What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?
I feel like I’ve been blogging about the issues I have from the stroke that nearly killed me for my whole life and not just the past 9 years. I also feel like I’m boring my readers with each time I talk about my disability. But this time, it’s the fault of the prompt.
The biggest personal goal I’ve technically set for myself is overcoming my paralysis and believe me, it’s not easy. It’s been 9 years of celebrating the tiniest of improvements, because if I don’t celebrate from time to time, I’ll go insane. The brain takes so long to heal itself and find new pathways around the damage caused by the piece of tumor that traveled from my heart and is still inoperative in my brain . There have been far too many setbacks. Mostly due to other health issues popping up, like my appendix bursting within a year of leaving the hospital or dealing with recurring bladder infections. Then, there are emotional setbacks because mental health is just as important as physical health . Doctors make such a big deal about the narrow window of time there is in which to heal from a stroke, and here I am 9 years later, proving them wrong . This year, I finally have most of my balance back ,which has been very encouraging. This was a big deal because without your balance, walking is a much bigger challenge,and I’m currently trying to walk without my AFO brace. I imagine it’s akin to walking a tightrope without a net in difficulty. Especially because I still have days with low energy and brain fog that make doing anything but rest impossible.
Recently, I achieved the goal of walking more than 10 steps forward and 10 steps back, and I’m currently working on improving that number. Stamina is still an issue physically and one I really hope I’m able to overcome. With my 60th birthday looming next summer ,I’d really like to be walking at least 100 steps by then.
Wish me luck! 🍀
Twenty steps! You’re practically dancing! I know you must be so excited to spend even a few moments at a time back out of that chair! Boy, for patient, patient, patient labor, therapy’s got even learning a musical instrument beat, right? You go, gurl!
I’ve learned a musical instrument in my life,the clarinet, and I can tell you that you couldn’t be more right about it. The clarinet only took me about a year to learn. But I didn’t have brain damage at the time 😊
My instrument was the flute, which due to its almost non-existent embouchure connection and its temperamental silvery nature presented some unique challenges. I can safely say that even after decades of playing, sometimes in rather prestigious venues, I was still learning!
You’re right about having to be mentally on spot for that stuff too. There’s just something about a thirty second note run with so many accidentals it’s nearly chromatic (but not actually ~ that would be too easy) that calls for every synapse to be firing at top efficiency!
Did you notice that it took a lot of physical strength to play a wind instrument as well ~ all the way from the toes up?
And don’t even get me started on the marching band experience ~ did you attempt that? Who invented that it’s possible to keep both beat and formation together when your fingers are freezing to your instrument, sound is coming to you from the other end of the band almost a full beat late (but not quite ~ that would be too simple) and you can’t see anything at all, including the field formation or even your conductor ~ and doing it all in steps exactly 17 1/2″ each (unless you’re pivoting at the moment)?
For me, the whole thing was a total exercise in zen!…
I agree with the toes up comment wholeheartedly! There wasn’t a marching band in my high school, but after reading your thoughts on one, I’m not sure it would have been my thing 🎶 😉😊. Initially, I wanted to play the drums,but unfortunately, it was the 80s, and I was saddled with a misogynistic male music teacher who literally told me that “Girls don’t play drums.”, before assigning me the clarinet ,which I grew to enjoy for 4 years. Never played professionally, though. Good for you 👍
Girls don’t play drums, huh? That teacher never rocked out at a Taiko performance! Some of those women are tiny ~ but mighty!
Awesome! I am excited for you to reach that goal. I’m sure it’s not easy.
Thank you very much ☺️
Gosh you really give the cliche “every journey starts with a step” new meaning! Go go go! Linda xox
Thanks, Linda 😊
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I am very glad you continue to write about your disability, recovery, rehabilitation, symptoms, triumphs and the like despite any misgivings that some readers might be bored. For over five years I have been harping on late-in-life ASD diagnosis/self-identification. I refuse to shut up! You are educating, informing, and even entertaining through this. It’s your page, and as a new reader, I find what you share very enlightening even if I don’t always comment.
As the saying goes for the disability community, “Nothing about us without us.” Thank you for all your efforts here, and I have all best wishes for your continued progress!
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Thank you so very much, Dana! I always appreciate your comments. It’s always good to hear from others who also have medical issues, it’s like finding new family 😊
It’s alright to share your pain and suffering and what you are doing to remedy it. It is better than keeping it to yourself because there are many compassionate people on this site. Compassionate people who have genuine concern for others, whose compassion gives off a powerful feeling for you to heal, more powerful than prayer, which can reach out to the end of the universe.Keep up the good work my dear❤️👍🌻
Thank you very much, Ralph
Thank you very much, Ralph 😊
Very inspirational. Good luck!
Thank you 😊
I love your blog because it’s so matter-of-fact, honest and decided about things. It’s the opposite of boring. Whatever you do it’s a success!
Thank you, Lia