I have a theory about people…. And more specifically the types of people who surround you in the critical moments of your life. It’s my theory that as adults who want to grow, need to grow, heck, when everything seems impossible, we have to let our guards down…

If you’ve ever been thru a major life changing event, such as a stroke, how do heal? Can your body do the work on its own or does it need a little help? How do you transform yourself? And, is it even possible without a mindshift?

I know many of you have an additional anguish about the holidays. You are suffering, like me, from a certain set of mental or physical challenges that add a certain perplexity surrounding the holidays.

When you are faced with a life-changing-event or you simply can’t face yet another holiday season, it can seem impossible.

Read how I went from perfect to paper plates!

If I can give just a little advice for days when the world seems like your number one enemy, conspiring with your stroke, it’s this.

Go back to bed! But not before you have read this.

Your resilience, your stick-to-it-ness and your willingness all play a monumental part in your stroke recovery!

Read my three tips for you to survive a no good, rotten sort-of-a-day!

You might have never realised what it takes for someone suffering the results of a stroke to ‘fit-in’ with her normal life. Things which I could do automatically pre-stroke can cause a slight moment of panic for me now. Maybe you can identify with some of my stroke-isms… because, let’s face it, sometimes we all have strokey moments.

And other stories which I shouldn’t laugh about, but do.

When it comes down to it, there’s not much funny about the situation. I suffered a stroke after an internal carotid artery dissection.

But, I was one of the lucky ones. Surgery could fix me.

I have to level with you. I have been holding back some secrets.

Although it’s satisfying, in one way, to lead you down the path that I’m doing my best and fighting the good fight, its not in the true spirit of honesty.

The fact is that I have many good days, but they come with a twist. They are laced with the drug of my bad behaviour and then my dimmer switch comes on, full blast.

i am a creator.

Now the hard part began…

I wanted to have my rehabilitation my way. No cookie cutter approach, please!

Come, let me entertain you with a good story that starts with a rather seemingly typical, “normal” female and ends with me cursing at my husband in a sea full of umbrellas, blaming my stroke for “its bad behaviour”.

Let me set the stage for you, shall I?

San Diego is by far one of the coolest cities I have visited. If you have been, you might agree with my list of reasons why. Perhaps you can also add a few? If you have not been, go! Add it to your bucket list and hit the bricks! It is worth it.

I will admit it….I am a summer-lovin’ city girl….but there is something about Tokyo in the winter that makes me smile. It is like no other city, I tell you!