“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Inspiring people to change and adopt healthier lifestyles has been my lifelong passion, both as a nutritionist and as a public school educator. As a newcomer to the Northwest, I was blessed immediately with a job as a health educator for a local community health center. Each day brought new experiences and responsibilities way beyond what was in my job description, but I embraced each new challenge the best I could with enthusiasm and focused attention.

As I learned all the ins and outs of my new job, I sensed that many of the patients and employees seemed sad or frustrated with their lives and work environments. Confidentially, many shared that they were not being treated with respect or in a caring manner. I felt the presence of Satan lurking in every corner and a deep sadness filled my heart.

What could I do to chase away Satan and bring God’s loving presence to all these people?  I did not see many smiling faces as I walked around the clinic filling up wall holders with patient education leaflets. As I interacted daily with the doctors, nurses, front desk people, lab personnel and the dental clinic, I made the decision to smile wherever I went and to offer a personalized greeting such as,  “ How are you today?” and” How may I help you?” I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me in what to say to each person so that I might celebrate him or her while they were in my presence.

Every day ended with less stress and more positive interactions. It was very gratifying to know that I was making a difference daily with my friendly attitude. I did not realize how much light I had brought to the clinic until one day, about a month after my resignation; I received a voicemail on my cell phone from one of the clinic’s dental hygienists. She said, “Priscilla, this is Teresa from The Clinic. I just wanted to let you know how much we all miss you. Today when I went upstairs to the employee’s break room for lunch, I passed by your old office and realized you were no longer there. The light was gone without your presence. Thank you for what you brought to our clinic on a daily basis.”

Tears overflowed on my cheeks as I listened to that message over and over again. God had reminded me that every smile, or act of kindness, that we extend to each other is so appreciated. It does make a difference in the small world of our daily lives. We don’t need to travel very far to make a difference in someone’s life. Let your light shine out to everyone around you.

The post Let Your Light Shine appeared first on Priscilla Sharrow.

Four years ago, I came “out of the closet “ about my TBI while at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference held every Spring in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. Gathering my courage, I bravely shared at the dinner table that I was writing a book about traumatic brain injury.

Quickly, I uttered the words before I lost my nerve. Voice shaking, I tried to speak clearly and emphatically.

“I am a traumatic brain injury survivor, and also suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to the circumstances around my injuries. I am planning to write a handbook with strategies to help TBI survivors cope with their disabilities and rebuild their lives.”

My heart pounded.
My lips quivered.
My hands perspired
My eyes lowered.
My head hurt

I quickly took a deep breath and looked down at the table. I was scared of the reaction I expected to hear, because for so many years, I had carried deep feelings of disappointment, shame, and hurt.

My life pre-bonk had ended, as I knew it, I lived in a smoldering pyre of devastation in the unknown TBI World.

I am no longer “A one-woman show”.I still wish to be independent.
I do struggle with keeping my life, projects, and paperwork organized, 
I do forget where I put things so they will be available.
I do forget appointments.

My ears heard affirmations from dinner mates, total strangers until tonight, aspiring writers like myself.

Acceptance
Encouragement
Interest
Love

My ex-husband, after 25 years of marriage, told me to never to discuss my TBI diagnosis again.My daughter and my son, aged 23 and 21, had great difficulty accepting the physical and emotional changes in their post-bonk Mama.

My family of origin abandoned me-no phone calls or visits.

Many of my friends never visited or called.

Many of my doctors and physical therapists called me a hypochondriac as I searched for better medical care and treatment for my chronic pain and disabilities caused by the TBI. I had to be my own patient advocate.

As a survivor who had developed some strategies to reclaim and rebuild my life. I stated I was deeply concerned about rehabilitation for our soldiers returning from war and football players with repeated concussions leading to TBI. With a shaking, quivering voice I quietly shared my writing plans with the other aspiring writers.

Karen Ball, a literary agent from Oregon, was leading the introductions for our table. She was interested in seeing my book proposal and first three chapters when I had them completed. I was so shocked and excited; I didn’t know what to say. It was 2015 and I never completed nor sent Karen my proposal or chapters. I was courageous, but so overwhelmed with the proposed project.

“I don’t think I could ever complete such an assignment”, whirred through my thoughts. I regularly forget my medical appointments, how could I ever meet writing and editing deadlines? Impossible.

This was my third year at the conference, so I had come equipped with more confidence, writing skills and ideas of what type of writing to pursue. For over a year I had been writing “Hummingbird Whisperings-God’s Nectar For Your Soul”- a human interest devotional for my church’s monthly newsletter that was mailed out to over 400 homes throughout the United States.

As I sit at my laptop, tiptoeing into the cyber world of blogging, I am ready for this new commitment.  I have thought about it for the past six years, when I decided to become a non-fiction writer.

I have gathered courage from within to jump into this new experience with both feet. Sweating palms, shaking legs and clenched jaws just mean I am scared. Scared of what?  Scared that I will fail all of you, my “TBI Tribe”-A group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest, namely traumatic brain injury.  How do you like my new definition?  I have been on a long life journey of discovery into which this “Post-Bonk Priscilla” really is and what is she capable of now and in the future. 

When I was bonked on the top of my head by a heavy computer and case falling from the overhead bin in a moving airplane, my world came to a grinding halt. Carried unconscious on a mummy board off the airplane into a waiting ambulance and delivered to the ER of a skid row hospital, I had no knowledge of what I had lost.

Three days later when I was able to stay awake more than four hours a day out of 24, I picked up the local newspaper from the kitchen table. As gazed at the print, my eyes jumped all over the page. I tried to focus again in order to read the front-page story. Again I tried to focus my eyes on the black print to no avail. I could not read the paper, nor could I comprehend any of the words. I understood NOTHING! One BIG BLANK!

Little did I know, this would be only one of many challenges I would face as my brain no longer processed in the way I had know my entire life.  I was only 47 years old, in the prime of my life.

I was dizzy, with a terrible headache all the time, and living in a dark, black cave with an elephant sitting on my head.

I am a goal setter and a goal getter. Close friends and family members jokingly say that my middle name is” Perseverance”, because I might get knocked down in life, but I never give up.

Getting distracted, disoriented, forgetful, discouraged, and exhausted are constant companions of the post-bonk Priscilla. Always I try to remember the strengths and abilities of Pre-Bonk Priscilla as I strive to outsmart them or make friends with them as I plan each day. Life Planners (paper), phone apps and timers, color coding with plastic tabs and highlighters, ear plugs and noise cancelling headphones, sunglasses, and brain naps are just a few of my tips and tricks to survive and thrive as a TBI Survivor.  Whether you are a TBI Survivor, caregiver, medical personnel, child, spouse, or loyal friend, I welcome you to the “TBI Tribe” here at Hummingbird Haven Inn.  Please come in and sit awhile.

Share your thoughts, struggles, and celebrations. You are not alone.

The post The Secret Is Out… appeared first on Priscilla Sharrow.