My name is Justina and I am an avid book nerd, avid. That sassy, precocious little blonde is me, right around the time I'd discovered books and my love of imagination. Today, I am fighting for her, fighting to nurture her, hold her hands, wipe her tears and encourage her. Why? Because this ABI has taught me that this little girl next to me is actually the little girl inside of me who needs to be loved, forgiven, let off the hook, and put first for a change. Even after receiving my ABI, I still felt like selfcare was actually selfish. Reading has always been part of self care for me; it feeds my soul and heals my heart. I also learn so much from books, about writing, life, culture, and myself. However, after my ABI, reading became impossible; I couldn't focus or absorb any of what I tried to read. This terrified me; reading couldn't leave me. How would I cope? Never did I imagine it was because of my ABI until after my diagnosis, when I started doing some research, to learn how to cope, with the reading, and ALL the other symptoms that I suffer daily. So, I began taking it slowly, reading 2 pages at a time, seeing of I could heal the damaged part of my brain. It's slow, and reading is only a small piece of my ABI puzzle. There are so many things I need to relearn and adapt to. So, why am I pushing myself through this healing journey? Because I deserve it, I deserve peace, to be healthy and to love myself, unconditionally. We all do 💕 It's a process, one that I may be on for the rest of my life, but I'll never stop fighting for myself and the life I deserve. Starting with getting back to reading 📚 Justina xxo (more to come) #theconcussedreader #concussionawareness #ABI #itsaprocess #trustit #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ2PlpSjSlG/?utm_medium=tumblr