SquarePeg Books

It wasn’t that long ago that I could speed read a book and catch even the smallest details.

Now, I have to slowly read a paragraph, several times, often whispering the words so I also hear what I’m reading, to grasp the message and details. It’s a struggle to read a whole paragraph sometimes. My focus simply isn’t there any more

I used to be able to drive a vehicle with the radio on.

Now the radio is always off if I’m behind the wheel, because it’s too distracting.

I was always a bit of a chocolate snob, but now chocolate doesn’t usually taste right. Sometimes it does, but not often. 

It used to be that I didn’t like caramel, now I do.

I used to be able to focus on a creative activity for hours, once I found the flow. People said I came out of those moments calmer.

Now the flow eludes me. If I do find it, I can only stay in it for an hour or so before I start shaking from exhaustion. The activities are the same, but my stamina is not.

I used to be able to go for a whole day without a nap, but now I often have to crash for an hour or three in the middle of the day.

In June of 2024, I got a very mild concussion. The eyes weren’t dilated weird. There was no discolored egg on my noggin. No nausea. No loss of consciousness.

Its just a mild TBI, and a mild TBI is still considered functional. You can still hold a job. You can still dress yourself and math and see and shop for groceries and other adult things.

But I can promise you, I am not the same as I was in May 2024. Some days are a lot harder than others.