# @rea.rust on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGhKU2zglUo
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26937910-rearust-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/7b063e8294.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-26T01:48:14.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Reagan Rust | Sports & Travel (@rea.rust) — https://gondola.cc/rea.rust

## Caption

27 was filled with a lot of good, and I’m grateful for everything that happened 🖤

I was surrounded all year by people I love and by people who love me right back. I had experiences I never would have imagined.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the one thing that changed a big part of my life, and that was sustaining a serious traumatic brain injury (see pic 3 lol).

It’s something you don’t think about until it happens to you, but it drastically changed so much about how I experienced life last year. 

My emotions, energy levels, and ability to function in society was so much tougher. I was able to keep it together for people who only saw me ever so often, but I knew that everything felt off even if no one noticed. 

It’s hard to look at these photos and know how sad I actually was during some of those times. 

Obviously not all were bad, but a majority of those photos shared an empty smile. 

I guess I’m writing this to let whoever may be dealing with something like that to know that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to advocate for yourself even if the doctors tell you “you’re fine.” It’s okay to tell people you’re struggling even if it feels scary.

Thank you to my friends and family that supported me through the hard times. I wouldn’t have made it to the other side without you 🖤 

Here’s to making the best of 28 no matter what comes :)

#hockey #traumaticbraininjury #concussionawareness #concussion #hockeygirl

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 0
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 46

## Tags

hockey, traumaticbraininjury, concussionawareness, concussion, hockeygirl

---
Copyright (c) Gondola