Healing Through the Holidays:
My First Christmas After Brain Injury
My front room was scattered with boxes of ornaments, garlands, and winter decorations. I sat motionless on the couch, exhaustion and overwhelm settling over me. Christmas is just around the corner. This was my first Christmas after my brain injury.
Before my brain injury, I could transform my home for the holidays in a single weekend after Thanksgiving. Now, what once took days stretched into weeks.
Thankfully, my family swooped in to handle the decorations and even wrap the gifts. I also discovered that sending New Year’s cards a little late brings just as much joy as Christmas cards.
December 2022, here I am listening to the recording of my book for final edits before submitting it to Audible. Seven years after my TBI
Juggling work and holiday planning is stressful for anyone, but for someone recovering from a brain injury, the overwhelm can feel magnified.
Feelings of disappointment and frustration can weigh heavily when brain injury survivors find themselves unable to join or even tolerate family celebrations.
Recovery calls for slowing down and embracing a simpler holiday season. Choose small, peaceful gatherings with soft, inviting lights. Let caregivers and loved ones take the lead on hosting, cooking, and cleaning. Survivors can join in with patience, knowing they are doing their best as their mind mends.
I am taking my own advice this year and keeping the holidays simple. This will be my final Substack post for 2025, as I step back for a few weeks to cherish time with family and friends.
I cannot wait to write for you again in 2026. Wishing you joyful holidays and sending heartfelt thanks for following The Mindful Return. To my paid subscribers, your support means the world to me. To everyone who rated, liked, or commented, you truly make my day. I love hearing from each of you.
If you made it to the end, you are the first to know: I hope to launch a podcast in 2026.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year!
Take care, get better, get stronger,
Kelly Tuttle
Brain-Loving Advocate
P.S. As a brain injury survivor, I understand the challenges of reintegration into the workforce. If you’re also a survivor looking to return to work, please visit my website for my online program: Return to Work and Life After a Brain Injury.
You can also find my book, After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury, and additional resources.
My book, After the Crash, is also on Audible.
My book, After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury, can be found on Amazon or at your favorite independent bookstore
I created a journal just for you! Check out My Brain Injury Recovery Journal