Possibilities and (as yet) impossibilities
Eight months of recovery has yielded many insights and instructive experiential information on applying Alexander principles to injury, rehabilitation and overall survival as a whole person, as well as a new knowledge of other disciplines that are effective in recovery from a major injury.
Tangible results as to my progress are clearly indicated by much reduced pain and far improved mobility. Eight months seems an awfully long time to be less than fully functional as a constitutionally active person, but recovery takes the time it takes. End-gaining has been clearly shown to impede my progress toward full recovery.
With my trusty pedometer, I can track my daily mileage in walking to an average of 5 miles! Much of this distance involves moving with near pre-injury speed and ease, which is a great joy for me. Sleep is no longer disrupted by excruciating pain. My knee is a bit stiff during my morning walk to work, but improves as I think my Alexander directions, and also attend to the wider world beyond my sensations and fears.
There are activities I look forward to experiencing, such as walking down stairs like a non-injured person, or going down hills with ease and confidence. Sitting for more than about 20 minutes results in stiffness and discomfort, so attending live performances or seeing films on the big screen are challenging. I can’t (yet) kneel for any length of time, sit cross-legged, or go back on my heels from kneeling into “child’s pose”. Forget about running. I may have to wait many months to even consider moving into my previously favorite activity. Mounting a horse, something I previously did with ease and joy, seems quite impossible for me just now.
My intention is to allow continuing refinement of the coordination of my entire self to reveal solutions that will make all of the above activities and hopes possible once again. Proceeding with patience and determination is a challenging mix, but I hope to learn that specific and general refinement as I carry onward with dynamic non-interference in mind.