My New Year's Resolution as a Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor
In a couple of days, gyms will be filled, habits will be addressed, and everyone will be transforming their indulgences into vows of change for the better. It has been many years since I have considered a resolution other than “getting better.” However this year, I wanted to join the movement of transformation by writing a letter to myself. After I read through it again, I thought it may be worth sharing for others that can relate. May the New Year bring you hope, and transformation to you all as well.
Dear Nikki,
2018 is projected to be a big year for you that holds a lot of promise and many leaps of faith. There will be times when you will be reminiscing in your accomplishments, and there will be times when you face defeat. When you accomplishments become overwhelming, share your achievements with others. You can only be as strong as your community, and through giving, hearts will transform. When your life is consumed in defeat, and doubt begins to enter your mind, find peace within yourself. You have all the tools you need to be successful. Winning the race doesn’t always mean crossing the finish line. It can sometimes mean failing to gain new perspective. Failure is opportunity — please don’t lose sight of that.
There may be times when you push the envelope too far, and you will feel lonely. Find comfort in that. This is when wisdom can be at its strongest; learn from your loneliness. As you grow from your loneliness, you will realize more about judgment and its ability to shape your world. You will see how many times you held back because of the fear of some one else’s perception of you. Take this time to dance freely. This is when you have transformed from the incarceration of your own mind, to walking the path of your higher purpose. Welcome this cycle, no matter how painful it may be. Growth and awakening comes with sacrifice.
Nikki, there will be times when you are given choices between the hard path, the easy path and the right path. Just because the beginning of a path appears to look one way, it can be very different than the illusion it first presented. Do not make rash decisions without understanding the terrain. Just because you are used to living in an impulsive society, that doesn’t mean your life decisions should be made at the speed of technology. Take deep breaths, walk in nature, study your surroundings and open your heart. Your answers will evolve if you obtain patience.
Always choose love. There will be times when people are under your skin, or you can’t relate to the task at hand. When you start to have judgement of others find the disconnections within yourself. People and situations will test you; if it begins controlling your emotions, or how you operate, take a step back. You are in control of your happiness. Love the broken pieces of yourself; every last one of them. Love them until they transform into their true potential. If you can do that, everything and everyone will transform around you. Be love, be change, be open, be freedom, and most of all be a student of life.
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Getty image by G. Cosoveanu.
I was born in Denver, Colorado. In 2007 I attended UNLV to start a psychology degree. Shortly after attending college I moved to Peru where I volunteered in an all girls orphanage. I developed a passion for working with children and eventually found my calling in being a gym teacher for high risk youth in the city of Denver. In 2011 I began attending massage school to learn more about the body and how I personally could help people around the world who did not have access to medical care. In fall of 2011 I was accidentally headbutted in the mouth and suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing basketball with my students. I was unaware of my TBI until 2013 when I was later diagnosed shortly after I was pregnant with my first child. I have recovered from her accident and am now and advocate for brain injury survivors. I have taken classes in aromatherapy and healing touch through ISHA, craniosacral therapy through the Upledger Institute, and heart centered therapy through the Chikly Health Institute. I am currently living in Denver with my two young children and am a TBI advocate, speaker, and working on writing a book about my traumatic brain injury experiences. I made this site to tell my story, help others learn about alternative TBI treatments, and give hope to those suffering from a traumatic brain injury.
nikki-stang