Finding Grace in Every Day: A Webinar on Companionship with CLP Teachers

Finding Grace in Every Day: A Webinar on Companionship with CLP Teachers

by Zarah C. Gagatiga, reader, writer, wondering wanderer

The goal of this webinar is to share with CLP teachers my life experience as a TIA stroke survivor and how this life changing event made me seek grace in every waking moment of every day. I will be sharing some tips for survival and activities that have sustained me since then with the hope that, my witnessing will be a source of inspiration to others. In return, I only ask for prayers of health and wellbeing for me and my family namely, Domeng my husband, Nico and Zoe, our young adult kids.

Priming Activity: Read the following posts.

The Big Reveal: My Stroke of Luck

My Stroke of Luck: Trying to Make Sense of It All

My Stroke of Luck: On the Road to Recovery

A Year After My Stroke of Luck

After reading, gather your thoughts and feelings and follow these instructions to move on to the next phase of the session.

3-2-1 Response (Sanacore, 2012)

1.      Write 3 important details that struck you, disturbed you or resonated with you.

2.     Write 2 questions about the texts/posts you have read. You can also ask 2 questions to the writer.

3.     Write a summary of what you have read.

4.     Choose any of the 3-2-1 responses and place them on our JamBoard. This is the link to the Priming: Finding Grace in Every Day JamBoard.

5.     Is there something that moved you to action from this experience? If yes, take note of it and that will be your ENTRANCE PASS to the webinar.

Webinar Proper

Type in the chat box your Entrance Pass

1.      Music Map c/o Teacher Val “Nico” Gagatiga (20 mins)

2.     Finding Grace in Every Day (30 mins)

a.     Grateful for Me – Mindfulness, Grace and Gratitude

b.     Loving Hands – Sensing, Perceiving and Valuing

3.     My Heart Today (Asynchronous Activity) (10 mins)

 

Prepared by Zarah C. Gagatiga on April 19, 2021

My Stroke of Luck: On the Road to Recovery (3 of 3)

Taken a month after my mini-stroke.
With Tess, workout buddy and makeup artist

My husband once told me, "Mama, pag nagkakasakit ang tao, may dapat magbago." (Mama, sickness will prompt you to change). He left it there. I knew all along what he meant. Because he is Papadoms, he respected my time and space to make the change. Because I am Zarah Gagatiga, I have to experience a life threatening event to make the change.

I am in a period of adjustment. I can't say I am one hundred percent liking it. But, this is something I need to do. There are nights when I sleep with fear in my heart and no matter how hard I pray, the fear won't go away. It can be worse in the morning because I wake up with the same fear. It is the emotional and psychological aspect of surviving a stroke that gnaws at me. It is taking me a while to accept my vulnerability.

I know it has not been easy for my husband to accompany me on this road to recovery. I can be a drama queen. Really. But I think about his many sacrifices, his devotion to duty and his quiet endurance to take on life's hardships. This is no longer the time to act like a brat. I think about Zoe. How strong she has been. She saw me crumbling on a heap on the floor. She saw me rise up again and was there for me at the ER. She was practically the one who worked on my admission papers and medical registration in Makati Med. I share Nico's dreams and I wonder at how he could take things in stride. For one, he is in no rush to take on more subjects this summer and in the coming semester. He simply wants to run as the course dictates him so. That boy can listen to his heart. And he listens well.

So, I have to live. I need to live. I must be brave.

I have recently read somewhere that fear's purpose is to rob you of the joys of living a full life. Being afraid is close to not living at all. The other night, Zoe and I were talking about decision making. She explained to me her "calculations", her bases for arriving at a decision. That's it. That's that.

I know a change is imminent. My question to myself is this: what to lessen in my life now so I can enjoy it more? There are things that need to let go. Attachments bound and strung so deep that it needs to be cut. This not only about my workshops and speaking engagements. There is more to this experience than just handling a busy schedule. I heard a former co-teacher say that getting sick is a blessing because it is God's way to cleanse the spirit. This makes me think how healing could mean something else. It does not always mean being free of a physical ailment.

I will endure. Perhaps not as quiet as my husband's ways. I will be strong and yes, there will be days I will falter. I will to listen to my heart and to my body and allow them to run the course. It is time to be kind to myself.

There is so much grace to be had.

Bagyo! Baha! Kwentong Pambata!

Creative Writing and Storytelling Workshop for child workers, teachers and parents. * Nov. 21, 8 AM-5 PM at the Museo Pambata.

Join and learn to write and tell stories for children. Discover how stories help children emotionally cope and heal from difficult circumstances and events. Workshop facilitators include Zarah Gagatiga and Dr. Luis Gatmaitan MD.

Zarah Gagatiga is a teacher, writer, librarian and storyteller. She explores the therapeutic claims of storytelling through experience and personal stories. Techniques and strategies to tell stories are also included in the workshop. Zarah is the president of the Philippine Board On Books for Young People. She is currently writing a book on Filipino Folk Tales in collaboration with international storyteller, Dianne delas Casas.

Luis Gatmaitan, M.D. will discuss the healing qualities of story writing and its effects on children. He has traveled to Mindanao and experienced first hand the healing process that children of war and conflict go through. Tips to improve one's writing skills are included in his talk cum workshop. Dr. Luis Gatmaitan is a Palanca Hall of Famer and TOYM awardee. For further details and reservation contact 09209602884 or 523-1797-98. Registration fee is at P800.00.