What Illness Can Reveal

I just read something truly inspiring this morning and had to share it with you all.

“Cancer has changed my life for the better. It’s made me a better human being. It stripped away all of the walls and the barriers...It exposes any lie in your life whatsoever. It exposes who’s not really there for you and who really is there for you,” - Shannen Doherty

This is 1000000000% true and hits home in more ways than one.  It exposes any lie in your life whatsoever is so striking to me. One of the things I will never forget (stroke joke) is how so called friends just disappeared when I was sick. I don't know what it is about sickness or change that scares people. It was incredibly painful to have to come to the realization that those who I would have immediately run to if they were sick, wouldn't do the same for me. In some ways, that was one of the worst parts of my recovery but I am thankful for it. It has made the circle I do have, tighter and stronger.

I'm often reminded of someone I was friends with in college who was suffering from MS. During my senior year, she took a turn for the worse and went from walking as any healthy person to using a cane, to being in a wheelchair.  We were in a class together. I noticed how hard things became for her and immediately jumped in to help her. No one else did. I was shocked that none of her peers would even ask how she was. It was as though MS was an elephant in the room. When we graduated, we lost touch but I still think about her. I think about what she taught me.

Remember, your illness can also be your blessing. Pay attention to all it can show you.

“It’s this brilliant thing where you just look around and think, ‘Oh my God, this person is amazing, they’re showing up for me in a way I never expected.’” - Shannen Doherty

The Struggles Of The Supermarket

I have to laugh...
I treat a trip to the supermarket like I'm going to the mall. I don't know why. I just love going to the supermarket. Is it the music? The way I'm fascinated by new labels and things stacked perfectly and in size order? I don't know. I usually make a list of what I need. I don't take more than I can carry. I usually use my dominant arm to carry heavy things but also use this as an exercise to put a little more weight on my strokie side.
I have an obsession with canned beans. I like to be prepared. I always buy a can when I shop. The thought process behind this can only be attributed to when Hurricane Sandy rendered so many of us without access to food for a few days because all the supermarkets in the area lost power. Since then, I always make sure I am stocked on beans, rice, pasta and pasta sauce.
The past few trips I've gone to the supermarket, I've forgotten that I already have rice. Let me say that again. I already have rice. Like a lot of rice. Like maybe 3lbs of rice. Maybe I should stop buying rice. Eljon, stop buying rice BUT every time I go to the supermarket, I somehow have temporary memory loss and think, "Huh, I think I need rice." Now I have about 7lbs of rice in my kitchen cabinet. I have to laugh...Sometimes, we have to just giggle. Our memory banks are wired differently now yes, and that can be sad...but sometimes, when you look into your kitchen cabinet and see a little something extra, you have to laugh. Embrace the little quirks that are you, that are NOW you. It makes it a little easier when getting to know the new strokie you.
Be well.

Summertime And The Living Is Easy

I love Summer. LOVE. One of my favorite things in the world is to just lay out and let my skin drink up as much of the sun. I'm a firm believer that Vitamin D heals (as long as you don't get burned!). Of course I have no medical evidence to back this up. All I know is that when I am being touched by the sun, I feel like I'm getting a hug. My winter's cure is holding a cup of tea.
Sometimes we all need something to encourage and heal us. It can come from something as simple as being sunkissed or having a really good piece of chocolate. I would encourage everyone to find their "little piece of something" for when days aren't so great. It truly is the little things that can make all the difference.
Be well.

My Beautiful Broken Brain Doc

Happy 2016 strokies! I hope you're all doing well and thriving. My friend sent me a link to a documentary on a young woman's journey to recovery from her hemorrhagic stroke.  It debuts on Netflix on Marth 18th. I am SO EXCITED to see it. It is another way to further drive home that young people have strokes. I have always said, awareness is key and this is a powerful way to help bring that to the masses.
As soon as I heard about this, I shared the trailer with fellow strokie and friend, Carrington. My excitement can only be compared to hearing about a new Star Wars film. Yes, that's how excited I am to see this doc. I won't say too much more except check out the trailer here 
Yay!