Wow! What a difference.

Bob & I talked about Day 2 at length (I so very nearly walked out completely) and decided to address it in a friendly and hopefully helpful way.

I wanted to get 2 points across: 1) Although I am high functioning - this is a blessing and a curse. The benefit is that they can see what a stroker can accomplish. The cost is that they expect A LOT out of me. I am still brain damaged & have deficiencies. 2) I can only truly focus and concentrate on one thing at a time. To have 4 or 5 people in my ear talking to me about at least that many things if not more, becomes overwhelming and nothing positive comes out of it. The lead therapist really heard what I said and applied it today.

I feel great & have so much hope now. I know that I can be a little fragile about that kind of thing. If I don't hear anything positive for too long, I become convinced that nothing I am doing is good or right. I don't like that about myself, but if I recognize it then maybe I can handle it better.

So, about today's therapy session:

Hour 1 - the treadmill. 20 minutes walking forward with foot assistance. 20 minutes with a decline (I turn around and the treadmill reverses direction so I am walking forward and they raise the incline so that I am walking with a decline - hope that makes sense.) 20 minutes with an incline (I turn around again so that now I am walking uphill & still walking forward).

Hour 2 - outside walking on unpredictable and uneven surfaces (grass and then gravel). A lot of walking but it is increasing my confidence in my ability to walk pretty much anywhere. Some side stepping, walking backward, stairs.

Hour 3 - back inside for some foam cushion balancing, theraband, tandem walking (hee'ul toe) forward and backward, balance balls a little.

To clarify - this is *my* therapy. Everyone has one customized for their individual ability so I don't believe that I am giving anything away by describing it here.

I HAVE RENEWED HOPE!! :Clap-Hands: