Unlimited Possibilities

Barbara Peller, Northfield, IL

It’s been one year since I sat down and wrote In Gratitude for the Unexpected, a Vital Force article, reflecting my experience teaching TCC to seniors for the very first time. I’ve still not pursued these classes, yet they keep finding me. My sense of gratitude continues to expand, as my ability to truly appreciate the depth and strength of these seniors’ acknowledgments of the gifts of peace and pain relief, TCC offers them.

A 1/2 hour seated TCC class has continued for almost a year now at a Senior Day Care Center for people with Alzheimer’s, and others recovering from strokes and other disabling conditions. Many of the original 12 are still practicing every Monday afternoon. They do all the first 10 movements seated, as well as Light at the Top of the Head and Light at the Temples, and the Six Healing Sounds, and a good portion of Maximum Chi. We were featured with a photo and story in the newsletter of the Center’s sponsoring agency.

My original Community College class has grown from 12 students to 31; and we were recently featured in a Sunday Chicago Tribune article on continuing education, along with a color photo of me and the class. The college has started up four off-campus TCC classes at retirement villages and Park District Senior Centers. Enrollment at off-campus sites is about 25 students per class, and one site now offers an Intermediate Level TCC class. Several students from this Intermediate class came to meet Justin and Steve, and to participate in an open practice session at the Teachers’ Conference. This class was also the subject of a full-page photo spread and story in a local weekly newspaper.

Other senior classes have started up as well, and the possibilities seem endless. Recently the college called to see how large a class I might be willing to teach, as they were contracting for a new site for next Spring that could hold over 100 students. My inner guidance advised me to set no limits on class size, as long as they would provide a lapel microphone to help project my voice.

Jean Katus and Justin are developing a royalty arrangement in response to a rather unique request I received from the Head of Activities at a Retirement Community that sprawls over five acres, and is home to 500 seniors. One of the students in my class there helps run their close-circuit TV station, and hopes to broadcast Justin’s TCC video every day, so class members can tune in and practice at home.

It does seem as though the possibilities are unlimited. My records of Good Karma orders placed for Justin’s TCC text and video for senior classes since last March totals over $1,500.00. I continue to be amazed by the enthusiasm and interest these seniors express in so many ways. I always laugh when I remember Steve commenting at my Teacher Accreditation class, that I appeared to have real trouble projecting my very soft voice. He also commented, at one point, that I might consider myself a physically challenged TCC teacher due to my reconstructed right knee. Well, the Universe, with its usual sense of humor, has me learning how to project my now stronger voice, as I teach nearly 130 seniors a week, many of whom are hearing impaired. Oh yes, my reconstructed knee gives me a special bond with a lot of my students who’ve experienced joint and knee surgeries. My knee has also strengthened a lot, and serves as a real inspiration to many as proof of what’s possible when we let go our sense of limitation.

May we continue to allow our hearts to open as the Universe offers possibilities of evolution and personal healing in unexpected forms.