The predominant opinion is that I have made a miraculous recovery from the subdural hematoma and subsequent craniotomy October 1, 2015. If you met me now you wouldn’t think anything so momentous had happened to me.
Today my massage therapist explained that in her experience I am very different from most people who suffer such a trauma. I have nothing to compare to so I asked her, where would those other people be now (she has a great deal of experience and observation). She said “They would likely be in a nursing home at 74 years of age. They would have given up a long time ago.” She then suggested that on this anniversary I should celebrate the qualities that have made the difference: a strong constitution that includes determination, discipline, gratitude, patience and willingness.
This is true. I need all of these to keep going, especially on those days I just can’t believe there is more healing to do!
It is my greatest wish that I could ladle out buckets and buckets of this constitution for anyone who has suffered and is stuck in a condition that most doctors would say, “You just have to live with it. And after all, you’re getting old.” Not so!
But I can share the resources that I believe have helped me on this very long (10 years) journey of healing. By the way, December 23, 2024 I got a new opportunity to explore new ways of healing when I broke my hip slipping on an extremely slippery floor in a Chinese restaurant. Nine months out from that I can say that I have been humbled and learned more than I ever wanted to know about pain and debilitating injury.
I feel very lucky to have had the career I have as a somatic (movement) specialist and a lifelong student of the Alexander Technique. I have learned to be brave and an explorer in the field of alternative healing. So many of those approaches come in handy, every day, and still, I am finding more.
More than anything, all of the small gains I make with each approach sustain my sense of hope. Fundamental to applying the Alexander Technique principles to my living is the idea that I can assess my physical state, I can choose to change the way I am reacting to any stimulus and I have directions I can give myself to bring myself back to wholeness and unity in mind, body and spirit- the creature that I am.
If you are reading this, I plan to share more with you over the next few months about my journey of experimentation and healing. Dip in and get a ladle full. I hope it helps you and your loved ones. Visit my youtube channel sarahbarker 3339 and try out the phone app Allez Up! Pro.
