Get a 'whiff' of this:
There's countless convincing evidence on the association between intelligence & humour & self-deprecation, in particular, fascinatingly may very well be one of my ultimate strengths which has seen this dreaded, extensive journey of extreme (and constant) challenges, loss and torment - that you certainly should not experience (/expect to experience) while in your younger adult years - that little bit more manageable.
The above article's findings also suggest that witty bosses lead better teams & students are made stronger by funny teachers who aid learning and its environment (you're most welcome, my darling *giggling* cherubs).
Disney classic film, Mary Poppins, has long known the value of a good ole laugh with the classic tune sung by Uncle Albert (<< offering a quality 'zinger', above^^) -
"The more I laugh, the more I fill with glee
And the more the glee,
The more the happier me"
It's time to build the rewarding joke repertoire!
Prior to strokes, like most my age, the short-term memory bank was particularly so impressive that I took immense pride in my efficient recall of anything and everything & was often commended on the 'elephant memory'. You could say I was renowned for retaining in great (/creepy) detail - it was my 'thing'. Then, bam! It was suddenly gone like some cruel plot to a tragic narrative. While I promptly was able to use smart scaffolding to help my compromised mind lodge the names of the new (UK) school year's students in September 2012 (when memory was somewhat affected as a by-product of brain damage from the first stroke to the mind's occipital lobe 6 weeks earlier but not of too serious a concern - information just took a little more effort to be absorbed than I was once accustomed to and I was totally on board to make such happen in the wake of brain damage #takeone), my second stroke meant I forgot people even existed within mere moments of leaving their company despite employing various deliberate retention strategies. Such helpful strategies included taking photos of those I was with, spending sufficient time with them (although hours felt like brief seconds to my damaged brain) & also, when being told their name (countless times #patientsouls), verbally repeating it to myself several times and then writing such in a nearby notebook to encourage stronger + more effective brain pathways to be generated (a notebook - not nearly as romantic a concept as the one from the memory-loss movie namesake - stayed constantly by my side for many months post Stroke 2 - no one seemed to mind. Admittedly, the notebook can still be found by my side when at school due to the intense amount of information being constantly thrown my way that needs to be retained. Students actually accept it more than when I get a new haircut! #IdontlikeyourhairtodayMissLaird). Reflecting, I like to think that I was (fortunately) quite proactive & positive in my approach to my new (and sudden) limitations and the confronting stroke rehab (as were the various kind souls supporting) using a range of innovative avenues, techniques, assistance and research to help regain some of my (former) life and embracing the new life's specific needs + requirements, but I'd be lying to you if I said that regaining my lost mental abilities and honing in on what had been savoured was straightforward and simple. It's certainly not a typical path of someone in their prime years of 20s-30s to have to experience (nor does there seem to be much out 'there' on young stroke survivors as there is on less concerning health issues) and yet, there I was (along with my mum and little sister who have constantly been by my side) being forced to continually work with all my might through vast barriers (direct and indirect) that aggressively impeded on every single second of my life.
A captivating podcast about a truly awful effect of stroke, locked-in syndrome -
All In The Mind:
At least Rexy gave out some decent spoons!
15 months post second stroke, in the extreme depths of brain damage effects
Byron Bay, Australia
January 2014
In one poignant scene (that truly speaks volumes), Alice tells her husband she would rather have cancer -
Currently, this is the awful, yet honest, stance set by present society concerning the difference between cancer & stroke sufferers.
Why is this so when stroke strikes more often than cancer,
is the 2nd largest cause of death worldwide (after heart disease not cancer, I should add), can be simply unavoidable (approximately 1 in 5 strokes *20%* currently cannot be prevented at all, no matter what)
& (really take this one in) is the NUMBER 1 cause of adult disability
(which drastically affects a person in the long run more so in countless aspects of their newfound challenging life)?
Such an ignorant attitude towards catastrophic brain attacks + diseases of the mind, their severity & the lingering, often alienating, aftermath certainly needs to change now and proactive education is key.
Why do stroke + stroke survivors constantly get dismissed by our current society?
Stroke is MORE common than ALL forms of cancer & (if you are the mere 1/3 who survive past the initial few years post a brain attack) it has a far higher rate of long-term adult disability as a result, which requires considerably more extensive support & consideration than the aftermath of cancer.
It's the advanced functions of our human brain that we lose,
not a part of our body that can be removed, fixed, altered and/or replaced.
Please take on board.
"Good morning. It's an honour to be here.
Did you know?
A typical adult brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells, or 'neurons', with branches that connect at more than 100 trillion points.
Magnificent mind!
Above:
Scientists call this dense, branching network a "neuron forest" to help us visualise the goings-on in our complex brain.
The hard yards of your advanced mind are performed by its individual cells - all 100-billion-odd of them.
A truly fascinating topic.
F.Y.I:
Below:
Another innovative care centre called Lakeridge Retirement Village in Canada includes calming rooms with aquariums, sandy floors, beach chairs, cloud-covered ceilings & vintage cars + is also pet friendly (I'm in. Yahoo/meow!).
Above:
A wise little Kitty (in 2nd birthday party hipster getup, of course), eagerly fetching (/stealing) a blossoming bouquet at darling Grandma Laird's humble abode, must have known the ultimate value of flowers on our thinking machine.
You may have previously acknowledged this yourself -
Avid enthusiasts of the Strokes Get The Blokes blog (love your work!) would certainly be aware that the mind's limbic system is where the hippocampus resides (region of the brain that was so cruelly killed by my 2nd stroke, in particular).
This integral neural system is frequently associated with emotions, spatial navigation & memories so smelling certain scents and then recalling something from your past, how you felt and exactly where you were all comes down to such cherished thought processes being intertwined and lodged by the mind's limbic system, in particular.
The classic idiom, 'stop and smell the roses', has so much more meaning now!
Did you know that the only sense not filtered by the cortex of your brain is the sense of smell (aka olfaction)?
Learn even more about olfaction -
How Does The Sense Of Smell Affect Your Brain?
How Does The Sense Of Smell Affect Your Brain?
Despite the sheer mental destruction and vast, continued loss my particular strokes have left in their cruel wake, the endorphin-releasing jokes & laughter are fortunately still here brilliantly shining and have been from Day One of the Stroke Rehab journey that started close to six years ago when we promptly focused on humour to counteract the extreme fear and uncertainty that engulfed my 20-something life. Healthy balance! Prior to strokes, a keen sense of humour had always been vital in my personal world as well as my professional one as Miss Laird (whole-class 'laughter sessions' as a way to break up lessons is considered therapeutic and just as productive as offering students rewards & incentives). So just as my world was cruelly crumbling and I presumed an unavoidable death was (and definitely, still to some degree, is) imminent and fast approaching given the typically concerning stroke statistics + my recent track record of keeping my brain's particular blood vessels clear of any inflammation and/or obstacles, we (myself & the sincere support network) turned to morbidly sharing jokes, puns and colourful anecdotes about my life's sombre situation that struck while in my (otherwise) prime years. 'Too soon' was never on the table when poking fun at the blatant hole in my shaven head just moments after coming out of the skull-drilling, mind-stealing brain surgery that I had previously accepted not living through to even see some of my immediate family arrive at U.K. from Australia to take my sick self back home (even though the strokes themselves had a far higher chance of death - just 1% death rate by brain biopsy; close to a whopping 70% death rate by stroke/effects of stroke <<take on board the true severity of stroke). Given such dark, frightening times, bring on the jokes about my strokes, I say!
Promising findings in this enlightening research article -
Promising findings in this enlightening research article -
Sometimes, supportive family & mates would repeat my very own witty jokes that I had forgotten all about while in hospital (and for a brief second, thought the calibre of their joke repertoire had suddenly increased to my high level #readinjest). Other occasions, they'd share a funny anecdote about a unique incident which had recently occured to them that my damaged brain would then somehow retain (yet have absolutely no hope at remembering the straightforward 10-metre path back from the bathroom to my bed after a few minutes spent in the loo, fully aware that I ought to know/retain such a simple & frequented track #cheersvolunteerguides), referring to it to their bewilderment days or even weeks later. With confronting, morbid circumstances that have uncontrollably engulfed the past 5+ years of this (supposedly youthful) life (and of that of my closest offsiders), I have always been incredibly grateful for such clever deflection through good ole humour and recommend it during dark times profusely.
The above article's findings also suggest that witty bosses lead better teams & students are made stronger by funny teachers who aid learning and its environment (you're most welcome, my darling *giggling* cherubs).
"The more I laugh, the more I fill with glee
And the more the glee,
The more the happier me"
It's time to build the rewarding joke repertoire!
Above:
Pain Assessment Chart gets 'doodled' on (<<had to)
- with a fresh appendage added on one of the diagram's bodies (drawn in black - click on image to enlarge *it was in the pool - George Costanza style!*) -
by one of my most sincere and colourful supporters, Nim, ensuring to make light of the morbid hospital life.
Pain Assessment Chart gets 'doodled' on (<<had to)
- with a fresh appendage added on one of the diagram's bodies (drawn in black - click on image to enlarge *it was in the pool - George Costanza style!*) -
by one of my most sincere and colourful supporters, Nim, ensuring to make light of the morbid hospital life.
*Puns in the text swap with another supportive mate are most certainly intended
St George's Hospital, London, U.K.
November 2012
Discover more about what makes us Aussies laugh -
Making fun of the newly acquired 'Heathrow Injection' in the midst of absolute stroke chaos and my life suddenly hanging by a thread, one month into the hospital vacation with a smorgasbord of confronting disabilities and challenges thrown my way and dramatic loss experienced from 'simply' waking up one otherwise easy morning during the half-term week's school break at 26 years of age.
Cheers for all the support and the soothing deflection, noble Kitty Kat Klubbers!
St George's Hospital, London, U.K.
December 2012
An intriguing article well worth the read -
^^obviously gospel
Below:
Jotting down raw reflections to myself (<<smooth operator) in my memory bank's absence (after 'accidentally' consuming two bowls of cereal that morning which filled my stomach to the extent I then felt ghastly nauseous/stomach overflowed) by using the nifty smart phone's Notes app that offered concrete evidence of my constant flow of thoughts + life's fleeting (yet treasured) moments so swiftly & tragically forgotten by my injured mind
#scaffolder
= 21st Century eat your heart out!
It's all about perspective, patience + puns.
Here's to multiple breakfasts in the morning!
5 months post Stroke 2
March 2013
All the proof we need to have a laugh to be healthy -
Do feed your mind with competence, confidence and status through witty ole jokes!
Further proof that humorous sorts are shown to have buzzing minds -
"Neuropsychological studies have found that experiencing positive emotional states, such as joy, fun and happiness, increases the production of dopamine in the brain.
Dopamine not only make us feel great, it also opens up the learning centres of the brain, which enables and sustains more neural connections.
As a result, we become more flexible and creative in our thinking and better at solving problems.
It also boosts our working memory."
- Lecturer in Psychological Interventions at University of Central Lancashire,
Lowri Dowthwaite,
explaining how humour technically improves our minds
Below:
Support from sincere mates:
Giggling during a truly terrifying body shutdown (with morbid death a concerning & nearing possibility, considered 'most likely') + confronting, extensive stroke rehab with all the brain injuries' vast challenges, loss & pain =
I highly recommend.
*Old mate, Mr PB (convo with, below), had encouraged the laughter during the text exchange while I was stuck in hospital when he so thoughtfully asked/joked 'How do you find Will Smith in the snow?' to which - despite losing all my short term memory (couldn't tell you the day's date regardless of being told mere seconds earlier and several times at that, nor who I had spoken to at length just a minute earlier or even a basic rundown of my last meal <<was actually horrible to forget food as it was one of my only joys during such extreme darkness #liveinthemoment) and unable to do the most simple tasks alone (without spatial navigation + short term memory, people were even required to walk myself around when out in public/at people's homes even mere metres as I'd get hopelessly lost anywhere & everywhere) - still had managed to retain the particular punchline/pun (you look for the Fresh Prince/fresh prints) + have now retained the winning German-vegetarian-pessimist joke the considerate mate kindly sent my way too - lucky you!
#availableforparties #importanttomymind #thanksbrain #cheersmates #laughteristhebestmedicine
Initial weeks post Stroke 2
November 2012
"Evolutionary psychologists describe humour as a 'heritable trait' that signals mental fitness and intellectual agility to prospective mates"
*Such funnies do not include sarcasm, ridicule and self-defeating humour
#jokesgettheblokes.
#jokesgettheblokes.
Ensuring to keep the mind's unharmed elements shining throughout this horrid + ever-extending ordeal is at the top of my priorities.
Thank you to all the kind family & mates for continually encouraging the therapeutic laughter.
Such is so very important to my health's progress & (of which I'm sure) to that of many people struggling through a similar situation -
Above:
Gearing up for the upcoming TEDx Talk by receiving quality messages of support #zachanson.
This is a prime example of how to support a stroke survivor with their life's updated ventures.
2.5 years post the last stroke tsunami
2.5 years post the last stroke tsunami
April 2015
Broaden-&-Build Theory -
It has been found that humour enhances our well-being through a virtuous circle effect.
It affects our thoughts, actions and psychological responses.
B & B Theory = Yes to LOLs
Broaden-&-Build Theory -
It has been found that humour enhances our well-being through a virtuous circle effect.
It affects our thoughts, actions and psychological responses.
B & B Theory = Yes to LOLs
Good ole wit increases comprehension & recall, in particular. Boom!
Above:
A wise and witty Jake Green (a relative stranger to us although he certainly would also appreciate that strokes get the blokes) offering his unique + somewhat supportive online feedback through a clever pun (and clear joke #wehope) during our 2015 TEDx Talk.
Thanks for the mind-enhancing laughs, Greeny!
FYI -
Above:
Sharing a healthy ole chuckle + appreciating my supportive sister's refreshing perspective about strokes & their extensive rehabilitation with a round of applause during our curiosity-themed
'Laughter Is The Best Medicine'
TEDx Talk
Sharing a healthy ole chuckle + appreciating my supportive sister's refreshing perspective about strokes & their extensive rehabilitation with a round of applause during our curiosity-themed
'Laughter Is The Best Medicine'
TEDx Talk
While it can be a bit of a laugh not recalling some people (definitely not all of them #memorablepeople) I've met later on despite their devoted efforts with such, blatantly (& immediately) forgetting people's names as well as completely forgetting who some (unfortunate) people I've met are is just scraping the surface of my particular brain injury's primary effects from catastrophic Stroke 2 that I've constantly been confronted with in my life's intended prime years - even now, close to a considerable 6 years on.
 |
At least I can now be as entertaining
as Seinfeld's Kramer was with his (traumatic) brain injury's particular amnesia effect #everycloudhasasilverlining |
Letting yourself down, despite investing so much time (the troublesome effects of my particular brain damage *squared* still cruelly follow my every move - 6 years on), determination and energy in such an important cause (your youthful life's ultimate progress) is a true learning curve that I am now grateful to have experienced for the strength and resilience gained in the end. Reflecting, I guess the disappointment vibes could be similar to that of an Olympian during the last 100m of a 20km race walk final who suddenly gets disqualified for a minor fault such as momentarily lifting both feet off ground (<<it even has a term - lifting infraction!) when comfortably in 1st place (low modality words, 'guess' and 'could', have intentionally been used in my comparison #notanolympian). Stroke Rehab can be disappointment central and being disappointed in yourself (especially during a hefty chunk of your life's intended glorious years when you were previously on a glistening mover-and-shaker path which you had proactively + passionately paved out yourself during the short time since leaving school) - irrespective of your brain damage being identified as 'unpreventable' and you constantly trying with all your might - is more heartbreaking than you may initially regard it to be. Do be kind to those stroke survivors constantly struggling through their damaged minds' barriers, loss & torment; it's considerably more than meets the eye.
Fortunately, regular occupational therapy and speech & language therapy as well as my own proactive stance (and that of my support network) during the years of (constant) rehabilitation have provided further strategies to assist in remembering names + faces and their connections as well as the cherished interactions that help shape the person we are. Such deliberate scaffolding measures are still necessary for my day-to-day life which is reminiscent of alcohol-drenched celebrations when (for example) you'd meet someone new that you appreciated so you'd take a photo of them, add their name in your phone's contacts (with a clever new last name you create which serves as a memory jogger - do you do the same thing? Finger-on-the-pulse comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, did a whole entertaining episode on such!) and because you worry you may forget (given the mind's 'memory reception', hippocampus, is noticeably harmed by excessive alcohol consumption, in particular, with regular alcohol misuse considered to, at times, cause a concerning form of dementia known as Korsakoff syndrome #alwaysdrinkinmoderation) who your newfound buddy is (or the very least, their name), you proactively (& promptly) send them the photo taken (via social media) with a little reference to your interaction to help you both properly lodge the memory of the blossoming, new friendship the following day when the tender brain isn't so compromised by alcohol.
You feel me, fellow hippocampus-hindered booze hounds?!
Below: How did the London hospital renowned for their comprehensive + advanced Neuro Ward tackle my broken brain's extreme lack of memory retention & spatial navigation together with the heightened anxiety + confusion in the immediate weeks following Stroke 2?
...By creating a simplified booklet that offered a brief lowdown on what had recently transpired.
Such a simple, yet incredibly effective + valuable, resource was always visible to reassure this bi-brain-damaged Kitty Kat that I was certainly alive (& not in a coma or dead like I was constantly insisting at the time - thank you for your kind patience + understanding, supporters!) and to act as an easily-accessible reminder of what was actually happening (as it took a while for my hippocampus-lacking brain to absorb the constant flow of updated information - especially given I was incorrectly diagnosed with a virus of the brain *encephalitis* by docs initially and not another stroke).
Those considerate nurses (cream of the crop specialise in mental health #motherduckvibes #mursegilly) surely had their patience (& patients heh!) tested with this forgetful + fretting feline!
This reassuring information booklet (above) was, along with my reliable smart phone (with its easily accessible text messages, emails, reminders & photographs) and a nifty notebook (<<regular ones brought in as gifts by clever + kind mates & family members upon frequently filling an entire notebook with my daily rambles - cheers!), constantly by my side while at St George's Hospital/Hotel.
This reassuring information booklet (above) was, along with my reliable smart phone (with its easily accessible text messages, emails, reminders & photographs) and a nifty notebook (<<regular ones brought in as gifts by clever + kind mates & family members upon frequently filling an entire notebook with my daily rambles - cheers!), constantly by my side while at St George's Hospital/Hotel.
London, U.K.
November - December 2012
November - December 2012
Your brain's memory and its effective processes can bring such immense joy -
Mum With Alzheimer's Disease Recognises Her Daughter
^^This certainly will make you feel the vast love and joy that come with the sacred ability to remember.
^^This certainly will make you feel the vast love and joy that come with the sacred ability to remember.
Discover even more about the brain's memory processes -
How Do We Remember & Why Do We Often Forget?
+
Why Are Memory & Fear So Entangled With Human Consciousness & Mental Health?
How Do We Remember & Why Do We Often Forget?
+
Why Are Memory & Fear So Entangled With Human Consciousness & Mental Health?
Given the brain's Left Hemisphere controls the right side of one's body and the Right Hemisphere controls the left side, damage (to a brain's hemisphere) will result in mirrored effects to your (physical) being.
(...& it may *<<operative word* not be because it's designed like a footy game, eyyy)
It has been suggested that the brain's hemispheres each have distinct strengths & weaknesses -
* The right brain is said to be quite intuitive,
meaning it tends to be led by feelings,
meaning it tends to be led by feelings,
while the left brain is considered analytical, meaning it is generally led by
a logical approach towards problems
a logical approach towards problems
* The right brain tends to make lateral connection
from the derived information,
whereas the left brain tends to make logical deductions from the derived information from the derived information,
* The right brain is considered visual, stressing on music and pattern,
while the left brain is said to be verbal, stressing on words, numbers and symbols
* Right-brained people tend to struggle with mathematical formulas
and words to express themselves,
and words to express themselves,
however left-brained people are considered quite skilful at memorising
mathematical formulas and also expressing themselves pretty well
mathematical formulas and also expressing themselves pretty well
* In those with right-brain domination, organisational skills are considered to be poor,
on the other hand, people with left-brain domination often are highly organised
* People with right-brain strengths tend to not give attention to minute details,
but people with left-brain strengths tend to focus on each &
every minute detail + step taken
* When given a task of assembling a particular thing,
right-brain people are said to start working promptly
without reading the instructions,
right-brain people are said to start working promptly
without reading the instructions,
while left-brain people seem to carefully go
through the instructions and then start working
through the instructions and then start working
* When people with right-brain domination communicate,
they tend to make many gestures with their hands,
contrary to which people with left-brain domination
are said to hardly use gestures when communicating
are said to hardly use gestures when communicating
* The right brain is designed to listen to 'how' something is being said,
whereas the left brain is designed to listen to 'what' is being said
*Although right-brained people are considered to not always rationalise thoughts
and have a tendency to question the rules,
and have a tendency to question the rules,
left-brained people are thought of as those who
rarely question the rules, instead they readily accept them
* People with a dominant right brain are said to have difficulty in
prioritising items, which makes them execute
in a hurry and at the last moment,
prioritising items, which makes them execute
in a hurry and at the last moment,
whereas people with dominant left brain tend to be well versed
with planning the future which ensures they are prepared well in advance
Have you identified which brain hemisphere your mind tends to favour?
Complement such today -
Fascinating stroke recount film offers insight into suffering a catastrophic stroke -
- A creative joint project by captivating visual artist, Daksha Patel, The University of Manchester + UK's Stroke Association.
Do enlighten your mind with this quality mind-enhancing film!
'Wander & wonder' through therapeutic horse riding -
Getting back on the exuberant horse of LIFE!
Explore the positive effects of horses even more -
Riding a horse is considered part of 'rhythm therapy' where patients showcase their plastic mind's improvements through various cognitive functions by demanding hand and feet movements, as well as visual & audio clues, core + leg strength, introspection and working memory.
Impressive brain commands not to be sneezed at!
Furthermore, a recent study of stroke survivors using rhythm therapy with horses as part of each of their injured mind's rehabilitation found that after just 12 weeks, the horse's rhythmic vibrations had given them an increased perception of improvement
- higher than those in rhythm and music therapy + those in the control group.
Giddy up!
"The combination of social, physical, cognitive challenges and stimulation adds together in a form of synergy to stimulate the brain"
said Australian-based Professor Michael Nilsson (from Hunter Medical Research Institute),
"the horse's back creates a sensory experience that closely resembles normal human gait and is beneficial for stroke survivors."
It's about time we stimulated our hungry minds with such a multi-sensory adventure!
You may have also pondered this impressive natural mental ability of the gentle giants -said Australian-based Professor Michael Nilsson (from Hunter Medical Research Institute),
"the horse's back creates a sensory experience that closely resembles normal human gait and is beneficial for stroke survivors."
It's about time we stimulated our hungry minds with such a multi-sensory adventure!
How Horses Find Their Way Home
*It doesn't always involve the magnificent beasts following their old manure tracks and hoof prints!
Such a majestic mammal has quite the intriguing thinking tool that differs to ours in its logic -
The Mind Of A Horse
Have you too also wondered this captivating human mind capability -
Why You Never Forget How To Ride A Bike
(*Or A Horse Or Even A Camel)
Such a majestic mammal has quite the intriguing thinking tool that differs to ours in its logic -
The Mind Of A Horse
Have you too also wondered this captivating human mind capability -
Why You Never Forget How To Ride A Bike
(*Or A Horse Or Even A Camel)
BMX bandit!
Berlin Germany
Obviously, still being able to (exquisitely) balance on a horse/bike after two major strokes all comes down to the fact that the part of the mind responsible for such - + posture, coordination of voluntary movements, motor learning & function (cerebellum *meaning - 'little brain' = ca-ute*, see location and size/shape, below) - was fortunately not affected by 2012's dual fires in the brain so I am still able to relish in my childhood's love of therapeutic, multi-sensory & empowering equestrian despite losing a baboon's worth of neurons (approximate figure).
Seeing as I still tend to particularly struggle with spatial navigation as a confronting effect of Stroke 2, the noble horse, with their mind's remarkable spatial navigation, can now be in complete charge of where we go + how we get back to the stable.
Always looking for the silver lining!
Berlin Germany
Obviously, still being able to (exquisitely) balance on a horse/bike after two major strokes all comes down to the fact that the part of the mind responsible for such - + posture, coordination of voluntary movements, motor learning & function (cerebellum *meaning - 'little brain' = ca-ute*, see location and size/shape, below) - was fortunately not affected by 2012's dual fires in the brain so I am still able to relish in my childhood's love of therapeutic, multi-sensory & empowering equestrian despite losing a baboon's worth of neurons (approximate figure).
Seeing as I still tend to particularly struggle with spatial navigation as a confronting effect of Stroke 2, the noble horse, with their mind's remarkable spatial navigation, can now be in complete charge of where we go + how we get back to the stable.
Always looking for the silver lining!
Despite accounting for just 10% of your mind's total volume (highlighted in magenta, above), the brain's 'backseat bandit', cerebellum, contains about 50% of your total number of neurons and regulates all movements & speech muscles + maintains balance & coordination.
A stroke to your 'little brain' can result in paralysis on both sides of the body (known as locked-in syndrome).
Cerebellum = though she be but little, she is fierce.
Old literary mate, Shakespeare, style.
A captivating podcast about a truly awful effect of stroke, locked-in syndrome -
All In The Mind:
Locked-In Syndrome
Be inspired and deeply moved by this fascinating recount about coming back stronger after a catastrophic brain attack of the cerebellum -
Be inspired and deeply moved by this fascinating recount about coming back stronger after a catastrophic brain attack of the cerebellum -
Above: Wally Ballard's blood clot at the base of his brain (cerebellum) - which caused a stroke - was taken out using a nifty little stent (right).
It certainly looks like a framer!
Classic TV animation, The Simpsons, chimed in on the utter horror of being locked in your own body by paralysis in one of its episodes. Instead of stroke, Homer is bitten by a spider, causing similar effects to a brain attack of the cerebellum (see still image from episode, below right) and such a morbid storyline is in fact inspired by a fascinating true story about young stroke survivor, Jean-Dominique Bauby. Bauby (below) courageously dictated an acclaimed book after a 1995 cerebellum stroke that confined him to his body's 'prison', where comparisons to being like that of a 'jellyfish' were made, before his untimely passing just a few years later from heart failure. Bauby's profound memoir was the inspiration behind the remarkable film, The Diving Bell & The Butterfly (The Simpsons' episode, in particular, that too took inspiration from Bauby, was renamed The Diving Bell & The Butterball, still frame - below right).
Bauby = A truly remarkable being.
Above:
Bauby in the aftermath of his December 1995 stroke, dictating to Claude Medibil through communicating by using his one (spared) functioning eye.
Bauby in the aftermath of his December 1995 stroke, dictating to Claude Medibil through communicating by using his one (spared) functioning eye.
As you realise the substantial time that one can be subjected to extreme isolation and constant challenges faced through something so horrific that in actual fact could happen to anyone (and it's purely by luck that my particular strokes struck different lobes of the brain to Bauby's stroke, stroke sufferers aren't always spared of debilitating physical ramifications, in particular), including the confronting, ever-extending rehabilitation journey (that too is chronicled in The Simpsons' episode with the cruel acceptance so aggressively & constantly right up in Homer's face), it may become difficult for some to accept that it's sometimes just 'luck of the draw' that stroke picks you and with it, which part of the brain it strikes + the extent of such (even if rushed to hospital the moment you have a stroke - ala my second stroke - you could still not receive appropriate medical assistance promptly when time is brain).
Fortunately for Homer, like Bauby & I, he still had his overall intelligence (which seems to so often be the case with brain injuries) so Lisa quickly discovered a unique way her father could communicate with her (and thus, all the while, recovering *in Homer's particular spider bite case*).
Despite my physical ailments being minor (and I have never complained about the 50% vision loss - that not even prescription glasses could help with, just stuck that way - nor the loss of sensation down my body's RHS or the slight RHS weakness acquired from Stroke 1 as my various cognitive ailments caused by Stroke 2 far outweigh my strokes' particular physical effects), I (still) require assistance in most aspects of my daily life - while in my otherwise prime years of 20s - 30s (just imagine that being forced upon you through no direct fault of yours at such a vital & previously-promising time in your life) although independence & responsibilities are slowly but surely growing (close to a whopping 6 years on of full-time care & rehab) thanks to good ole scaffolding, attitude, adaptation, time & divine Neuroplasticity.
If only my brain's restrictions - and that of other stroke survivors struggling to live on - could promptly be cured by simply farting like Homer Simpson did, we'd be laughing (albeit at a safe distance away from each other)!
Dive head first (<<no pun intended #brainblog) into what it can be like to live with the various ramifications of a brain injury with intriguing insight from those who have experienced the harsh aftermath firsthand -
"It's like feeling lost in a completely familiar place"
"It's like your brain is a puzzle and the pieces are scattered all over the place"
"It's like a poor Wi-Fi signal"
Mmmhmmm girlfriends/manfriends
Having a deep sleep while in the midst of an otherwise stimulating 'footy trip' girls' weekend away
=
Sure fire signs of this Kitty Kat being newly brain damaged and suffering from intense mental exhaustionAt least Rexy gave out some decent spoons!
15 months post second stroke, in the extreme depths of brain damage effects
Byron Bay, Australia
January 2014
Helping Others Understand Post-Stroke Fatigue
Outsiders can be quick to judge, yet slow to understand
We tend to fear things we don't grasp & judge the things we fear
Outsiders can be quick to judge, yet slow to understand
We tend to fear things we don't grasp & judge the things we fear
Did you know?
Sleep Shrinks The Brain's Synapses To Make Room For New Learning
Snooze away - for your sacred mind's sake!
Who knew that the bumpy ole brain is like the ever-efficient chimney sweepers of London's yesteryear?
Our Clever Brains Sweep Themselves Clean Of Toxins While We Sleep
'Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee, a sweep is as lucky as lucky can be'!
*Every single day/hour/minute/second
Here, here!
Thank you to my clever cousin, Izzy W, for sharing these wise words on the constant cerebral challenges one has to battle when suffering from a mental illness/injury.
Sleep Shrinks The Brain's Synapses To Make Room For New Learning
Snooze away - for your sacred mind's sake!
Who knew that the bumpy ole brain is like the ever-efficient chimney sweepers of London's yesteryear?
Our Clever Brains Sweep Themselves Clean Of Toxins While We Sleep
'Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee, a sweep is as lucky as lucky can be'!
*Every single day/hour/minute/second
Here, here!
Thank you to my clever cousin, Izzy W, for sharing these wise words on the constant cerebral challenges one has to battle when suffering from a mental illness/injury.
Top tips on genuinely being a supporter/friend/pump for those living with depression, in particular:
What Never To Say To Someone With Depression
What Never To Say To Someone With Depression
The future of stroke identification & its treatment -
Stroke Finder Helmet Hailed A Game Changer For Quick Diagnosis
This nifty new device for testing your noggin' could very well be the future (<<'future' said in alluring whisper). The innovative stroke finder helmet (below) is currently being trialled by Australian researchers/legends to assist medics in saving lives by promptly intervening before severe brain damage is sustained.
Stroke Finder Helmet Hailed A Game Changer For Quick Diagnosis
This nifty new device for testing your noggin' could very well be the future (<<'future' said in alluring whisper). The innovative stroke finder helmet (below) is currently being trialled by Australian researchers/legends to assist medics in saving lives by promptly intervening before severe brain damage is sustained.
As you stroke smarties so wisely reading this brain blog very well know by now, time lost is brain lost when there's a 'stroke-fire' aggressively burning in the mind, so having a portable stroke finder helmet in the ambulance will mean precious time is utilised to its best potential by identifying what kind of stroke (bleed or clot types of stroke require different medical treatment) at first point of contact (by medics present) for a possible stroke sufferer.
You little ready ripper!
Above: Identifying stroke promptly while still in the ambulance en route to hospital with a savvy stroke finder helmet
Strokes Do NOT Discriminate -
An Australian Student In Year Six Suffered A Stroke While At School
Quick action - and an awareness that stroke can strike at any age - meant this particular young stroke sister (discussed in enlightening article, above) received appropriate medical assistance immediately after becoming unresponsive when she felt the sudden urge to lie down on the ground during a running race at school.
An Australian Student In Year Six Suffered A Stroke While At School
Quick action - and an awareness that stroke can strike at any age - meant this particular young stroke sister (discussed in enlightening article, above) received appropriate medical assistance immediately after becoming unresponsive when she felt the sudden urge to lie down on the ground during a running race at school.
A stroke to the brain's frontal lobe - considered your being's 'control panel' - was then diagnosed upon her swift admission to hospital in June 2017.
Get the lowdown on common stroke symptoms with this memorable & highly effective jingle and you may just save lives like a true blue hero -
Stroke Heroes Act FAST.
Stroke Heroes Act FAST.
USA's National Stroke Association has created an informative clip to help shine a light on those who unfortunately experience stroke early in their life -
Young Stroke:
An Unexpected Reality
Young Stroke:
An Unexpected Reality
Recent must-read articles concerning the surge in strokes specifically striking the youth:
Stroke Is On The Rise Among Younger Adults
+
First-Time Strokes Are Happening Earlier In Life
+
MORE Millennials Are Having Strokes
Such aggressive brain attacks can strike anyone at ANY age -
Currently, 15% of ischemic strokes occur in young adults or adolescents
(so that means for every 6-7 strokes, a youthful soul is to be the recipient of one = a stroke during a person's prime years of life is not a rare event) and such a concerning figure is increasing with every year.
Stroke Is On The Rise Among Younger Adults
+
First-Time Strokes Are Happening Earlier In Life
+
MORE Millennials Are Having Strokes
Such aggressive brain attacks can strike anyone at ANY age -
Currently, 15% of ischemic strokes occur in young adults or adolescents
(so that means for every 6-7 strokes, a youthful soul is to be the recipient of one = a stroke during a person's prime years of life is not a rare event) and such a concerning figure is increasing with every year.
The promising news is that up to 80% of strokes can be prevented
(unlike my Special K strokes that were in the 20% 'unpreventable' category, in particular) by
Experts suggest we all should regularly get medical checks of our blood pressure (<<aka 'the silent killer' for obvious reasons - do watch this incredibly creepy, yet effective, Australian educational ad from yesteryear).
causes about half of all ischemic strokes and also increases the risk for haemorrhagic strokes.
Learn more about 'the silent killer'.
Stroke pros recommend increasing your physical activity + watching your diet (if necessary) as being overweight increases your stroke risk by 22% and it goes up to a startling 64% if you are obese.
Clever health professionals also suggest we avoid smoking + drink in moderation (<<stroke smart red wine is probably what the docs would say is the best option for such, right?!).
Such harmful vices lead to an increased risk of stroke.
Such harmful vices lead to an increased risk of stroke.
It's important to worth nothing that not all strokes can be prevented
(nor are they necessarily caused by hypertension, age, diet, exercise &or weight) -
a considerable 1 in 5 brain attacks are currently regarded as unpreventable
(such as the two life-changing ones that struck my otherwise healthy being at 26 - remember #perfectanatomy #perfectbloodpressure #perfectcholesterollevels #overalllowstrokeriskstatus #twotimeyoungstrokerecipient #almostsixyearsstillrehabilitating)
(nor are they necessarily caused by hypertension, age, diet, exercise &or weight) -
a considerable 1 in 5 brain attacks are currently regarded as unpreventable
(such as the two life-changing ones that struck my otherwise healthy being at 26 - remember #perfectanatomy #perfectbloodpressure #perfectcholesterollevels #overalllowstrokeriskstatus #twotimeyoungstrokerecipient #almostsixyearsstillrehabilitating)
Recently, the world-renowned New York Times got my attention with their informative article on the benefits of regularly having a few blood-thinning, stroke-smart glasses of red wine (<<'red wine for the mind' has such a ring to it!) and they again impressed my hungry + hopeful mind not too long ago with a fascinating archived article when they shone a light on stroke survivors, in particular, and how they coped/struggled during the challenging years in the cruel aftermath of their respective brain explosions.
Be aware and considerate of stroke survivors and their continuing status as current + worthy citizens of your world.
Uncommon Causes Of Stroke
It's always better to be in the know (take my word, I'm a pro!)
It's always better to be in the know (take my word, I'm a pro!)
Why You're At A Higher Risk Of Stroke If You Have Diabetes
Did you know?
When Your Body Needs Nourishment, Your Brain Eats First
On a typical day, your hungry mind uses 1/5 of your body's fuel supplies.
Greedy noggin!
When Your Body Needs Nourishment, Your Brain Eats First
On a typical day, your hungry mind uses 1/5 of your body's fuel supplies.
Greedy noggin!
In particular, good ole porridge is considered a 'miracle food' as credible research claims (on top of keeping you regular hehe!) those creamy oats clean arteries, reduce blood pressure + bad cholesterol and also help protect from cancer.
Whoop whoop/nomnomnom!
Food, glorious food.
Food, glorious food.
Holy moly, those stroke smart porridge breaky bites (above) certainly put a smile on my troubled dial when I was an (entertaining) inpatient.
Thank you, generous NHS!
A few days post Stroke 1
Neuro Ward
Charing Cross Hospital
London U.K.
July 2012
*Obviously call 000 if you're Down Under
#appcomingsoon #notreally
Multi-award winning Hollywood Film,
Still Alice,
Shines A Light On Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease.
Still Alice,
Shines A Light On Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease.
In the profound film, Alice's (otherwise) well-educated husband (played by actor, Alec Baldwin) doesn't seem to grasp the grave concerns she is trying to express about her mental processes despite Alice (played by actor, Julianne Moore) offering him a clear description of what she is experiencing -
"I got lost while I was running on campus a while ago and I can’t remember appointments, words.
It’s like something drops out from under me.”
(still frame, below).
From my experiences (and that of my support network), people have rarely shown that they precisely grasp these soul-destroying brain injuries, the true extent of their tragic effects (<direct/indirect) and the tormenting, ever-extending path I've been forced on during the past 5+ years and growing.
In fact, I've found some of those who would otherwise be considered well-educated can be (definitely not all of them!) far more arrogant about their (presumed) level of awareness so are less likely to properly absorb the situation & accurately grasp what is truly happening to a young person they know who is bravely trying to live on despite constant + extreme challenges thrown at them & one who is continually struggling to find a new purpose in their updated life nor are such people generally willing to delve into the nightmarish situation in a more in-depth manner due to their own cocky arrogance surrounding their presumed knowledge and understanding.
Take on board. Always be open to being an active learner, no matter how much you (think you) know.
Above:
The confronting scene from the award-winning film, Still Alice, when the demise of the brain's hippocampus means Alice gets lost while out on her usual and otherwise simple run around her work's once-was-familiar (university) campus (which some viewers may regard as unbelievable given how 'basic' such a skill should be - believe it, I'm in the know. I still get lost in people's simple homes that I've been to countless times) highlights the devastating commencement of Alzheimer's disease (<<which kills the mind's spatial-navigation & memory-formation epicentre, the hippocampus, first).
I feel ya, sister.
Getting lost in new settings is one thing; being aware of constantly losing your bearings when you know it should be so simple to avoid and actively trying (in vain) to retain is a whole other ballgame of torment experienced when one loses their brain's hippocampus.
Discover even more about your your mind's advanced functions -
Given the human mind's hard-working hippocampus tends to be the first part of the brain to die when one is struck with Alzheimer's disease, I can definitely relate to how Alice reacts in this insightful film that exquisitely chronicles her mind's particular deterioration. Tragically, the Oscar-winning film shows the digression of Alice from being a senior lecturer at a university to losing the majority of her brain's physical and mental processes and with it, the sacred ability to work while in her life's (intended) prime, be independent like a typical adult & progress in life as she so rightly deserves and so cruelly witnesses everyone she knows but her achieving.
It's far more devastating than you may initially realise.
It's far more devastating than you may initially realise.
Lost (figuratively and literally), desperate to be taken seriously by others (who are so quick & harsh to lay judgement on someone who is forgetful of the 'small stuff') & to improve her life to that which is (hopefully) again worth living for, with a confronting & challenging inability to now do simple tasks which most people (including herself prior to the aggressive disease's takeover) take for granted.
The haunting (+ completely unwarranted) way some react & treat people with cognitive impairments, in particular, memory impairments, is also clearly expressed in Still Alice.
As the thought-provoking film boldly shines a light on, there are those who have their own preconceived expectations (that typically are low & unfairly assessed, only highlighting those particular people with poor insight & intellect into our advanced human minds) and severe judgements are made about how the person suffering from such a brain barrier should behave (because they would have any idea?!) & this can cloud the opinion, care and respect of those surrounding (the concerning scene from the film when one of Alice's young daughters discusses her mum's health situation as if Alice isn't even in the same room when she's actually sitting right next to her daughter at the dinner table is a prime example of the lack of respect, understanding & consideration that can be experienced from even those you personally know well), making the message abundantly clear that since acquiring a disease/injury of the brain, one tends to then be considered a lesser human by many.
As the thought-provoking film boldly shines a light on, there are those who have their own preconceived expectations (that typically are low & unfairly assessed, only highlighting those particular people with poor insight & intellect into our advanced human minds) and severe judgements are made about how the person suffering from such a brain barrier should behave (because they would have any idea?!) & this can cloud the opinion, care and respect of those surrounding (the concerning scene from the film when one of Alice's young daughters discusses her mum's health situation as if Alice isn't even in the same room when she's actually sitting right next to her daughter at the dinner table is a prime example of the lack of respect, understanding & consideration that can be experienced from even those you personally know well), making the message abundantly clear that since acquiring a disease/injury of the brain, one tends to then be considered a lesser human by many.
Devastatingly, the strokes that killed major components of my young mind in 2012 made myself feel like I had - without any direct doing on my part, as if some fierce tsunami cruelly, suddenly & uncontrollably engulfed my brain and my life - lost everything I had so proudly achieved by 26 and although there has been a small glimmer of my former youthful life fortunately regained, most has been cruelly swept away by the aggressive 'stroke tsunami' - never to return - and I'm essentially alone (for the most part, although there certainly are some full-time + genuine *volunteer* supporters pumping myself up #youbeauties) in such intense & constant suffering as I desperately try to rebuild because most of my peers in the 'real world' are relishing their prime, not wanting to get involved (/too involved) in what I'm going through because it's not yet considered 'en vogue' to do so for stroke sufferers and/or those with brain barriers as it is with other illnesses #shellberight.
If you take anything from the award-winning film, Still Alice, & from my own particular insight into the compromised mind of a young, otherwise flourishing, soul, I hope it is that it is an utter tragedy to lose any part of your advanced mind's memory and/or its sophisticated functions, abilities & traits, but despite such, society should always treat those who have brain woes with respect, consideration and consistency for we are still here and we are still human, with the same amount of desires and dreams as you.
Otherwise, I shall challenge you to a strenuous game of table tennis, Trivial Pursuit and/or even a little ole rap battle while cantering on a bucking brumby through the wild Aussie bush to prove to you that despite roughly losing a baboon's worth of neurons, I can STILL beat you at various mind exercises!
In one poignant scene (that truly speaks volumes), Alice tells her husband she would rather have cancer -
"When you have cancer, people wear ribbons, go on walks.
Your family and friends support you."
Currently, this is the awful, yet honest, stance set by present society concerning the difference between cancer & stroke sufferers.
is the 2nd largest cause of death worldwide (after heart disease not cancer, I should add), can be simply unavoidable (approximately 1 in 5 strokes *20%* currently cannot be prevented at all, no matter what)
& (really take this one in) is the NUMBER 1 cause of adult disability
(which drastically affects a person in the long run more so in countless aspects of their newfound challenging life)?
Such an ignorant attitude towards catastrophic brain attacks + diseases of the mind, their severity & the lingering, often alienating, aftermath certainly needs to change now and proactive education is key.
Why do stroke + stroke survivors constantly get dismissed by our current society?
Stroke is MORE common than ALL forms of cancer & (if you are the mere 1/3 who survive past the initial few years post a brain attack) it has a far higher rate of long-term adult disability as a result, which requires considerably more extensive support & consideration than the aftermath of cancer.
It's the advanced functions of our human brain that we lose,
not a part of our body that can be removed, fixed, altered and/or replaced.
Please take on board.
"Good morning. It's an honour to be here.
The poet, Elizabeth Bishop, once wrote:
'The art of losing isn't hard to master. So many things seem filled with the intent to be lost...that their loss is no disaster.'
'The art of losing isn't hard to master. So many things seem filled with the intent to be lost...that their loss is no disaster.'
I am not a poet. I am a person living with early onset Alzheimer's.
And as that person, I find myself learning the art of losing every day.
Losing my bearings, losing objects, losing sleep...but mostly, losing memories."
All my life, I've accumulated memories.
They've become, in a way, my most precious possessions.
… I am not suffering. I am struggling.
Struggling to be a part of things...to stay connected to who I once was.
So 'live in the moment', I tell myself. It's really all I can do. Live in the moment. And not beat myself up too much...for mastering the art of losing…"Struggling to be a part of things...to stay connected to who I once was.
- Alice (played by Hollywood actor, Julianne Moore, who recently won a prestigious Academy Award for her honest portrayal of Alice), offering frank insight into living with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease & how it uncontrollably affects your every moment + your future hopes & desires. Alice's enlightening speech about her particular experiences and perspective (below) certainly shows haunting similiarties to what I have been cruelly challenged with over the past six years since suddenly losing my brain's hippocampus (which too is killed at the start of Alzheimer's disease). As Strokes Get The Blokes blog subscribers are well aware, reading anything of substance actually requires advanced functions of your mind which includes that of its hippocampus, so an innovative Alice, below, uses a nifty highlighter pen to ensure that she is able to simply follow what part of the text she has read up to during her profound speech about living with younger onset Alzheimer's disease.
Oh, I feel you, scaffolding superstar!
In a particularly poignant Still Alice scene that certainly strikes a chord through my own experiences with losing a smorgasbord of the human brain's sophisticated abilities during one's prime (yet also managing to retain my true character & overall intelligence #justaskmyself), Alice, in sheer desperation as a result of others unfairly showing her a concerning lack of respect and understanding during the early stages of younger onset Alzheimer's disease forthrightly asks -
Oh, I feel you, scaffolding superstar!
"why won't you take me seriously?"
I know what I am feeling.
It feels like my brain is dying and everything I have worked for in my entire life is going.”
One incredibly thought-provoking piece of dialogue by Julianne Moore's character, Alice - an accomplished linguistics professor at Columbia University who suffers from early onset Alzheimer's disease - that truly tugged at the heartstrings with who I am/who I have to be during this challenging, constant + continually-growing life 'chapter' where being treated with no/little regard or respect by some ignorant sorts has been a real (and somewhat now expected) scenario experienced.
Did you know?
Having a mental illness does not necessarily mean a person lacks intelligence.
Having a mental illness does not necessarily mean a person lacks intelligence.
On the contrary,
there is a distinct link between some mental illnesses and heightened intelligence.
there is a distinct link between some mental illnesses and heightened intelligence.
It has been proven time and time again, yet Alice's desperate question posed to others (above) and the vast angst that is caused due to the general lack of respect & understanding of the complex human mind are real (yet unwarranted) issues for those dealing with mind woes.
'Dementia' is a Latin word with a meaning that is not 'retardation', 'stupidity' or 'insanity' like people so often treat it as, but rather, it translates simply to 'mind away'.
Those suffering from such devastating diseases of the mind ought to be acknowledged, congratulated & celebrated for endeavouring to live their lives to their best potential despite the constant cerebral challenges & daily obstacles at simply functioning, as well as ensuring to hone in on their compromised minds' spared strengths.
Furthermore, bringing such brutal brain barriers to the forefront of society should draw us closer together as a species, yet the present trend set is to shun away people with diseases of the mind who, as a result, currently then tend to be ashamed of who they are and far too often try to avoid worrying/annoying others with their real, no matter how devastating, lives for fear of unfair judgement and/or abandonment.
Furthermore, bringing such brutal brain barriers to the forefront of society should draw us closer together as a species, yet the present trend set is to shun away people with diseases of the mind who, as a result, currently then tend to be ashamed of who they are and far too often try to avoid worrying/annoying others with their real, no matter how devastating, lives for fear of unfair judgement and/or abandonment.
Have you noticed this yourself? I certainly have, time and time again.
We must live the changes we want to see in the world - Gandhi style!
Below:
Signals travelling through the brain's 'neuron forest' form the basis of memories, thoughts and feelings.
Discover more -
(such advanced wiring shown in vibrant brain image, above)Did you know?
A typical adult brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells, or 'neurons', with branches that connect at more than 100 trillion points.
Magnificent mind!
Scientists call this dense, branching network a "neuron forest" to help us visualise the goings-on in our complex brain.
The hard yards of your advanced mind are performed by its individual cells - all 100-billion-odd of them.
A truly fascinating topic.
Neuron Forest
Let's explore something of sheer significance to our being -
Discover more about what makes you, glorious ole you!
How some clever countries are supporting those who acquire dementia -
Dutch Village For People With Dementia
There has shown to be a rise in such socially progressive villages in the renowned innovative country, The Netherlands.
Such refreshing villages like Hogeweyk are considered 'the happiest places on Earth' as they have specific elements that are reminiscent of the world from 'back in the day' - in hope to trigger the residents' long-term memories that are now regarded as one of the last brain elements to go (because the mind's hippocampus tends to be killed first by dementia, which processes your short-term memory + spatial navigation, anything recent could confuse and frighten residents, often causing them to feel disconnected from current society).
Dutch Village For People With Dementia
There has shown to be a rise in such socially progressive villages in the renowned innovative country, The Netherlands.
Such refreshing villages like Hogeweyk are considered 'the happiest places on Earth' as they have specific elements that are reminiscent of the world from 'back in the day' - in hope to trigger the residents' long-term memories that are now regarded as one of the last brain elements to go (because the mind's hippocampus tends to be killed first by dementia, which processes your short-term memory + spatial navigation, anything recent could confuse and frighten residents, often causing them to feel disconnected from current society).
Learn more about Hogeweyk.
Even some clever British care centres have created replica streets from the 1950s (see below) to encourage patients to feel connected to the world again & take comfort in the ability to remember their long-term memories that are still able to initially be accessed when short-term memories are lost.
Even some clever British care centres have created replica streets from the 1950s (see below) to encourage patients to feel connected to the world again & take comfort in the ability to remember their long-term memories that are still able to initially be accessed when short-term memories are lost.
Furthermore, the refreshingly advanced Dutch community has created living quarters where both old and young adults live in perfect harmony, ultimately complementing their respective strengths & appreciating the finer things in life that they otherwise may have completely missed without the gained alternative perspective -
My 93-Year-Old Flatmate
My 93-Year-Old Flatmate
*I reckon you'd especially appreciate when the young sorts teach their older roomies about beer pong (a lovely granny precisely describing the rules of the new game will make your heart melt) and their regular check-ins (below), including when one of the young lads introduces his new girlfriend to his older housemates so they can later give him valued feedback with their wise outlook on life.
A truly splendid + invigorating community.
Above:
23-year-old Jurrien Mentink has quality chats with his 93-year-old roomie, Joke van Beek
23-year-old Jurrien Mentink has quality chats with his 93-year-old roomie, Joke van Beek
at The Netherlands' Humanitas Retirement Home
Discover more about such a refreshing community concept -
The Joy Of Intergenerational Living
The Joy Of Intergenerational Living
Enlighten your mind -
Nine Things You May Not Know About Your Memory But Should #Iwilltrytoremember
Above: Located deep inside your brain, in the medial temporal lobe's limbic system (<< the 'big boss' of higher mental functions, spatial navigation, new memory encoding + primitive emotion #vitalhumanbeingabilities, above), is your mind's sacred hippocampus.
Read all about it -
At my life's intended prime of 26 years of age, one of the basic tests (<'basic' to one who is not missing their brain's crucial hippocampus, depicted in image, above) I was confronted with straight upon hospital admission (x 2) was to make a cup of tea (for someone else as I most certainly was not allowed caffeine for years due to a confronting and dreadful death/coma paranoia that came with being so alert while having a bi-broken brain).
Can you actually believe it?
It's a pretty simple task and some would even say, patronising, considering what I had been capable of just a few days before.
Yet such sequencing and recall of specific orders with an otherwise-basic exercise truly challenged my mind and the worst part -
I was completely aware from the start that it shouldn't be so complicated
which only caused more intense anguish and inner torment.
Consider this -
the invisible effects of a brain injury are far more extensive, constant and challenging than the visible ones.
"It was during this time that I realised how little I’d known about strokes –
how little so many people know about them.
It wasn’t just a learning curve for my grandmother but for me too.
Something that’s echoed with Sodderland’s family in the documentary;
stroke recovery is a team effort.
stroke recovery is a team effort.
There’s a philosophical question at the heart of My Beautiful Broken Brain:
‘If the physical body – the brain, is damaged, does this extend to damage to the self?’
Through Sodderland’s journey into how to overcome a traumatic brain injury, we as viewers get to explore the complexity of the human mind.
It’s not always an easy watch but it will educate and inspire and leave watchers with the message that our brains are always beautiful."
- journalist Natalie Xenos reflecting on the unique complexities & enlightenment within Netflix's My Beautiful Broken Brain
After her soul-shattering stroke that also struck while in her 20s, Sodderland (above) had to relearn how to read (far more challenging than the first time around as a child with a fresh + incredibly plastic mind) - even the most basic of words - as well as finding the right words to express herself (aphasia), writing and simply making herself a cuppa.
"An exquisite painful nightmare"
are the graphic words Sodderland uses to so vividly describe her young life in the aftermath of stroke that I could not agree with more.
Learn the signs of stroke with this
educational link right meow.
For your viewing pleasure (don't mention it, old mates!) -
*Because this is a brain blog after all
Pun Intended.
Unlike this Kitty Kat (at present day), there are some fine felines with such impressive memory banks that they ought to be considered gifted.
Do check out these clever kitties (<<liiiink) that showcase eidetic memory (aka photographic memory) at its finest.
Eat your heart out, Rainman/Raymond
(the movie + the real-life man the fascinating film was inspired by, Kim Peek - whose particular mind's two hippocampi *what this Special K tragically lost in 2012* were not connected which meant he had exceptional memory skills that were then honed in on by going to Las Vegas to count cards/gamble with his bro and win a plentiful supply of cash).
(the movie + the real-life man the fascinating film was inspired by, Kim Peek - whose particular mind's two hippocampi *what this Special K tragically lost in 2012* were not connected which meant he had exceptional memory skills that were then honed in on by going to Las Vegas to count cards/gamble with his bro and win a plentiful supply of cash).
Did you know?
If you were a fluffy little kitty kat, it is suggested that your nifty feline brain would have immediately decided if you were a 'lefty' or a 'righty' (in regards to your particular paw domination) purely based on your gender!
If you were a fluffy little kitty kat, it is suggested that your nifty feline brain would have immediately decided if you were a 'lefty' or a 'righty' (in regards to your particular paw domination) purely based on your gender!
Male = Lefty
Female = Righty
It's said to be that simple!
It's said to be that simple!
The evidence seems to be rather convincing and ever so intriguing - do test it out yourself (play a cricket one-dayer with a kitty and see which paw they bowl/bat with, perhaps?!).
You could even make cheeky bets with those not in the know (fools) and then show off your genius knowledge (...in the advanced studies of felinology - meow!).
You could even make cheeky bets with those not in the know (fools) and then show off your genius knowledge (...in the advanced studies of felinology - meow!).
K2, above, is wanting a high five with their dominant paw, righty, so you'd be correct in deducing with your newfound kitty wisdom that such a cutie pie is indeed a little lady!
Boom!
Battle Of The Sexes:
#science
Women are better at remembering things (including remembering to remember - known as prospective memory. Apologies for bringing our score down atm, sisters!) than men (/at everything, in general) which is no surprise there (forgetting significant dates in a relationship is pretty standard and renowned for lads so now they can simply blame the brain they were born with!), but the splendid news is that men can boost their memory by helping out around the home*.
You beauty!
(*This is not a paid advertisement)
(*This is not a paid advertisement)
Feed your mind with this intriguing article -
Why Do Women Have Better Memories Than Men?
Secret Life Of Five Year Olds - Gender Shaming, Love & Friendship
Below:
Lucky little Kitty!
If you ever want to get a closer glimpse into the intriguing, yet constantly-challenging, life of this Special K, simply get yourself 'blackout drunk', as the more alcohol you drink, the less active your brain's hippocampus (epicentre for memory, spatial navigation and controlling of emotions) will then become.
Miss Laird's Hot Tip -
Elaboration Is One Effective Memory Hack
An insightful study claims the reason why women tend to have better memories comes down to childhood and how girls are generally more often invited to elaborate further on their daily lives than just list the main highlights - details such as who they were with, where they went, what they were wearing and how they were feeling. Such detailed anecdotes all contribute to helpful 'retrieval clues' later down the track.
Prepare to be amazed by an enlightening experiment with children using a lemonade toss (adding salt to the lemonade which is then given to some unsuspecting participants) to measure each gender's levels of empathy.
Let's investigate:
Empathy -
Boys Vs Girls
(^^do watch the captivating gender experiment unfold)
Boys -
"Oh no! This is Disgusting!"
"No. It's too sweet."
"I'm not having anymore of that stuff."
"it's too sweet and I'm going to be sick tonight."
"It makes me sick."
Girls -
"It was a teeny bit too much lemon."
"I loved the lemon inside it."
"Even though that I like it, please can I just have a drink of water now?"
"I think it's incredible, but I don't like the lemon in it."
"I was pretending that I did like it so I made her happy"
Results
(of particular experiment, above) -
Young girls tend to have more empathy than young boys.
"There's a clear difference between boys and girls when it comes to empathy....As early as three to four months old, girls tend to be better than boys at reading emotions. The girls are clearly thoughtful about (Kate's) feelings".
St George's Hospital
Prepare to be amazed by an enlightening experiment with children using a lemonade toss (adding salt to the lemonade which is then given to some unsuspecting participants) to measure each gender's levels of empathy.
Let's investigate:
Empathy -
Boys Vs Girls
(^^do watch the captivating gender experiment unfold)
Boys -
"Oh no! This is Disgusting!"
"No. It's too sweet."
"I'm not having anymore of that stuff."
"it's too sweet and I'm going to be sick tonight."
"It makes me sick."
Girls -
"It was a teeny bit too much lemon."
"I loved the lemon inside it."
"Even though that I like it, please can I just have a drink of water now?"
"I think it's incredible, but I don't like the lemon in it."
"I was pretending that I did like it so I made her happy"
Please Note:
Not All Gender Differences Are Hard Wired.
Not All Gender Differences Are Hard Wired.
Definitely not encouraging presumptions (mere food for thought). 
Many of my closest supporters over the past six years have actually been male, including this empathetic soul (above) kindly sitting by my hospital bedside after he had (of which I deduce based on the awful state of his clothes #thatsabanger) a hectic day at work - and would you look at those hands?! Old mate is even using helpful hand gestures during his bedside chats and also helped lift the mood by teasing my newly shaven head (below) the very moment I had awoken from brain surgery (<<a standard neuro procedure that I was overly confident was going to end in death despite the odds of being killed directly by stroke and its effects a staggering higher likelihood) by referring to famous women who have worked a shaved head (*I really did look like comedian, Bill Murray, though - something I was quite chuffed about) - that's enormous effort in lifting my spirits!
A+ support, Patrick - you put the 'pat' in empathetic (*also in pathetic and patty cake)!
St George's Hospital
London U.K.
December 2012
Let's delve into this classic debate a little more -
Is Gender Nature Or Nurture?
+ This Is How Eight-Year-Old Children See Gender
Is Gender Nature Or Nurture?
+ This Is How Eight-Year-Old Children See Gender
Another insightful episode from such an intriguing British documentary program to feed your hungry mind with:
Relishing in some much-needed quality time & therapeutic laughs with my empathetic female hospital roomie (/fellow inpatient whom was one of many that so kindly helped soothe my morbid & concerning presumed passing over paranoia brought on by the second cerebral injury with her clever deflection and genuine love) while in the midst of extreme loss, despair & newfound brain barriers
= Integral to my strokes' rehabilitation in the initial weeks post brain attacks while holidaying at St G's Hospital.
Fortunately for a recently-brain-damaged Kitty (and unfortunately for all the unlucky lads missing out), the hospital rooms I stayed in following both strokes were for women patients only so I received plenty of empathy from my roomies/fellow female patients.
Of course, I promptly made mates with others (& their diligent supporters too too!), socialising throughout my days during the 1.5 months vacaying in hospital & also received a constant flow of hugs + treats from the darling fellow patients, plus from their considerate, sometimes even entertaining and always gentle, daily visitors.
That particular aspect of living at St G's Neuro Ward was actually quite lovely and ever-so-social which I was fortunate to experience as it isn't always like that when you're stuck in hospital (especially for an extensive 6 weeks all up!).
Thank you, newfound mates from our days hanging out at the happening Neuro Ward - cherished memories of you all (Pina, Mary, the various female OTs and speechies after both strokes who regularly took me away from the hospital bed for cafe` dates as a sneaky way to test + encourage my short-term memory & spatial navigation, the lovely lady who constantly asked if I had 'emptied my bowels' *80% sure she actually worked at the hospital*, those who fed my steroid-enhanced starving self hearty meals three times a day + my medical numero uno, pseudo female given extent of consideration & compassion, the incredibly empathetic Gilly - the list certainly goes on)!
*Also, the polka dot onesie I'm wearing (above) that was gifted by a kind female mate upon hospital admission provided plenty of feel-good giggles as well - cheers, you considerate supernova!
A quality gift to give someone while they are in hospital and desperately need pick-me-up fashion #hottip.
St George's Hospital
London U.K.
November 2012
"We're going to get married!"
Do watch this loving female patient (still frame - above) suffering/relishing the effects of the (quality) pain relief in her system whilst at hospital as she gets extremely friendly and familiar with the doting health professional, who is surely a pro at his job - just like darling Gilly (whom I promptly tagged in recently, above, labelling it as 'us' for it certainly took me back to our quality time at St George's Hospital in 2012 #longtermmemory).
Those caring health professionals have more patients/patience than a doctor (pun intended), that's for sure!
Would you look at how happy darling Gilly is during our hospital hangouts (below)? He's the best! Would definitely recommend his mental health expertise and glowing energy #isthereanappforthat?.
Recreating the classic Nativity scene one month into hospital vacay with my empathetic old mate (/extremely new mate), Nurse Gilly, and baby Jesus ('borrowed' courtesy of the hospital's nearby Nativity Christmas display #wearenaughty) while living it up (/my life hanging by a thread & on a smorgasbord of daily steroids + blood thinners) at the Neuro Ward.
Shotgun being Joseph!
One month post Stroke 2
St George's Hospital - Neuro Ward
London U.K.
December 2012
Australia's leading forum for powerful, personal stories, TV program, Insight, recently chimed in on the (often) devastating aftermath of brain injuries including memory loss that constantly & aggressively impacts every single aspect of your supposed 'youthful' life + confronting identity crises as well as the bleak future of your (apparent) young life ahead:
(^^an ever-so precise title when discussing catastrophic brain injuries and their, at times, complete life-changing effects - hopefully there are some new lives *and extra levels* ahead in the 'game' though!)
As a result of society not yet being very familiar with the sheer scope of stroke survivors, the varied stroke causes (<<<controllable & uncontrollable) & ghastly ramifications as well as exactly what such confronting effects actually entail + the individual rehabilitation path for each survivor, I tend to feel ostracised by others my age (whereas older generations with life experience & wisdom - love them!) who have found it too difficult to consider someone who is brain damaged as still a worthy person + consistently include a stroke survivor in their youthful world/join in theirs because it's not yet considered as noble and 'en vogue' to be friends with a stroke survivor & support them during such an extensive journey of horrible loss and constant struggle as it is to be friends with those experiencing other illnesses, despite stroke generally causing more deaths overall and being the leading cause of adult disability.
Best to be in the know
Discover more about your mind's memory processes -
Scintillating science!
Glutamate (a brain neurotransmitter with the noble role of ensuring cells communicate properly, which in turn, keeps us alert and helps cognitive functions such as consolidating memories) tends to 'go walkabout' when booze comes to the 'party' in your mind.
Perhaps you've already noticed this yourself after a few too many drinks when you couldn't recall anything from the previous night's celebrations the very next day or your emotions get the better of you where you act out of character during festivities or perhaps even when you get lost in your simple surroundings while drunkenly looking for your mate (which then becomes quite entertaining for others watching on) - job well done, you cheeky scientists.
Ahhh Glutamate - not such a 'mate' after all, promptly jumping the noble 'friendship' when we need it most (puns most certainly intended).
wise Professor Lubman says,
"if all of a sudden we have no memory for what we do, then that sense of uncertainty is really unsettling and can make us feel incredibly vulnerable - it increases the risk of developing anxiety problems & becoming self-conscious"
(^^welcome to my agonising full-time world for the past 6 challenging years & still growing).
Endearing Pacific Blue Tang, Dory (images of the darling little fish supplied above & below, to help those who need a refresher #Dorystyle), may not have a chronic alcohol problem (yet), but her short-term-memory woes are world renowned and one particular aspect she has trouble with is effectively processing and storing names (declarative memory - something that has shown to not be a concerning issue, although noticeably evident at times, with my damaged mind - thankfully for new mates + medical besties and also students & staff at school!), calling Nemo (her newfound clownfish buddy), Fabio, Chico, Bingo, Harpo and even Elmo (Dory did get the 'o' at the end of the name correct - at least that ought to be acknowledged + commended!).
Australia's All In The Mind has an enlightening podcast from October 2017 that you ought to listen to when your inquisitive mind is hungry to learn -
"Brain surgery is bloody, messy and dangerous.
Britain's foremost neurosurgeon, Henry Marsh, likens it to a blood sport - such as tiger hunting - and after 40 years of getting inside people's brains {pun!}, he reflects on the exhilarating highs and devastating lows.
But his love for the practice of neurosurgery has never waned & he shares with us his victories, mistakes and musings on consciousness & death."
Upon retirement (and perhaps after getting to work on this Special K's particular mind, more importantly), Dr Henry Marsh (above), has since released his fascinating memoir on hard copy -
Admissions: Life As A Brain Surgeon
(^^hopefully you get the clever 'admissions' {hospital} pun! Well done Dr M, you've still got it!).
(^^hopefully you get the clever 'admissions' {hospital} pun! Well done Dr M, you've still got it!).
Do feed your mind with such meaningful substance today. Dr Marsh, renowned + leading British neurosurgeon (& Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire #CBE #heiskindofabigdeal) and one who has been particularly vital over the past decade+ with progress in the field of neurosurgery in Ukraine, has also actually had a few documentary films made about his truly inspirational work.
Such remarkable, award-winning documentaries (including BBC's The English Surgeon & Your Life In Their Hands) showcase Dr Marsh's vast knowledge, achievements, skills and humanity throughout the often intense life-saving emergency neurosurgery he expertly performs, including his decades-long commitment to improving the minds of Ukrainian locals through state-of-the-art brain surgery.
Do feast your eyes on such mind-enhancing documentaries about the complex world of neurology through the eyes of the extraordinary neurosurgeon, my old mate (heh yes), the noble Dr Henry Marsh.
A decent friend is one who thinks you're a good egg even (/especially) if you're slightly cracked e.g. - much like my broken head (<<literally broken after brain biopsy hah!), below left,
"What are we if we don't try to help others; we are nothing. Nothing at all."
- the wise British neurosurgeon, Dr Marsh, offering his profound perspective.
What a top bloke!
Do feast your eyes on such mind-enhancing documentaries about the complex world of neurology through the eyes of the extraordinary neurosurgeon, my old mate (heh yes), the noble Dr Henry Marsh.
A decent friend is one who thinks you're a good egg even (/especially) if you're slightly cracked e.g. - much like my broken head (<<literally broken after brain biopsy hah!), below left,
just a few days after darling Dr Marsh had used a run-of-the-mill drill (that you'd see a tradie use - I swear!) to the skull when frightening brain biopsy was performed at London's St George's Hospital in December 2012 post accepting (begrudgingly) that I most certainly was dead/about to die while in my 20s and without any immediate family yet by my side.
Cheers to all the quality sorts who have stood by this cracked (but not-yet-rotten) egg!
'If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If broken by an inside force, life begins.
Great things always begin from the inside.'
- founder of Kwik Learning + an expert at speed reading, memory improvement, brain performance & accelerated learning,
Jim Kwik
#perspective #teachusyourways.
Below:
Successfully + simply masking the shaved skull, tender stitches and distinct burr hole that were left on full display at the back of the head (assisted by courteous aide, Jack Attack, at hand - cheers you strong-stomach saint!) with a decent, yet gentle, blow dry later that same day as the photo on the left-hand side was taken (merely a few days after Dr Marsh's nifty brain surgery - diagram of such, above)
- the (cute?!) concave indent in the skull is still evident and you don't even have to pay a (substantial) fee to have a feel - talk about your lucky day!
Now you see it ...Now you don't
*Thank you doting little sister,
Jack Attack
(below, in action making sure my hair was presentable - when she came into St G's Neuro Ward straight off the plane all the way from Down Under),
for being so brave, selfless and considerate to generously offer your (complimentary) services with a gentle blow dry (above) to cover the healing + juicy scar still covered in fresh stitches (that did not dissolve naturally by themselves like intended, so had to be forcibly cut out later on down the track by my darling Mummy *a Mental Health Registered Nurse for half a century + a Master of such for over 20 years - not encouraging medical DIY* when it was clear they didn't want to leave my skull #characterbuilding #icanfeelyoutuggingonmyskull #nursemotherduck) just a few days after invasive (and truly gruesome) brain surgery (and hospital discharge finally in sight after almost 6 weeks of *free* vacay there - yew!) at just 27 years of age.
Such a kind, little sister has since said it wasn't too easy on her squeamish self to wash/blow dry/brush my stitches-ridden bloody & gooey bare skull, yet who do you think did just that?
True blue treasure!
*Still waiting for my hair extension to go over the skull's vacant opening though. Any day now!
December 2012
St George's Hospital - Neuro Ward
London, U.K.
Despite its sophisticated array of sensory processes, the brain is unable to feel its own pain.
Believe it, the supporting evidence is there which makes this life-long learner realise why people are able to have brain surgery awake - no worries - and also why my prodded brain didn't cause vast pain (no more than some headaches in the weeks that followed given skull was knocked out to access the brain tissue - nothing too debilitating with the aid of a little paracetamol) after neurosurgeons sliced some off to test in late 2012 (getting my wisdom teeth out - despite initial general anaesthetic for the execution of actual operation - hurt far more in the days/weeks that followed than a fresh ole hole in the head & stolen slice *biopsy* of brain!).
So the next logical question is,
A mighty decent ponder to share your wisdom on around the dinner table!
The simplified answer is that the head itself is full of stuff besides the brain and these surrounding tissues are full of nociceptors ('noci' means 'walnut' so it's no surprise they're shaped like such #socute) mediating pain (by constricting & dilating blood vessels) that are responding to various stimuli, including pressure, increased blood flow, heat and other chemical triggers.
Once the signals hit the nociceptors, they travel down the spine, signalling pain.
Perhaps we could replace the word 'headache' with the more precise (+ catchy!) term of 'walnut waltz'?!
YES!
Clever, courteous docs
(such as old mate, above, eagerly getting in nice and tight for a cheeky photo in the immediate days following Stroke 1 #goodsport - he was the 'Doc' to my 'Marty McFly' #greatscott!)
are allllways wanting my B+ blood type (the regular confronting aftermath of such, below).
Mayyyyybe because it's such an optimistic blood type *'be positive* + the docs particularly loved my work, or perhaps even because I had been quite unwell and it was simple protocol after a stroke.
I guess we'll never know exactly why.
#strokesgettheblokes
Charing Cross Hospital, London U.K.
July 2012
Above:
Another day, another visit to the hospital for a chat with the young doc who is obsessed with me (read in jest) + a cheeky little blood test while we're at it #whynot
Back home Down Under
Years into Stroke Rehab
2014
As the rate of young stroke sufferers steadily increases with every year, properly understanding stroke, effective ways to proactively help prevent and its varied, at times soul (and life) destroying, ramifications including such catastrophic brain attacks being a leading cause of long-term disability (<<perhaps most importantly - we are actually still here, some of us constantly struggling to live on since the stroke/s) need to certainly be stepped up by our present society as a whole (*in my - the stroke pro's - opinion). As we all very well know, the advanced human brain is what ultimately sets us apart from the rest in the animal kingdom so to lose integral functions (mental and physical) of such is far worse than you may initially regard just because we survived. My bi-broken brain has meant I have been uncontrollably - without any direct doing on my part - stripped of a promising youthful life worth living for almost six years (half of my adult years & growing), all while during its prime time, to that of someone morbidly waiting for death at (what seems to be) the end of their life. Honestly, it has been a frighteningly hellish existence being stagnate in life at a regional location with little opportunities coming my way for such an extensive period of time while in my otherwise-youthful years, but with such extreme darkness, I also have been fortunate to have sparkling gold gems of support constantly shining bright and leading my way forward in life. Without a doubt, my sheer determination mixed with humour (that was so kindly salvaged from the intense fires in the brain - lucky you!), combined with the genuine, consistent support of those many sincere souls always by my side believing in & still valuing a brain-damaged Kitty Kat over the past six years (<<to whom I am eternally grateful to have), are what have made this young, yet constantly-challenging, life bearable and my attitude to now being a two-time brain injury survivor infectious (<<if I do say so myself!). From my own dealings with various people during this prolonged journey, some have presumed my former self would be 'gone' (what a truly awful thought it was for them!), but I can confidently tell you from firsthand experience and many field tests + extensive feedback, that I am (along with other stroke survivors) very much still here, essentially the same ole (witty) Kitty Kat. Slowly, but surely, rising from the gloomy ashes of this six-year limbo nightmare with new hope & determination that my spatial navigation, energy levels, confidence, independence and blasted short-term memory will continue to improve so that I can hold onto my young life's cherished past together with all its astonishing accomplishments thus far, as well as most importantly, my triumphant progress in the almighty future.
Much like my colourful spirit animal, Dory, all I can do for now is just keep swimming (+ get the blokes #alllllright).
These deep thoughts will certainly make you pause and contemplate the alternative perspective next time you're about to throw a ball 'for' your dog
