Stroke Survivor Point of View

Point of view and how it affects outcome weather you’re a famer, golfer or a stroke survivor.

A farmer sees a mixture of cloud and sun as a blessing or a curse depends on the way he thinks.

If it’s been a dry season one sees the blue in the sky between the clouds and sees it’s never going to rain. Crops will be ruined and fail. Bills will be impossible to pay.

Another farmer sees the build up of clouds against the blue sky and the promise of rain to save the crop and grow it strong. Bills will be paid and a good season will be the result.

How the two farmers see the same day and the same sky tells how they see the day affecting their lives. The way they think might have an effect on the days to come.

One morning this stroke survivor woke up to troubled skies. Wind whipping through the trees and clouds moving quickly across the sky. The temperature had dropped greatly from the days before and my plan was to golf in the early afternoon.

The forecast told me rain would start soon and continue into the afternoon and end later that day. The golf game looked like a bad idea.

Radar showed a large line of rain and possible thunderstorms moving through the area. It looked like it was time to be trashing my plans and stay at home avoiding the rain.

Disappointment would loom for the rest of the day.

With golf on my mind and it was my goal today I checked with my golf partner and he was on his way to the course to look at the situation. That was all I needed, grabbing my golf bag, I was on my way.

Driving through the rain with no hope it would end, I keep telling myself, at least I could grab lunch at the clubhouse if nothing else.

On arrival the parking lot was almost empty. Obviously other golfers saw no reason to try for a round today because of the weather. At this point it just didn’t matter; I was there so I went into the clubhouse and met my partner.

We checked in and mentally crossed our fingers. Looked to the skies for some hope, some break in the clouds but rain was still coming down. While we waited we filled a golf cart with our equipment. It was then that two foursomes showed out. A decision had to be made. So it was decided to start in the rain and hope for the best.

Our other players showed up making us a foursome and we all made our first shots in the rain. Then it happened, the rain stopped. The rest of the game was in cloud and sun but no rain. The course dried up quickly. It became a great round of golf for all of us.

After the game we had supper at the clubhouse and talked about how lucky we had gotten with the break in the weather. Then after supper just when we were leaving to go home the rain started again.

On my way home the clouds were dark blue and black, filling the sky from horizon to horizon. It was like the beginning of the day looking bleak with no hope.

As I drove, continuing to look at the sky a few rays of sunshine broke through, rays of hope I thought. I found myself driving towards the light which was in the direction of home and my goal.

This is when it came to me, this was my whole day summed up on my drive home. It also was a refection of my recovery attitude as a stroke survivor.

My goal for my day was looking impossible because of the weather, however I moved forward despite of it and in the end my goal was met. I started in the rain but it gave up when I moved forward.

Rays of sunshine was the reward.

Cloudy weather in your life should never hold you back, only you can do that to yourself. Focus on the light even when it’s only in your mind. Move through the clouds to your goal and the sun will shine on you.