Persist

This month I will be sixty-two years old.  My stroke happened the week of my birthday three years ago.  Right after that, I managed to go back to work for a month or two, only to realize my brain no longer worked properly, my brother passed away, the pandemic started, and we moved to a new area of Atlanta.  A lot happened in the first year of the stroke. 

I’ve never been one to resist change, I’ve always thought the only pain in change was resisting it.  Change is inevitable.  It’s the only constant.

I really need to figure out how to continue my recovery from the stroke and age gracefully.  I fell during PT last week; my balance wains when I get bored, I get tired or don’t pay attention.  Unfortunately, all three occur when I walk.

More than anything my ego was bruised.  I’ve only fallen a few times in my life prior to the stroke.  To give you an idea of my balance pre-stroke; I was once walking down P Street in DC, a brick was missing on the sidewalk, which I didn’t notice till my foot went in, I was able to curl up, do a somersault and stick the landing without missing a beat, I think there may have been some applause. 

I’ve always been young at heart, never had a problem with my age.  I guess I still don’t have a problem with my age, I just need to find my path.  I’m sure this is not the first time I’ve talked about this. 

Yesterday, I went to a meeting.  I met a few people, who all happened to be musicians, now there is no way I would consider myself a drummer, “I play at the drums”.  But I’m going to go back to that meeting.  One of the men I met is a drummer.

The point I need to make for myself is to get out and go to where people are.  Have meaningful conversations (this also helps to fend off dementia and other brain health issues).  It would also help me to see God working in other people’s lives, if I don’t see it in other people, how can I recognize it in mine.?

Everything will be okay.