The Day I Broke My Brain by Darron Eastwell.

There are some remarkable human stories around that leave me in awe of the human condition and humbled by the grit, determination and endurance people find in their darkest hours. 

Darron Eastwell is one such individual. 

Darron and I were acquainted when we were kids. He and my brother played junior football together and I was the team's trainer at the time. As often happens, lives go in different directions after high school and it's been a good 20 years since we've spoken. Darron and I recently reconnected and I came to learn that he has had quite a life changing experience in the past few years, the details of which are recorded in his powerful memoir "The Day I Broke My Brain".

In May of 2015, successful banking executive Darron Eastwell said goodbye to his wife Bianca, with plans for an exciting day of mountain biking at Tewantin National Park. No one could have known that the day would end with Darron lying in a coma, his very future uncertain. 

Darron emerged from that experience as a brain injury survivor. In The Day I Broke My Brain, he chronicles his struggles to regain his foothold on life. This is not a book to be read only by those looking for information about traumatic brain injury. Rather, this is a true-to-life story of overcoming the most difficult of circumstances with courage, perseverance, and a dash of humor. Readers will gain inspiration as they walk with Darron through hardship, anguish, and pain.

Author & Public Speaker, Darron Eastwell. 

The Day I Broke My Brain is a unique memoir indeed. Given the seriousness of Darron's brain injury - he suffered what is known as Diffuse Axonal Injury, one of the most extreme forms of brain injury - it is quite an achievement for Darron to have written his account. While it isn't a long book, The Day I Broke My Brain is a no holds barred reflection on the circumstances of his accident and his recovery. His wife Bianca contributes her own experience of picking up the pieces in the immediate aftermath of the accident. I thought this was particularly moving because we get an insight of a family dealing with this tragic event, rather than a focus on the individual at the center of it. To have gone from an idyllic life before the accident to having their world thrown upside down was compelling and emotionally absorbing. There was no certainty for them and you feel that the further you read into the book. There are moments of humor throughout as well, particularly during Darron journey through his rehabilitation. It is said that good humor is as much a therapy in and of itself and I'm sure it helped Darron and Bianca many times during their darkest moments. 

The Day I Broke My Brain is an inspirational story of courage and endurance in the face of an almost catastrophic physical injury. I was moved by Darron's story.

A former career banker, Darron Eastwell is now a public speaker and advocate for Traumatic Brain Injury. Despite the injuries he sustained, he retains that same drive to succeed, which has enabled him overcome insurmountable odds. 

Darron and his family reside on the Sunshine Coast in southern Queensland, Australia.

Purchase The Day I Broke My Brain here. 

Visit Darron Eastwell here. 

Facebook with Darron here. 

DFA.

Dangerous Ideas - About Control. A Guest Post by Tracy S. Lawson.

Today, I'm welcoming an exciting dystopian fiction author to the blog with another in my ongoing series of guest posts around Dangerous Ideas. 

Tracy S. Lawson circled into my orbit recently with her outstanding Resistance series, chronicling a near future America that has come under authoritarian control. A group of freedom fighters emerge from the shadows, railing against the administration's enforcement regime and an epic contest ensues that will decide the fate of the country's freedom. 

So without further ado, here's Tracy;


What if you’d been told you were in danger every minute of every day? What if you were told to take extraordinary precautions to stay safe–until extraordinary started to feel…ordinary? It’s hard to stay afraid all the time. Maybe, after a while, you’d just learn to tune it out. But if you did, whoever it was that needed you to be afraid would have to up their game…

Author Tracy S. Lawson.

In my Resistance Series books, Tommy and Careen, the eighteen-year-old protagonists, live in 2034, in an alternate-reality version of the United States. Most of the freedoms that today’s young adults enjoy have been curtailed, in the name of preventing terrorist attacks. 

The Civilian Restrictions that have been in place nearly all of their lives forbid people to gather in public places. Cash has been eliminated, and any exchange of goods and services between individuals is not permitted. 

The Resistance Series by Tracy S. Lawson.

Only a select few, mostly high-ranking government workers, are granted driving privileges, and the food supply has been brought under government control to protect it from being tainted. 

When I started writing this series back in 2010, the premise seemed a bit far-fetched. I’d never want any of the young people I know to suffer what my characters endure. But now when I turn on the news, it seems like they’re stealing my stuff.  

In Counteract, Tommy and Careen meet during a terrorist attack, and when they discover their government is pulling strings behind the scenes, using the attacks to keep people frightened and begging for protection, they join an underground rebel group that will stop at nothing to expose the truth.

Careen & Tommy (art by Will No Name).

There are plenty of books about dystopian societies in which people are treated as children or slaves, ostensibly to protect them. Eventually, the protagonists’ dissatisfaction and/or curiosity come to the fore, and the circumstances of their society’s structure are revealed as an attempt to destroy humanistic attitudes and desires, such as curiosity, creativity, innovation, and hope for the future.

There is an optimal level of safety and security. We just don’t know what it is. When we seek security, we must expect to give up some freedom. 

In today’s society, many kids look forward to the typical teenager’s rites of passage—going places without their parents, dating, and obtaining a driver’s license. 

Tommy and Careen inhabit a society in which the few remaining restaurants are patronized only by the wealthy. Most people can barely afford the cost of their weekly food allotment, which is assembled and distributed by the government’s Essential Services department.  A simple “let me buy you breakfast” is an extravagant gesture, and a pizza date would be completely out of the question. 

Shopping malls and cinemas have been closed in the name of safety, because large, open places where groups of people gather are easy marks for terrorist attacks. Professional sporting events and concerts are televised, but safety dictates the athletes and artists perform to empty arenas. No one but government officials are allowed to drive cars, because it’s irresponsible to allow just anyone access to something that can be used as a weapon.

Growing up is more than just enjoying the privileges of a certain age. In a society where freedoms are curtailed, how would the young people learn to take care of themselves?

The teens I asked said that growing up means, in part:

-taking responsibility for one’s actions

-solving one’s problems, not expecting someone else to drop everything and come to the rescue

-not going along with the crowd

-being yourself

-standing up for what is right

Tommy and Careen, who are among the first generation to grow up with the Restrictions, are lucky to have parents who’ve taught them some of the skills they’ll need to survive. But what of the younger children? And those yet to be born? How long before the individual’s survival skills are completely lost, and the only way to live is at the mercy of the guiding hand that promises safety?

The government’s mantra in the Resistance Series books is: “It’s a small price to pay for your safety.” Not just the individual, but society as a whole, will pay the price.

Learn more about Tracy and her books at the Resistance Series Fan Site here. 

Find Tracy on Instagram here. 

Facebook with Tracy Lawson here. 

Tweet with Tracy Lawson here. 

DFA.

We Have To Talk About Fandom - Why I Love That My Snoke Theory Sucks

Pop culture fandom is an interesting beast. The public discourse, examining the minutiae of today's pop culture franchises is, at once, something wonderful and engaging. At the same time it can be overwhelming and potentially fraught. There are a lot of competing interests in this most particular of realms. Competition for attention, competition for ideas and competition for a kind of supremacy of influence over the fandom of a franchise.

In the past week, I have observed a disturbing discourse in an area of Star Wars fandom that illustrates a gross misunderstanding of the love of the franchise. 

It all begins with a bumper sticker.

(image credit: Steele Saunders.)

When Star Wars: Episode 7 - The Force Awakens burst onto cinema screens in December 2015, heralding the return of the much loved franchise, Star Wars fans were elated with the cinematic triumph. In the three years since it was announced by Lucasfilm that Star Wars would be returning to the screen, fan communities - already energized with anticipation and reveling in the pre-release fervor that traditionally accompanies a Star Wars film - responded to the return of Star Wars with an outpouring of gratitude and renewed vigor that fed into their various communities. Once again, Star Wars had become a part of the pop culture consciousness. 

In the aftermath of the release, conversations, fan theories, debates and discussions took place that actually made social media something worth engaging with again. The discourse was (and is) lively, it attracted new fans to the franchise and it opened up opportunities for people to connect with like minds and enhance their love for Star Wars. 

Sure - at times, the conversations and fan theories, have taken on a life of their own - a life as big and as bold as the franchise itself. People, understandably, get excited and they want to express their point of view. That's okay. It's a part of being a pop culture fan. Except when the discussion becomes fractious. 

The viral meme "Your Snoke Theory Sucks", the brain child of Melbourne comedian Steele Saunders was born out of the fervent discussion around who the chief antagonist in the new Star Wars trilogy might be. 

(image credit: Steele Saunders.)

Designed as an affectionate "dig" at the sometimes over-blown discourse over a character that is designed to be intentionally ambiguous, "Your Snoke Theory Sucks" encourages fandom to have a laugh at itself and, perhaps, to take a little hot air out of the Snoke debate. It has become a viral meme, a bumper sticker, a T-Shirt and a key to one of the most welcoming communities of fandom I've ever been in.

Let me explain this. 

Australians are known for their sense of humor. It is laconic, insightful and it is generally built on a healthy foundation of affection. We often express our love for something with a kind of back handed compliment - with a wink and a smile whereby we trust in the intelligence of others to interpret our real intent and acknowledge it with a cheeky tap on the nose that says "I see what you did there."

"Your Snoke Theory Sucks" is a perfect example of this kind of laconic humor. It is not malicious nor intended to be a serious put down of anyone. In fact, it has contributed to the discussion of fan theories around Supreme Leader Snoke. And it has found favor across Star Wars fandom - even crossing over into the Star Wars production community itself with notable figures such as Episode 8 director Rian Johnson and Ahsoka Tano voice artist Ashleigh Eckstein getting in on the fun.

(image credit: Lucasfilm.)

But some in the Star Wars fan community have taken exception to the meme, misunderstanding its intent and they have attacked the creator with accusations of bullying and gate keeping. They have failed to see the affection with which "Your Snoke Theory Sucks" has been delivered and they have refused to engage in a discussion about the intent of the meme. Instead, they have pursued an argument that aims to divide and alienate. 

Steele Saunders is one of the most engaging and welcoming Star Wars fans I've had the pleasure to meet and interact with. Through his podcast "Steele Wars" and his associated social media presence, Steele has fostered a community of inclusion and engagement where people are free to express their love for Star Wars and debate, respectfully, the minutiae of Star Wars culture. Steele has opened me up to a community of fans who are among the most likable, loyal, friendly and engaging I've ever met and we're all indebted to Steele for facilitating our connection. 

And we get the joke. 

We get what "Your Snoke Theory Sucks" really is. It has become a means of connecting, of coming in through the doors of Star Wars fandom and it encourages us to not take ourselves too seriously. It is a love letter to Star Wars by fans, for fans.

I feel sad for those who don't get it.

Connect with the Steele Wars Star Wars fan community here.

DFA.  

The Brave Ones: Bailey's Battle At Christmas.

As my family heads into this Christmas season, we were all confronted with the distressing news that one of our own, one of our youngest has been given a terrible burden to contend with.

The following was written by my sister in law Rachel:

"My five year old nephew Bailey was diagnosed with an aggressive cancerous brain tumor and two tumors on his spine on Thursday 9th December after being ill on and off for approx 5 months. Most of the brain tumor was removed on Sunday 12th December during a 7 hour operation at Melbourne's Royal Childrens Hospital.

 

Bailey Lang, taken December 11th December 2010 - day before surgery.

Unfortunately it was attached to a couple of important parts of his brain including the brain stem and he will now have to undergo radiation treatment and chemotherapy over the coming weeks and months. The other two tumors are still too small to operate on so his specialists are hoping that they will be able to treat them with the chemo and radiation therapy.

Bailey's Dad has been unable to work for the last 6 months because of all the doctors appointments that Bailey has had to try and find out what was wrong with him. Sadly there isn't much money left to help with the cost of Christmas for Bailey and his 3yr old sister Blayne, not to mention the cost of keeping the house going here in Moe and being down in Melbourne with Bailey.

I have opened a bank account in Bailey’s name for any donations to be used to help with expenses for Bailey and his family. I have also signed onto Paypal. At this time, I am hoping you and your family may be able to make a small donation to help this family in their time of need.

Yours sincerely,

Rachael Mayes (Bailey’s aunty)."

Donations can be made in person at any Bendigo Bank branch using the following details

BSB: 633000     

Acct Number: 141847160      

Acct Name: Bailey James Lang

Via Paypal using the following email address:

armayes@iinet.net.au

or by sending a cheque to:

The Bailey Lang Fund.

c/- Rachael Mayes

77 Newark Avenue

NEWBOROUGH  VIC  3825.

AUSTRALIA.

I had a whole other post to write in the lead-up to Christmas but in view of the circumstances and other things that are going on right now, I will jump in early and wish you all a safe and Happy Christmas. In the words of my personal hero, journalist Matt Price...


"Life is precious...hug your loved ones"


DFA.