Lindsay the Intern: Week Five

This week has been a struggle for me. Not because I am doing something I don’t want to do, and not because there have been any particularly difficult challenges in my wake. This week has been hard because I have had time to reflect and I have come to the realization that I am pretty much, by all accounts, an adult. When did this happen?

I drink coffee every morning. Instead of worrying about the weekend while skipping off to school, I contemplate bills while driving to the office. Sure, I spend time socializing and acting upon what is left of my immaturity, but I cant help but feel a little to close to the top of the hill for my age. It got me thinking, do I accept this? Does everyone reach a point in there lives when they look around and find themselves trapped in routine? I would assume so. I would also assume that there are far more difficult realities to come to terms with.

When I feel as though I am in a rut, all it takes is a little perspective to appreciate the things I have and the comfort and safety that embellishes my routine. My project proposal has given me the opportunity to research the population I will be working with this fall. People with acquired brain injuries each have a unique story to tell. I have found that it is hard to generalize just exactly what an acquired brain injury entails. However, one thing that every person goes through when they acquire a brain injury is a drastic change in routine and reality. For many, tasks that were once done without thought now require assistance and aid. That once comfortable and somewhat mundane routine becomes a distant goal to reach. I imagine it’s a lot like sliding back down the proverbial hill, losing tools from your belt and things from your pockets and turning around to climb back up only to find the hill is now made of ice.

When I think about getting to this point in my life, I realize that it would be incredibly difficult to live it all over again without the knowledge I have gained throughout. My reflection has given me new insight into the real struggle that people with acquired brain injuries must face, while renewing my sense of purpose and giving me a more accurate perception of my own growth. No one should feel badly for questioning their place in life, but it is always good to take it a step further and think of the positive aspects and remember that everyone struggles in one capacity or another.