Sport Brain Concussion - Is Skiing Safe?

Sport Concussion While Skiing

I wanted to assure my daughter and myself that I was still young enough to participate in extreme sports. Though it had been 40 years since ski club in high school, I longed for the feeling of cold wind in my hair.

I had a need for speed!

We started skiing the gentle slopes marveling at the beauty of nature!

Rachel wanted to go to the expert slope, but I begged off and told her I would meet her in the lodge.

Actually I was headed to the ski jump.

The sun was setting, and I only had a chance for one run. My form was perfect, my skies were parallel

and I felt empowered and surprised how my muscle memory came back. . . .

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat . . . I sneezed.

My landing was less that graceful as I crashed and tumbled down the mountain, breaking my knee and hitting my head.

As Clint Eastwood says " I mans go to know his limitations".

The effects of sleep deprivation on your brain

Sleep & False Memories

A new study combines false memory research with the effects of sleep deprivation. It is becoming increasingly clear that sleep plays a major role in memory formation and consolidation. Steven J. Frenda of the University of California, Irvine and his colleagues asked a simple question – would sleep deprivation increase the formation of false memories?

The had subjects view photos of a crime, then read a written description of the crime (with some details conflicting with the photos), and then asked them questions about details. Different groups of subjects had different patterns of sleep deprivation.

Those who were sleep deprived during memory encoding, when viewing the photos, had an increase rate of false memories compared to those who were well slept during memory encoding. There was no difference, however, in performance between well-slept and sleep deprived during the suggestion phase, when reading the written description, or the recall phase, when answering questions.

Your Brain on Heat

What’s the opposite of a brain freeze? There should be a word for that, because hot weather messes with your mind’s ability to process complex information, make smart decisions, and keep your cool during confrontations. The summer heat even toys with your emotions.

http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/your-brain-warm-weather

Color Blind Challenged Female Artist - Juhli Jansen

My eye examination was a blessing in disguise!

My art teacher suggest I get my eyes checked, since she though my color combinations were atrocious. I knew what she really meant was that I needed to get my head examined.

It had been years since my last eye exam.

Doc said, " in my thirty years of practice, I have never seen a color blind woman."
I was thrilled, this confused doc, and then I explained. . .

I wasn't a lousy artist - I just couldn't see!
Hmmm maybe I am a lousy artist and color blind.

Thank you, you miserable, cranky teacher for suggesting the eye exam.
Learning this turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

TBI Tramatic Brain Injury - Where Is My Gift?

Throughout the news I see stories about people who sustained brain injuries in varying degrees, who are now wonderfully creative artists.

My question to you is; What gift if any did you receive?
Give me hope, share them with me juhli.jansen@gmail.com

Me nada, nothing. Though hope springs eternal I keep searching, trying different things looking for my hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

I enjoy working with my hands, and painting seemed like a logic fist choice?
Then I remember that one of my concussions damaged my frontal lobes, which processes executive function. Decisions, I make them alright, but they are impulsive and not what you would call organized.

Yet off I went to get my art supplies. Cleaned out my daughters old bedroom and created my sanctuary of color.

My husband suggested that I take an art class to learn the basics. I'm not what you call a group person. My new post concussion personality is a bit intense, and I discovered most artists are quiet and serious, which is not me.

The only class available at that time was an advanced class. The teacher was a professional artist who taught at the Cocoran College of Art. All the other students were already selling their paintings for thousands. There were working on their huge canvases with confidence

In a corner I was with my     24 X 30 canvas waiting patiently for some instruction.
As the teacher chatted with all the season artists, it became obvious that the class was about critique and an occasional guidance not instruction.

Finally she drifted over to my easel. Her attitude changed from praise shock and awe,
"Your colors are not complimentary," she bellowed. "Where did you go to school, don't you know the color wheel, why are you in this class?"

It was at that time I knew I was in for 12 weeks of artistic hell.

Drink Like There Is No Tomorrow - Your Brain Will Thank You

Some like it hot . . . but your brain doesn't. We've discovered that the brain is 75% water and when we don't drink enough water, it shrinks.

How much water? They say 84 ounces. They must be the people who work within 10 feet of a bathroom.
I thought I was doing OK until I got a heat dehydration headache. It seems drinking coffee and tea isn't the answer either as the caffeine is dehydrating my brain.

No artificial sweeteners either, so I add lemon slices to my water. All in the effort to protect our grey matter from shrinking. Today my goal is 6 glasses, I will see how clear thinking I'll be. So if you read this blog tomorrow and see alot of typos I'll know that I will need to up my consumption.

Just finished my latest brain painting, take a good look. What do you see?

I AM What I Am - Recovering From My Brain Concussion

Since my brain concussion many things have changed; primarily my personality for example.

Though in the past no one would label me as being "politically correct", the filter of my communication style is less filtered. I've come to a point in my life where I believe "What people think of me, is none of my business!"  Which loosely translated means . . . I don't give a rats ass!

I've edit Stuart Wilde's, "The Warriors Prayer".

I am what I am.

What I am is beauty and strength.

And if you can see the light within me,

then we'll be friends.

If not, oh well, some will, some won't, so what

NEXT!