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  “For the times they are a-changin’”   (Bob Dylan 1963) I have previously posted about the extent to which the accident has brought about changes to my physical and mental wellbeing, together with related alterations to my personal circumstances.   As I have repeatedly said,  a shift to “Phil v2.0”   As you will have gathered, this has been a regular source of bewilderment, regret and distress. I didn’t want to have been turned in an instant, into a new person.   But...   ·        am I alone in experiencing change - is personal alterations, all that unusual?   ·        have I really shifted from Phil v1.0 to fill v2.0?    In both cases – No! Starting with the first bullet:   Of course, we all experience change, for the better or worse.   Not for the first time here is some recent family news (and in both cases, the alterations are  positive !)...   First, my...
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  “...I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so”   (David Fenton 1980)   So, why the picture?   ·        If nothing else, it’s lovely!   And the link with opening quotation?   ·        Wisteria (pictured flower) is a popular symbol in Japanese culture, representing love, longevity, and resilience.     And what’s so special about Japan?   ·        For the Japanese, I am sure the answer is, “a lot”. Speaking personally, for reasons that will become apparent, that country has been (positively!) on my mind a fair bit, in recent weeks.    In common with many previous posts, this concerns some recent events. First   I have just started reading the latest book, by a Japanese writer, who is rather a favorite of mine – Haruki Murakami.   Given its reviews and what I have read so far, I have a genuine belief that it will be (to me at leas...
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  “Those who can, do... ...those who can’t, teach” (George Bernard Shaw 1905) This picture, is one of me,  performing  (!) at a recent “gig”...   A few weeks ago, I again presented my brain injury  survivor’s  story to psychology students at the University of Bolton.   A little while before that, I presented (online) to Headway Wales.   As I have said before, speaking and writing in respect of brain injury, has become a very important part of my life.   So why, in particular?   To coin (again!) some OT jargon:   It constitutes “meaningful occupation, in facilitation of my emotional wellbeing”.   One might, of course paraphrase this, as something along the lines of “doing stuff; “cos it cheers me up”!   I guess that simplistically, this isn’t too far off the mark. I do indeed take pleasure from these activities; and as you will imagine, I need all the positive emotional movements that I can get!   It is however worth d...
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  “The music never stopped”   (The Grateful Dead 1975) Not someone who is  gratefully dead...   ... more a case of someone who is  grateful, not to be so !     As I have, previously alluded to, music constitutes a very large and important part of my life.    This is not an entirely new form of behavior... it has been a characteristic of mine, since early childhood. Hence, the above Grateful Dead quotation, is rather appropriate!   As we will see though, aspects of it, have however been  affected by consequences of my accident.    Cutting to the chase...   My involvement with music, now takes several forms. Namely...   ·        Listening ·        Playing ·        Composing; and ·        Recording   So, first:   ·        Listening to it   Listening to r...
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