The Stroke Recovery Process

Four months ago I was getting ready for bed and noticed that my right hand was numb. When the paramedics took me to the nearby ER, my concerns were confirmed: I’d had a stroke. Thus began a journey that I never imagined after retiring a few weeks prior. My immediate concern was about how serious the after-effects would be. But when my husband proposed that we could do T’ai Chi Chih together, I was flooded with a sense of hope and gratitude. With years as an accredited TCC instructor, this suggestion resonated soundly with me. I just knew that this beloved practice would be instrumental in my recovery. And it has been.

Fortunately, my stroke was not devastating, but I did need to retrain my right hand for some of the movements. I was surprised to realize that I’d forgotten the names and details of some movements. But because of my body’s memory from so many years of practice, the movements gradually came back.

This simple practice has helped me counteract the overwhelm that often accompanies the stroke recovery process. I focus on each nuance of each movement – being more present with a beginners mind. And my practice reflects this renewal. I am so touched with gratitude that I now experience TCC in a much more profound way than ever.

My friends cannot detect any signs that I had a stroke. But I am changed. I no longer try to multi-task. After all, I am retired now. I can slow down and allow to my inner guidance to direct this new phase of my life. What could have been a giant detour brings me greater sensitivity, awareness, and great gratitude for every experience of life. Even this one.