentation in 2019. Due to Covid I was unable to create a video presentation in 2020.
Stick Fighting, Knife, Western Boxing & Wing Chun Drills Created
September 2, 2021
Transition Drills to Improve Agility, Focus, Speed & Coordination Created
September 6, 2021
Hand Eye Coordination and Precision Drills using Fine Motor Skills Created
September 12, 2021
Using upper and lower body coordination and movement to improve focus, agility and balance of upper body and lower body martial art skills. Created February 14, 2022
Invitation to Join Our Two Communities
Second Chance to Live Community which you are welcome and invited to join. Click on the link below. Once the page has opened, and at the top right of the page, click subscribe. Enter you email. Each time I publish an article on Second Chance to Live that article will be sent to you email inbox.
Second Chance to Live Community
Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Facebook Community, which you are also welcome and invited to join. Click on the below link and ask to join the community.
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