In June of 2017, on Father’s Day, my life changed forever after experiencing a stroke. What started as numbness and tingling throughout different parts of my body quickly became a life-altering experience that affected me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Even now, years later in 2026, there are still remnants of the stroke that continue to affect my life in different ways.
After the stroke, I experienced neuropathy, migraines, memory loss, cognitive difficulties, stuttering, mobility challenges, chronic pain, and limping that lasted for months. My body no longer functioned the way it once had, and I reached a point where I had to ask myself a difficult question: How was I going to heal and move forward from this?
That experience forced me to slow down and completely reevaluate the way I was living my life. Before my stroke, I often lived life quickly and without much intentionality, but afterward I realized I had to begin listening to my body, mind, and emotional well-being in a much deeper way. My healing journey became about much more than physical recovery. It became about changing my mindset, learning how to nourish my body differently, reconnecting spiritually, and finding healthier ways to care for myself emotionally and physically.
At the time, I drastically changed the way I ate and started focusing on hydration, herbal teas, juices, smoothies, mineral-rich water, and more intentional nourishment. I also began exploring spirituality, mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth in ways I never had before. One of the hardest parts of recovery was accepting that my body could no longer move the way it once did. For over a year, I could not tolerate intense workouts, cardio, or physically demanding exercise without pain. I had to learn how to stop forcing my body and instead work with it gently and patiently.
My healing started with simple things, walking, stretching, breathing, listening to my body, and slowly rebuilding strength over time. Eventually, those small moments evolved into yoga, body movement, resistance training, and a much deeper understanding of what wellness truly meant for me. Looking back now, I realize my stroke completely changed my relationship with wellness, healing, intentional living, and the way I cared for myself moving forward.
If you’re looking to transform your life and become the best version of yourself, the pillars of Women Want Wellness can help. These tools have assisted me with mind, body, and spiritual development and can do the same for you.
As I slowly began rebuilding my life after my stroke, I realized that healing was not only physical. I had to learn how to support my emotional well-being, mindset, spirituality, nervous system, and body in ways I had never prioritized before. Over time, these became some of the foundational wellness pillars that helped guide my healing journey and reshape the way I cared for myself.
One of the biggest shifts in my healing journey was reconnecting spiritually and learning how to slow down enough to listen to myself again. For me, spirituality became less about perfection and more about presence, intuition, prayer, reflection, and learning how to trust my inner guidance. During difficult seasons of life, spirituality can become an anchor that helps create hope, grounding, emotional support, and a deeper connection to yourself and your healing journey.
Reflection question:
What practices, environments, or moments help you feel the most emotionally grounded, spiritually connected, or at peace within yourself?
After my stroke, I had to completely change the way I viewed healing, setbacks, and personal growth. There were moments when I felt frustrated, discouraged, emotionally exhausted, or limited by the changes happening in my body. Over time, I realized that healing also required mental and emotional flexibility. Developing a growth mindset helped me become more patient with myself, more open to change, and more willing to adapt instead of remaining emotionally stuck in fear, frustration, or hopelessness.
Action step:
When challenges arise, try asking yourself: “How can I support myself through this season instead of fighting against it?”
One of the ways I began supporting my body was through hydration and more intentional nourishment. I started incorporating more water, herbal teas, juices, smoothies, mineral-rich drinks, and foods that made me feel supported physically and emotionally. Healing taught me that nourishment is not just about dieting or restriction — it is about learning how to care for your body with more awareness, patience, and compassion.
Reflection question:
What are some small ways you can begin nourishing your body more intentionally throughout your day?
One of the hardest parts of my healing journey was accepting that my body could no longer move the way it once did. I could not immediately return to intense workouts or physically demanding exercise without pain, so I had to learn how to listen to my body differently. My healing started with simple movement, walking, stretching, yoga, mobility work, and slowly rebuilding strength over time.
Healing taught me that movement does not always have to be intense to be meaningful. Sometimes gentle movement, consistency, and honoring your body’s limitations can become one of the most healing forms of self-care.
Action step:
Instead of forcing your body into movement that feels overwhelming, ask yourself: “What type of movement would help my body feel supported today?”
