Being a TBI survivor often feels soooooo serious. But life shouldn’t be so heavy all the time. You’ve got to lighten it up sometimes!
 
Today, I’m embracing my inner “Barbie!” As a little girl, I remember sneaking into my mom’s closet. Like many other little girls, I’d try on her high heels, and my favorite of her clothes. Then I’d move onto the bathroom and inexpertly apply her make up. I’m sure you can picture it perfectly!
 
As a grown woman, I no longer need to sneak around. But I still want to reclaim that feeling of play. So why not throw on a few of my favorite pieces of jewelry and some fun clothes?  I’m calling it my Barbie Day!
 
Silly? Sure! Though a brain injury is lifelong, it’s still okay and good to have a little fun!
 
This also makes me think about one of the earliest neurorehabilitation exercises that I learned after my TBI. Believe it or not, it was a simple game of Hopscotch- that kid’s game with a simple board of alternating one and two squares drawn in chalk on the ground. You hop on either one foot, or both feet as the board dictates. At first, I just froze. I couldn’t comprehend moving from one foot to two or vice versa, so I just got stuck. Such a simple game, that the youngest children learn to play… and it was like I’d never seen the game before in my life.
 
But with persistence and neurorehabilitation, I learned to play hopscotch again! Yes, it took me several weeks, but who’s counting? Now I can walk, play hopscotch, swim, drive… whatever I like!
 
So don’t forget how important play is in your everyday life! Just because you have a brain injury, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun now and again! Maybe I’ll even go see the new Barbie movie next week...
 
Have fun today and every day!!!