Being outdoors is one of the best ways to see more; to see the bigger picture. Take time to talk to the trees, listen to the ocean or look up at the sky. You’re sure to tap into your greater self and away from the stuff that’s irrelevant.
Tag Archives: empowerment
I Make No Apologies! This Is Me!
Do you go shopping with earplugs and sunglasses? If you’re getting coffee with a friend do you ask to sit outside (even if it’s chilly) because it’s easier for you to concentrate on the conversation? Do all the chatting, phone ringing, and background activities at work overwhelm you and diminish your effectiveness?
These are just a few of the hoops those with cognitive challenges have to jump through to navigate a neuro-unfriendly world. Just about everyone in our community that I talk with has made it a habit to adapt behaviors in order to lessen the impact of the discomfort families, coworkers, friends, and others may feel when they’re around us.
Years ago, my wife was a speaker at a Traumatic Brain Injury Conference. After her presentation, we were headed for an exit so that she could wind down and recover some brain bucks. On the way to the door, a woman we knew to be on the board of directors of a brain injury agency, stopped us. She shared how impressed she was with the presentation considering my wife’s brain injury and said … wait for it …
“You don’t look like you have a brain injury.”
As a result of Traumatic Brain Injury, my wife, then as now, deals with seizures, persistent and consistent head pain (because it’s more than an “ache”), and navigates significant memory gaps. Add to that some cognitive function challenges such as prioritization, initiation, and some daily living skills too many of us take for granted can be challenging even with tools, support, and good habits.
Why share this particular story? Because back then we were just developing the tools and processes we offer so that those we work with can live their most empowered life. It was, and remains, our way to help a community that is marginalized and seeking ways to be their best without masking their challenges.
We built our programs based on what helped us. That’s why we developed Project PEER and Empowered Self and why, as we learn from others and from our own experiences, our programs continually evolve.
As for myself, and why “This Is Me!” means so much? Since I was a child I was always on the periphery of peer groups, employment opportunities, and personal relationships. All because of my own differences, not only cognitively, but socially. I spent many years creating systems and adapting tools to support my success professionally and personally.
I think many of us do this. I have been fortunate to find a space that allows me to be who I am; the good, the challenged, and the different. “I am brave. I am bruised. I am who I’m meant to be, this is me!”
Wouldn’t it be better if we had systems and tools AND the support of those around us? Of course, it would. Could we contribute more? Sure we could. And wouldn’t those who are neurotypical benefit from what they could learn from us if we were able to be more open without repercussion, judgment, or discrimination? Without a doubt.
This is why we also share as many positive messages as we can. It’s not that we aren’t aware of the difficulty of living with a disability or simply being different. It’s because we live those things every day. Together we can encourage, support, and create safe spaces for one another. So …
Never make apologies for who you are!
There are two things I encourage you to do after reading this. The first is to watch the video below. You might even want to save it and listen to it anytime you feel like the world around you is trying to crush who you are. The second is to explore our website, learn more about BEST, and what tools and activities we offer that can benefit you.
 | Gloria's career as an independent nonprofit consultant, trainer, and writer spans over 30 years giving her lots to talk about. She has a deep passion for sustainability, both environmentally and organizationally. Enjoy her perspectives on community, development, and tales from her virtual world travels. |
Be A Patient Observer
Another Great Memory …
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Posted in Motivation & Inspiration, Our BEST Stories, Self-Care & Mindfulness
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Posted in Motivation & Inspiration, Our BEST Stories, Self-Care & Mindfulness
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Well, it happened again last night, that thing I do all the time where I’m out walking at night and out of the blue, a thought or a memory hits. I’ve written about that before, and this is one of those times I have just got to write it down.
In college, back in Wyoming, I made friends with a group of people from Jackson, Wyoming, near Jackson Hole. I would go there with them on school vacations and make visits over the summer. We got to be good friends and it was always non-stop fun, real fun. They were truly funny and listened to some of the best rock around, but lesser-known stuff like Mother’s Finest and Legs Diamond. They were some of the very few in my life who could hit me with something I hadn’t at least heard about. And these folks could party like…well, nobody could party like these guys.
One year I went there over spring break. Spring can be so incredibly beautiful in Wyoming.
We went to a spot outside of town that had natural warm springs and laid down blankets, spread apart in the grass. I remember it being a fantastic day, weather-wise. It was just warm enough to not be too cold and there were flawless blue skies and no breeze. You can see further than you can imagine, up there in the mountains on a clear day.
It’s not possible to describe that day, really close to the Grand Teton mountain range, near Yellowstone Park. The Tetons is beyond my ability to put into words. But I can say, without fear of contradiction, that the Tetons are cool and impressive looking. The scene in the photo was what it looked like that day but were closer to those mountains than pictured here.
We laid there, out in the noonday sun on that perfect day, not saying much. It took away our ability to speak, but that silence during nature was so calming and so peaceful and life-affirming, just perfect contentment, and tranquility.
Off in the distance we noticed a herd of buffalo, just shambling around while they grazed. We were silent.
After a while, the herd started moving in our direction. They were walking slow, and we could see there were buffalo of all 
sizes as they headed directly toward us. They were coming closer and closer and nobody so much as twitched, and finally they reached us.
We were all still spread apart, and the herd walked between us all, on all sides, in between the blankets.
They were slow walkers, and it took quite a while for them to move on. They were close enough we could have reached out and touched them. Such huge, gentle quiet creatures.
No one moved a muscle or said a word the whole time. We all were just there, surrounded by buffalo. And we were all blown away beyond words.
It was like we all were transfixed, caught in a magic spell. It was like we all, all of us young kids and all those beautiful animals, shared a spiritual bond.
We watched them as they slowly made their way past and watched for as long as we could see them. I don’t remember anybody saying a word. It would have broken the spell and cheapened the moment somehow.
It hit me full force last night—I have been in a herd of buffalo.
It is beyond my ability to put across in words the feelings of that day—I don’t even know if such words exist.
I haven’t thought about that in a long time. It obviously wasn’t something I’d forgotten, just something I hadn’t thought about in a long time. I can still see that day in my head and in high definition.
I have to say, looking back over my life, this was one of the absolute coolest things that ever happened to me. I have to say though that surviving a major stroke was up there on the coolness scale too.
At times I’ve replayed that scene in my head when I’ve needed to relax and be calm.
If I have anything to be thankful for (and I do) it’s that a stroke hasn’t erased my memories. If it had, it would be as if that day hadn’t happened. That magic day would have been lost to me forever. I’m not the same man I was before that stroke, and if there is anything I can be happy about it that he left me his memories, both good and bad, and this is one of the very best ones. He went through some very beautiful and fantastic events. Parts of that guy are gone now, left in the past, but he sure went through some great experiences, and he left behind the memories.
When I began my new post-stroke life, I didn’t have to start all over again from scratch. I had beautiful memories to build on and to add to. I had great memories to guide me and to aspire to in my new life.
Of course, the bad memories are, but they serve as examples of things to avoid, moving forward. I have those beautiful memories and they help guide me in positive directions as I pick up the pieces and move on.
If I live, those beautiful memories will too. For me, they are what life is all about.
I know loss of memory can be a huge issue for stroke survivors, but somehow it hasn’t been an issue for me. I wish all stroke survivors could be as lucky.
And I also wish everybody could know what it felt like that day and experience that feeling every day.
The world would be a much better place to live.
 | Isaac Peterson grew up on an Air Force base near Cheyenne, Wyoming. After graduating from the University of Wyoming, he embarked on a career as an award-winning investigative journalist and as a semi-professional musician in the Twin Cities, the place he called home on and off for 35 years. He doesn’t mind it at all if someone offers to pick up his restaurant tab and, also, welcomes reader comments. Email him at isaac3rd@gmail.com. Read more articles by Isaac here; https://www.brainenergysupportteam.org/archives/tag/isaac-peterson |
3 Ways To Have Your BEST Day
I don’t know about you, but I love those days when I feel – no, when I know – I accomplished something important to me. Those days when I fall into bed exhausted and exhilarated.
Those days happen more regularly when I follow the three ways to have my BEST day every day. I know that if you try these three suggestions you’ll experience the same thing. You can always let me know in the comments.
#1 Be Grateful – Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” Simply put, be thankful for everything.
#2 Set Intention – I read somewhere that when you set intention the universe works with you to make it happen. Deepak Chopra wrote, “Intention is much more powerful when it comes from a place of contentment than if it arises from a sense of lack or need. Stay centered and refuse to be influenced by other people’s doubts or criticisms.”
#3 Follow Your Plan – There are several benefits to having a plan for today; a schedule. Benefits include
- feeling in control of your activities and environment,
- feeling safe, secure, and comfortable with yourself and what’s going on in the moment,
- knowing what is happening now and what comes next.
To help you have your BEST day every day download the BEST Day Planner!
Download “BEST Plan For Today”
BEST-Plan-For-Today.pdf – Downloaded 31 times – 3.93 MB
| Gloria's career as an independent nonprofit consultant, trainer, and writer spans over 30 years giving her lots to talk about. She has a deep passion for sustainability, both environmentally and organizationally. Enjoy her perspectives on community, development, and tales from her virtual world travels. |
