What do you do for fun?

[Daniel]

I recently had a family member standing beside me saying,

"Why don'tcha just ring this person or that person you once knew, why dontcha just go here or there and have some fun?"

I'm neither stupid nor hardcore - I just feel like there is no real answer to that question which seems feasable - going out in search of 'fun' detracts from time I could be better spending re earning the ability to actually enjoy life, not trying to manufacture a bandaid excuse for enjoyment when life itself isn't enjoyable in many ways.

So, rather than whinge and carry on any further about how people once known no longer are or this, that and the other symptom preventing the presentation of some euphoria-filled-eureka moment of instantaneous realization of what is a good idea to do for 'fun' right now, let me ask you :

- when you're not doing the mundane life thing, rehabbing or whatever else may be on your list of priorities to achieve from day to day, what sorts of things do you enjoy doing for.......'fun'?

[tobecome]

watching a movie, playing a game, visiting with friend/family member, biking,walking, swimming, reading....
interacting with others via this website..listening to music....
tish

[Daniel]

Okay, there are a number of things within your answer which require a little more than just attendance in order to achieve, and I'll elaborate on that. You list :

* Watching a movie
* Playing a game
* Visiting acquaintances
* Biking (that's a biggie, I think), with also swimming
* Reading
* Computer interaction
* Music

I recall playing a few simple card games one day in hospital in a group session involving other neurology ward patients. They were simple games like Go Fish, aswell as a few other simple board games. I found understanding them and keeping up with the momentum of the time very, very difficult as I was always slower than the others to just understand what was happening - it was like my mind was on a slight delay of live coverage, while everyone else was right there watching things as they transpired :

If I may ask, what types of games are you referring to? Computer games like minesweeper (personal favourite) or ones involving interaction with people in front of you and not a computer or computer avatar? Do you struggle to keep up at times with the game itself? Is playing the game while people around you speak difficult? Has any of this improved in recent years?

How do you find reading books? I assume you mean novels, which requires a recollection of the plot aswell as the ability to imagine it in your mind as you read - do you find yourself sometimes forgetting the plot lines or perhaps what you remember is inaccurate slightly?

I must say I'm very impressed to read that you can ride a bicycle - how long did it take before you summed up the courage to try this? Did you encounter any difficulties? Do you feel being able to do so again has raised your confidence in your physical abilities? Assuming so, how do you feel this has assisted you elsewhere?

(Sorry for questions, but I'm very interested in the progress of someone who, like yourself, has progressed much further than I have over a longer period of time. You particularly come across as a rarity in how much you're capable of doing to the point where I'm finding it difficult to discern in my mind how it is you still refer to yourself as being in recovery - which you've indirectly insinuated recently to me as being : riding a bike, for instance, is frankly an incredible thing to do with a vestibular disorder)

[tobecome]

games i've enjoyed playing scrabble, pictionary and cranium...I think cranium took a bit longer to get the gist of as i had not played it prior to having enceph. Early on in recovery I would try to read the paper daily or short stories just to get in habit of retain information and so that I wouldn't forget the plot, characters, etc..I also found writing in a journal helpful to remember significant information. I'm not sure how long after diagnosis that I rode a bike or swam. I can remember just starting off doing walks and then increasing the walks..Prior to enceph I did bike and swim fairly regularly. I do also remember initially going to the pool and just walking laps back and forth..I often use a floating belt called aqua jog which would allow me to stay afloat while exercising in the water.I think the swimming has helped to increase my physical stamina and my confidience. I know that it has helped me when i was discouraged or down to get in water and feel like I was doing something which I knew would make me feel better physically and emotionally. tish

Daniel said:

Okay, there are a number of things within your answer which require a little more than just attendance in order to achieve, and I'll elaborate on that. You list :

* Watching a movie
* Playing a game
* Visiting acquaintances
* Biking (that's a biggie, I think), with also swimming
* Reading
* Computer interaction
* Music

I recall playing a few simple card games one day in hospital in a group session involving other neurology ward patients. They were simple games like Go Fish, aswell as a few other simple board games. I found understanding them and keeping up with the momentum of the time very, very difficult as I was always slower than the others to just understand what was happening - it was like my mind was on a slight delay of live coverage, while everyone else was right there watching things as they transpired :

If I may ask, what types of games are you referring to? Computer games like minesweeper (personal favourite) or ones involving interaction with people in front of you and not a computer or computer avatar? Do you struggle to keep up at times with the game itself? Is playing the game while people around you speak difficult? Has any of this improved in recent years?

How do you find reading books? I assume you mean novels, which requires a recollection of the plot aswell as the ability to imagine it in your mind as you read - do you find yourself sometimes forgetting the plot lines or perhaps what you remember is inaccurate slightly?

I must say I'm very impressed to read that you can ride a bicycle - how long did it take before you summed up the courage to try this? Did you encounter any difficulties? Do you feel being able to do so again has raised your confidence in your physical abilities? Assuming so, how do you feel this has assisted you elsewhere?

(Sorry for questions, but I'm very interested in the progress of someone who, like yourself, has progressed much further than I have over a longer period of time. You particularly come across as a rarity in how much you're capable of doing to the point where I'm finding it difficult to discern in my mind how it is you still refer to yourself as being in recovery - which you've indirectly insinuated recently to me as being : riding a bike, for instance, is frankly an incredible thing to do with a vestibular disorder)

[Daniel]

How did you find your core stability while in the pool? I mean, did you feel like your body was just going to lose control and you'd fall in? How about when walking in the water itself? Did you have reservations about going under water and not being able to come back up? What about your own perceptions of body image? I mean, one is pretty exposed when at the pool and, after a prolonged recovery from brain injury causing inevitable self consciousness issues, I imagine wearing swimming clothing would have been somewhat intimidating for you - how long did it take you to overcome any fear you may have had about being in swimming gear (which, I assume, is a regular ladies one piece, rather than a teeshirt) and being seen by the general public? Did you find your symptoms worsening while at the pool originally through the associated nervousness?

[tobecome]

daniel,
i think i was a bit nervous about being in a swimsuit in public but once your in the pool it isn't a concern.I have tried to go when there are less people there which makes it easier....not having to share a lane or less noise overall is best. I didn't have any concerns about losing control or not being able to get back out of water. I think I have always been pretty comfortable around water. I have found using the aqua jog belts to be favorable. It helps one stay upright and for me if I want to jog in water i don't have to worry about getting my hair wet when going into the deep end of pool as the belt keeps you afloat. This has made it easier as not to have to dry hair before going home or going outside with damp hair.
tish

Daniel said:

How did you find your core stability while in the pool? I mean, did you feel like your body was just going to lose control and you'd fall in? How about when walking in the water itself? Did you have reservations about going under water and not being able to come back up? What about your own perceptions of body image? I mean, one is pretty exposed when at the pool and, after a prolonged recovery from brain injury causing inevitable self consciousness issues, I imagine wearing swimming clothing would have been somewhat intimidating for you - how long did it take you to overcome any fear you may have had about being in swimming gear (which, I assume, is a regular ladies one piece, rather than a teeshirt) and being seen by the general public? Did you find your symptoms worsening while at the pool originally through the associated nervousness?

n

[Elizabeth]

Stephen used to love to read (but can no longer retain the info) He also no longer has the attention span to really watch a movie. We enjoy taking photos---riding around together...just seeing what we can see. Of course at the moment we are concentrating on trying to get a job so as to not loose the house. sigh

[Daniel]

Hi you two,
Tish, I really admire your ability to not feel self conscious at a location such as the pool - recreational facility aside for a moment, how easy/hard did you find the first few months or so of (I'm under the impression you have/had a position at a firm recently) turning up to a workplace? I always find, obviously, that the first time is the hardest going anywhere, but I always find now lingering apprehensions about appearance because my own is so, completely, unpredictable - some days I look like anyone else, some days I look anything but (in terms of being brain injured through something like balance or speech deficit) - did you find your lingering symptoms worsened at either location (work/pool)? How so (assuming so)?

Hi Elizabeth,
So you say Stephen finds reading more preferable to a movie? Gosh, that's actually quite unexpected. Am I right in assuming this to be because of being able to put a book down and come back to it whereas, with a movie, you really need to sit and see the whole thing?
It's interesting you say what you do as, assuming my above statement is true for a moment, you mention information retention as being problematic for him - therefore, I would almost expect a 1.5 hour long movie to be preferable over a book consumed in segments over weeks or however long, simply because reading a book over an elongated period would require, I think, alot more attention.
To me, this suggests two things (apologies if I come across as being a smarta$$ here) :

1 - Stephen has short term cognitive function fatigue problems (ie concentrating for the length of a movie is hard but a chapter or two of reading isn't)
2 - His ability to retain memory of plot and direction must be pretty good if his reading habit is done in small doses

(not to mention riding a horse - that would be a major catalyst for imbalance and confidence related presentation of symptoms - obviously, you wouldn't gallop, but even trotting would have a jolting effect, I think - does he find it uncomfortable at all?)

Keep us updated on how the job hunt goes, I'm sure I speak for all when I say that mine/our best goes out to you guys.

If I may add, I've been hunting for work also. Obviously, I don't have the same level of responsibility you guys do as I don't own a house, I'm thanking god for having family willing to put my sorry backside up while in recovery (hence why I tend to throw *everything* into getting well) - been watching the news and the proverbial economic roller coaster of late : one day it looks like it's nearly over in the good way, the next is financial armageddon - but at least they're mentioning a projected conclusion to the woes and not the extreme doom and gloom they were at the beginning of the year : hope it's the same in the US (in terms of a glimmer of a turnaround in the foreseeable future).

[faith]

Things i do for fun post-E:
reading, writing, swimming (or generally lolling about in the pool), japanese ink painting, camping, walking on the beach and around the river, spending time with my family, poking about in the garden, watching my hens poke about in the garden, watching our bees come and go from their hive, watching our fish in their pond (its way cool when the bees come down for a drink!), inspecting the hive, laying on the floor and listening to my fav duduk music...cook lavish and exotic meals, and so on...there are probably lots more, as i am easily pleased and seem to get my enjoyment out of everyday things...which is good given the circumstance!
things i miss doing because of E (or the presence of our baby):
hiking, long distance running, hardcore physical training, researching, studying, pushing my brain for long and intense hours of academic writing and researching, teaching (reeeeaaaallllyyyyy miss this one, am still greiving over that particular loss, as are my students i hear)
things i hope to be able to do in the near future:
play chess again, research or at least write a few research papers and get them published, go hiking, run (reallyyy miss this one too), go back to bujinkan (japanese martial art), stay up past 7pm!

[Daniel]

The Japanese ink painting interests me - do you speak any of the language? I only recall the basics, but I do remember the three different writings they have - hirogana, katakana, and romaji (I believe) : are you familiar with any of these or instead stick to strictly pictorial aspects? If the latter, which subjects of the culture interest you?

Do you find this interest reflected in the way you live your life? (eg you perhaps have a strong oriental theme within the decor of your home?)

Brings back memories of when I briefly dabbled in the subject,

Konichiwa, (hi)
Boku wa Daniel desu, (my name is Daniel)
Niu Ji randojin desu, (I'm from NZ)
Suki desu, (something I'm not quite sure about how to translate, but it's necessary,
I'm told)
Dozo yuroshuku, (Thankyou)

I think Japanese/Asian culture is magnificent - the architecture and history, to me, is so much more rich and intriguing than that of their western counterparts. Take a movie like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Chinese, seen it?) - that's obviously built upon Chinese mythology, but it leaves so much of what I see here in the west in its dust - great movie. 'Hero' (Starring Jet Li) was fantastic aswell.

Dwelling more on the Japanese side of things, the impression I get is that the Japanese are a little more open to change and modernizing themselves to keep up with the west. I've never been to Japan, but I certainly recall China as being pretty distinctly lacking in their views of the west and clinging very tightly to tradition amongst adults and the older generations, while a large percentage of the younger kids wore NBA shirts, watched movies made in the States and ate at McDonalds all too frequently. I recall thinking it was the ultimate in teenage conformity and rebellion by favouring western culture more - especially American culture, because they were (as I recall) perceived as the wonderland for people in that country.

[Elizabeth]

Daniel,
Actuallly, Stephen USED to enjoy reading and watching movies. He can no longer read (since 'e') and thus prefers movies to books, though much of the time even watching movies is difficult as far as attention and retention go. We both, however, LOVE horseback riding--just can't afford to do it. And unfortunately no..things are looking worse adn worse (economy wise) here in the USA. We have a house and three boys to take care of, not to mention the medical bills (for Stephen and our youngest), college (our oldest), vehicles, etc..so we're trusting God to lead us somewhere and soon. appreciate your continued prayers and words of encouragement. Will pray for you as well.

Daniel said:

Hi you two,
Tish, I really admire your ability to not feel self conscious at a location such as the pool - recreational facility aside for a moment, how easy/hard did you find the first few months or so of (I'm under the impression you have/had a position at a firm recently) turning up to a workplace? I always find, obviously, that the first time is the hardest going anywhere, but I always find now lingering apprehensions about appearance because my own is so, completely, unpredictable - some days I look like anyone else, some days I look anything but (in terms of being brain injured through something like balance or speech deficit) - did you find your lingering symptoms worsened at either location (work/pool)? How so (assuming so)?

Hi Elizabeth,
So you say Stephen finds reading more preferable to a movie? Gosh, that's actually quite unexpected. Am I right in assuming this to be because of being able to put a book down and come back to it whereas, with a movie, you really need to sit and see the whole thing?
It's interesting you say what you do as, assuming my above statement is true for a moment, you mention information retention as being problematic for him - therefore, I would almost expect a 1.5 hour long movie to be preferable over a book consumed in segments over weeks or however long, simply because reading a book over an elongated period would require, I think, alot more attention.
To me, this suggests two things (apologies if I come across as being a smarta$$ here) :

1 - Stephen has short term cognitive function fatigue problems (ie concentrating for the length of a movie is hard but a chapter or two of reading isn't)
2 - His ability to retain memory of plot and direction must be pretty good if his reading habit is done in small doses

(not to mention riding a horse - that would be a major catalyst for imbalance and confidence related presentation of symptoms - obviously, you wouldn't gallop, but even trotting would have a jolting effect, I think - does he find it uncomfortable at all?)

Keep us updated on how the job hunt goes, I'm sure I speak for all when I say that mine/our best goes out to you guys.

If I may add, I've been hunting for work also. Obviously, I don't have the same level of responsibility you guys do as I don't own a house, I'm thanking god for having family willing to put my sorry backside up while in recovery (hence why I tend to throw *everything* into getting well) - been watching the news and the proverbial economic roller coaster of late : one day it looks like it's nearly over in the good way, the next is financial armageddon - but at least they're mentioning a projected conclusion to the woes and not the extreme doom and gloom they were at the beginning of the year : hope it's the same in the US (in terms of a glimmer of a turnaround in the foreseeable future).

[faith]

Hi Daniel,
i am drawn to ink painting i think primarily due to its simplicity...which in turn actually makes it quite complex, but subtle. i appreciate what little i know of 'traditional' japanese culture, thru learning bujinkan, but i cannot make any claims to know how these approaches sit with modern japan. i was enrolled to do a BA (japanese), alongside my PhD when i became ill. i think i will go ahead and tinker in the language as a pseudo-hobby type interest, there are many free online ways to learn and play.
i do use color in my painting when i am playing, but i prefer to use only black ink (which is more traditional) it is amazing how varied one can make a painting out of this one shade.
i do think that there is a heavy correlation between the way Tim and i live our lives, and our approach to the world and the asian outlook, however, i would also say that there is a very strong connection between the 'asian' approach to the world and the 'indigenous', so this may arise thru my indigenous roots.

[tobecome]

daniel,
i have to call in every morning before i go to work as school crossing guard. I remember initially being concerned about getting to work on time as being crucial..safety of children at hand crossing street. So it motivated me to get there and usually get there early. The part time work at insurance company happens to be on the street level of the building I live in so I really can not show up late. I think keeping myself on a schedule has helped me increase my activity. Gradually increasing time and staying busy on weekends has also helped to increase my physical stamina.
tish

Daniel said:

Hi you two,
Tish, I really admire your ability to not feel self conscious at a location such as the pool - recreational facility aside for a moment, how easy/hard did you find the first few months or so of (I'm under the impression you have/had a position at a firm recently) turning up to a workplace? I always find, obviously, that the first time is the hardest going anywhere, but I always find now lingering apprehensions about appearance because my own is so, completely, unpredictable - some days I look like anyone else, some days I look anything but (in terms of being brain injured through something like balance or speech deficit) - did you find your lingering symptoms worsened at either location (work/pool)? How so (assuming so)?

Hi Elizabeth,
So you say Stephen finds reading more preferable to a movie? Gosh, that's actually quite unexpected. Am I right in assuming this to be because of being able to put a book down and come back to it whereas, with a movie, you really need to sit and see the whole thing?
It's interesting you say what you do as, assuming my above statement is true for a moment, you mention information retention as being problematic for him - therefore, I would almost expect a 1.5 hour long movie to be preferable over a book consumed in segments over weeks or however long, simply because reading a book over an elongated period would require, I think, alot more attention.
To me, this suggests two things (apologies if I come across as being a smarta$$ here) :

1 - Stephen has short term cognitive function fatigue problems (ie concentrating for the length of a movie is hard but a chapter or two of reading isn't)
2 - His ability to retain memory of plot and direction must be pretty good if his reading habit is done in small doses

(not to mention riding a horse - that would be a major catalyst for imbalance and confidence related presentation of symptoms - obviously, you wouldn't gallop, but even trotting would have a jolting effect, I think - does he find it uncomfortable at all?)

Keep us updated on how the job hunt goes, I'm sure I speak for all when I say that mine/our best goes out to you guys.

If I may add, I've been hunting for work also. Obviously, I don't have the same level of responsibility you guys do as I don't own a house, I'm thanking god for having family willing to put my sorry backside up while in recovery (hence why I tend to throw *everything* into getting well) - been watching the news and the proverbial economic roller coaster of late : one day it looks like it's nearly over in the good way, the next is financial armageddon - but at least they're mentioning a projected conclusion to the woes and not the extreme doom and gloom they were at the beginning of the year : hope it's the same in the US (in terms of a glimmer of a turnaround in the foreseeable future).