“One Day Your Pain Will Become the Cure”

As Rumi wrote, “Know that one day your pain will become the cure.” As a 73-year-old I have come to appreciate his words. Four years ago, my husband and I spent three months in Rochester, Minnesota so he could receive cancer treatment at the Mayo Clinic. Prior to going I was worried about walking the halls of a large internationally known hospital surrounded by many people with serious health issues. I have never embraced suffering and the thought of having to face it frightened me. Out of love for my husband, I was willing to try. Surprisingly, that time changed my life in a way I never expected.

I was inspired by the people I met, patients, frontline workers and health professionals. I was also impressed with the variety of programs offered to patients and their families. One was T’ai Chi Chih. Earlier in my life I had taken a form of T’ai Chi and loved it but found it a bit frustrating because of the number of movements, and as a result I did not stay with it. I decided to attend one session to see what TCC was about. The instructor and I quickly became friends. After the first session I experienced such peace and relaxation that I knew something special had entered my life. Fortunately, I was able to attend twice-weekly sessions for three months.

The practice and meditations helped me deal with the ups and downs of my husband’s treatment, teaching me to accept suffering and to deeply experience the joys of our time at Mayo. As the three months came to an end with a positive outcome for my husband, I was sad to leave my TCC instructor. Though I loved the practice, I wondered if I would have the fortitude to make it part of my daily routine without support. Before leaving Rochester, the instructor shared a website with certified TCC instructors in the Kansas City metropolitan area and encouraged me to contact one of them.

Within a week of our return I called an instructor to learn that she had sessions at a local church eight minutes from our home. Lorraine Lepine was so welcoming and immediately invited me to join her group. Eventually she even added a Friday session in response to my request. I have learned so much about TCC from Lorraine during the last three years, and I even joined her for an additional once-monthly Saturday session.

I was frustrated that I could not practice TCC on my own though. I often thought about it, but just didn’t do it. Then came COVID-19 and TCC sessions immediately stopped. Not long afterward I received an email from Lorraine asking if people were interested in using Zoom to continue our practice. Since many of us said yes, Lorraine began offering daily sessions at 10:30 am. As usual we ended with a wonderful guided meditation by Lorraine who saved my life. The stresses and concerns surrounding COVID-19 brought deep suffering to me, confronting the possibility of dying or the death of my husband and loved ones. Once Lorraine started the daily practice, I found peace and the ability to accept the fears and (as she always says) to trust that the world will take care of me.

Lorraine now offers Zoom TCC five days a week, but I continue the daily practice on my own. TCC is now a regular activity in my daily life. Something is lacking if I don’t complete a daily practice and meditation. Lorraine also recorded some of the sessions so if I need company on the weekend when we don’t meet, I can bring up a recorded session. Lorraine is an angel and her knowledge and love of TCC has truly inspired me.

My suffering has become my cure and TCC has been a blessing. I experience more peace than I have ever known, and yes, Lorraine, the world is taking care of me.