April 11, 2018
It felt like six weeks passed pretty quickly. The commute was easy and uncomplicated. Checking in and sitting in the waiting room felt very familiar although a bit strange since there was only one person I saw from our original group. After we had assembled in our group meeting room, there were just six of us from our original group, plus one other person from another group.
Dr. Whitehead began the session with meditation, which I expected, and that was very nice. It was a familiar guided imagery of the beach! Then we went right into “group therapy” with each of us telling what we are still doing that is helpful (with pain management) and what things we are still struggling with. Several said their struggle is with “trying to do too much.” Mine was a variation of that: sitting too long at the computer without a break. Some said it was hard for them to ask other people for help. Well, that would have been me six months ago! In the past six weeks, I’ve had to ask Linda for technical assistance with web clients. We both struggle with brain fog, but apparently mine is worse when it comes to technology! Finally, we were asked to write down (on cards she passed out) two helpful tips. Then she collected the cards and typed them into a document which she printed out (on bright pink card stock!) and distributed for a take-home.
Francis ended the session with Tai Chi taken from a new YouTube video called “Adapted Tai Chi Part 1,” which I looked up at home.
After class, I spoke privately to Francis to confirm that the Tuesday drop-in group on the 4th Tuesday of April (the 24th) would be focused on acupressure, which I will try very hard to be able to attend. It will mean getting to Alameda for the Farmers’ Market and Trader Joe’s two hours earlier than our “usual” in order to be able to get home to unload groceries and then to Union City for the 3-5 p.m. group.
