Lynna was just 48 years old when she suffered a stroke that severely affected the left side of her body. The timing of her stroke made an already terrifying situation even more isolating because it happened in August of 2020, right when the COVID pandemic first started. She could not have any family or friends visit her because of the strict hospital protocols during that season. There were a lot of little things going on at the exact same time between her health crisis and the global lockdown. She faced months where she had to go to physical therapy just to recover physically, but mentally, the experience really took a toll on her. She initially found herself asking why this was happening to her because she was so young to be dealing with a stroke. Everything just felt really tough at the time.
However, amidst that challenging phase, Lynna experienced a deep realization. She realized that many of the life changes that came after the stroke, like finally leaving a bad relationship, were actually the very things she had been praying for. Even though the stroke was terrible, she knew this was her chance to be grateful for the good changes it brought.
Before the stroke, she used to keep journals, but she never did it consistently. During her healing process, she completely redirected her approach and discovered the true power of gratitude. She began meditating and keeping a journal every single day. She found that if she paused and practiced being grateful just for waking up in the morning, her mornings felt so much better. At night, she would write in her journal to express thanks for simply getting through the day. If her physical therapy went well and she was able to do a little something more that day, she went to bed feeling full, knowing she was slowly but surely getting back to a sense of normalcy.
She actively sought out something to remind her to stop and be grateful to maintain these consistent practices. Around that time, she discovered the gratitude app that served as a crucial anchor for her mental health. If there were moments when she had a long day and maybe did not feel positive, the app assisted with a gentle reminder to stop for a minute, give thanks, and feel good. She hopes more people discover and use it, noting that finding peace is especially critical right now, as life can sometimes feel even more stressful and difficult than those early COVID days.
“Before practicing gratitude, I was always trying to find the ‘whys.’ It was very ego-centered. But practicing gratitude has made me more mindful. Now, if something not-so-good happens in my day, I know there’s a reason for it, and I just have to be patient to discover what that is.”
~Lynna
When friends and family ask for her advice, her message is simple: learn to meditate, find apps that help, and just be still. Sometimes our minds are constantly running, but she believes that if you are still enough, you will find moments of clarity. To Lynna, being still means stopping to be in the presence of God, realizing you are not alone, and remembering there are so many good things in our lives that we should be grateful for. She firmly believes that a person needs to have faith in something, whatever that guiding force looks like to them.
For years now, she has maintained a strict daily routine to keep herself grounded. She used to wake up and meditate with a group of friends, but now she practices solo. Every morning before work, she sets aside thirty minutes to practice her meditation. Raised Catholic, she sits in front of her altar and begins with two Christian prayers, followed by a round of the Mahamantra and four rounds of Ram. She finds that on the days she completes this routine, she feels better prepared for whatever the day brings. For her, these moments of stillness serve as a reminder that the power of belief is a personal resource, allowing us to choose what resonates most with our own lives.
For Lynna in 2026, the internal transformation is clear. While she still has trouble with the left side of her body as part of her post-stroke reality, she is far more patient today than she ever was. She is even more grateful now and simply does not sweat the small stuff. Instead, this version of Lynna has managed to really concentrate on bettering herself, fully committed to ensuring that she continues to grow as a person.
Lynna’s journey makes us understand the magic of stillness. It’s so important for us to just pause for a while, notice every small thing around us, and feel genuine thankfulness from our hearts. Our lives are busy, and it’s very easy to get swept away in the rush, but those few intentional minutes we take out of our day will work wonders. Taking that short amount of time to simply be present allows us to feel the warmth of our surroundings, acknowledge our inner strength, and find peace with everything beyond our control. Because sometimes, moving forward just means giving yourself permission to stop for a while.
Share this story with someone who needs a reminder today that there is magic in simply slowing down.🤍
This is Lynna’s story, told beautifully by her and curated in its truest form by me to share with you.
I would love to hear your story. Write to me at preeti@gratefulness.me ✨
Every story is a reminder that a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.
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