How a Bike Accident Shaped my Career and my Life

I flew over the handlebars, and the next thing I knew ... I didn’t know much. 

It was a beautiful fall day, and I was biking through Central Park when I hit a pothole. The world flipped, and I landed hard on my head. “I feel fine,” I told the three people who rushed over. They called an ambulance anyway, and by the time the EMTs arrived, I was disoriented, agitated, and definitely not okay.  

At the ER, I was handed a clipboard and asked to complete a form. I looked down at the page and saw only letters. “I know these are letters, and I know they form words, but I don’t know what this says,” I remember thinking. I reminded myself that the long line at the top probably asked for my name. I tried to write it - but couldn’t.  

Then, a young man walked it. He looked familiar. “Who is he,” I wondered. He approached me and started talking. Only then, about 10 seconds in, did I realize it was my brother – someone I had seen just an hour earlier.  

Thankfully, the story had a positive outcome. My brain scan showed no bleeding, and over the hours that followed, I slowly regained my faculties. But the story didn’t end there.  

As I returned to work and socialized with friends, something felt ... off. I was depressed – not the sadness type, but a strange physiological depression. My sense of humor had vanished. Jokes, especially sarcasm, went over my head. The person who had once been quick-witted suddenly couldn’t grasp the subtleties of humor. 

I was painfully aware of how different I had become. And it scared me. Would this be the new me? All from falling off a bike? “I should have listened to my mom and worn a helmet,” I told my 25-year-old self.  

Fortunately, I slowly returned to “myself.” That accident because a pivotal moment in my life. I became fascinated with how the brain works - how it controls movement, behaviors, and incredibly, the essence of our personalities. Our brains make us who we are. And I became acutely aware of how quickly that could all change.  

This curiosity led me to study psychology, not just to understand the brain, but to learn how we can harness it to work for us. That journey marked the beginning of a 25-year career as a psychologist.  

I am fortunate to have found a career I love. And as I continue to see clients – both in-person and through telehealth – I also want to share these insights with a wider audience. That’s why I am launching my blog, Lessons from Sessions, and my professional Instagram, The Psychology Playbook, where I’ll share strategies for mental health and wellness. 

 xx, kim