I’m sure I don’t need to talk about all the big, obvious I miss in post stroke life: walking. Driving, working, generally using my arms, fitness, hobbies, going out for meals and using cutlery, dressing nicely etc

There are some smaller things in life that sometimes I just go “oh” when I realise it’s not something I do/ can do…yet or go to do and my body simply doesn’t respond

I missListening to music, during my drive to and from work and in the gym

Doing my hair with two hands, it’s harder with one and limits what products I can use. I can’t get the look exactly how I want and if I use a paste style product I can’t rub it in my hands first thankfully Rich regularly helps me by fluffing or styling as I lm going out

Hugging people, yes I can hug with one arm if people know my issues and I absolutely do hug with one arm but I miss gripping people between my arms and having squeezes, rubbing someone’s back when they are sad or just patting their backs sound so insignificant but I’m an incredibly tactile person so this is hard

Wrapping up in a blanket as I can’t get one out and unfold it and place it over myself on the same vein: not being able to sleep o n my stomach anymore as I can’t get my arms under my head and pillow to be comfortable

Having lunch with my sister on my day off every week then walking to pick her kids up from school (see hugging also) one day I’ll do a whole post about her and how great she has been through this (in fact somewhere I’ve drafted it before)

Gesticulating when I talk. It turns out I’ve always been a bit of a hand talker and never realised but now it’s so frustrating.

Eating chicken wings. I have a big love of spicy chicken wings but they can’t be eaten with one hand and trust me I’ve tried

Carrying two beers in my hands. When I get to a pub with rich or friends I can get around and carry one drink as my walking is pretty stable but I can’t get a drink for anyone else

Shaking hands. It’s just a polite thing to do and while at times I can just use my right arm it’s customary to touch their arm or double the hands and I feel rude.

Shaving – I’ve got quite good with my Phillips one blade and one hand but sometimes you need to pull your face and skin to get it right and that’s not happening as yet