Storycrafting Process

Beyond Stillness did an amazing job of probing and asking questions to help me develop my story. I also enjoyed the weekly conversations. I felt really comfortable. Sharing my story greatly influenced my perspective on my stroke recovery journey. This was the first time that I spent time reviewing the events surrounding my stroke and my recovery journey. I now have a newfound love and respect for myself, and I am more encouraged to share my stroke story to others. I have found my stroke voice. This is a great way to help stroke survivors find their voice. As more and more people start to experience strokes, it is important let others know they are not alone. Help them break their silence and build a stronger community.

I like the homework to reflect on different parts of my journey. At the end of the sessions, Beyond Stillness translated my story into the root of my purpose after the stroke. I think my story gives hope to other survivors. I realized that recovery is not going back to your old self, it’s a new unique you.

I am thankful for being given the amount of time I needed to craft my story at my own pace…I pushed myself to dive deep and Beyond Stillness was beside me every minute of the way. Laying out my journey helped me let go of some of the blame; I might have done the best I could given my circumstances.

I really enjoyed the process…it made me remember how strong I really am. It made me very, very proud of myself and want to share more. Now, I want to find more ways to help others. This process was so awesome!

Beyond Stillness allowed me to be myself and share what happened to me.  The storycrafting process reminded that I'm an overcomer.  I'm strong.  I have a voice…I’m a big advocate with a purpose.  You give me purpose.  It’s another way to go.  I have so many things in my head to share.  You helped me.  Thank you for giving me the platform.  I thought it was all over for my voice but I have a new purpose.

I now have a NEW way to think about my story that I have told a million times in the past twelve years... Beyond Stillness couldn't have made this easier to participate and I highly recommend - both exploring your story and as a storyteller and listening to the wide variety of stories/perspectives.

The way Molly weaves each piece of a story together is like watching an orchestra conductor in their element - kind of mesmerizing and impressive. I guess that's why I've been listening to Beyond Stillness since it began. I know many of the storytellers from the show, but each story reveals something new about them that I hadn't known before. I think this sets Beyond Stillness apart from other stroke podcasts (which is what keeps me coming back for more!).

The meetings really got my creative juices flowing. I thought I wouldn’t like writing, but I ended up enjoying it! Beyond Stillness really helped me organize my story into a structured format, that would have otherwise been all over the place. It is so beautiful!!  The weekly meetings & homework kept me engaged excited! I think so many of us can benefit from hearing each other’s stories in this way. You are forever imprinted in my heart. This brings me so much joy & happiness.  My story can touch and help other survivors, plus it validates my purpose.  Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of Beyond Stillness.

Until this process I would craft the story I thought others wanted to hear, the perspective that made sense for that audience. I got the chance to reflect on some areas of recovery that I had yet to explore. I took a story writing workshop last fall, and while that process was interesting, it didn't pull anything near the caliber of what came out of this. This process was supportive and challenging. The homework was manageable and well paced, it supported the care and feeding of the story. I'm so thankful for this opportunity, it has meant a lot to me.

The meetings were fantastic, fun and occasionally emotional. Beyond Stillness delicately left a safe, open, space for those emotions to settle. The writing component provided a healthy opportunity to express and process stroke associated feelings that are often lingering and require to be brought to the surface in order to better understand them, and potentially provide guidance for others…I've learnt/learning to become more confident within myself and my achievements, while staying true and having faith in who I am…The experience has been fulfilling and cathartic. It's an honourable quest that Beyond Stillness has embarked upon, empowering many stroke survivors to find their voice and share their stories.

The Beyond Stillness story writing process has reminded me how far I have come and how many things I have learned and desire to share with others…Molly is gem and our community of stroke survivors is lucky to have her to help facilitate the formulation of our stories so that we can learn and perhaps get inspired from each other.

Just to have the opportunity to share my experiences both good and bad, and to be heard and validated gave me the confidence to believe that I had a story worth sharing, and the way Molly listens and picks out sentences, ideas, and themes gave me confidence that we were going to find a story that was really going to resonate. She simultaneously supported me and gave me the freedom to explore. I'm really proud of the story we came up with and I never would have had that without the thoughtful time, patience, and active listening that Beyond Stillness provides…A great big giant THANK YOU for this opportunity and for the experience.  My whole story is about feeling invisible after stroke and what it takes to feel seen.  Working with Molly and the time she spent with me profoundly moved me. Beyond Stillness sees me in the way I’ve always HOPED to be seen.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Meeting with Beyond Stillness was an incredibly meaningful experience! Molly is so kind and encouraging, and helped me identify the important things I wanted to say. Even after the first meeting, I felt like I knew Molly and was so comfortable sharing. It was a true honor to work with Beyond Stillness and gain a deeper insight into myself as a caregiver. I really came to the understanding that I have also been on a recovery journey, separate from my husband’s. I am more able to articulate my “why” for Stroke Awareness Vermont. And I learned that I have important insights to share with other caregivers.

Molly and Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke are the best.  The conversations are as intimate as therapy.  This opportunity came to me at the right time.  I needed to tell my story.  I hope that this organization continues to help stroke survivors and their families.  I hope more people share their stories.  Molly is a person that you can easily talk to and she understands.  I thank God who showed me that it wasn't time for me to go and that it was time for me to get up, speak, and help people after He saved me. I hope all stroke survivors find Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke so they can listen to each other’s stories, learn, and know they aren’t alone.  They will know when it’s time to get up, speak, and help people too.

The 1.5 months I spent working with Beyond Stillness. Conducting my story was an absolute invigorating experience. The zeal Molly brings each time we connect makes you feel so special. It’s one thing to get the opportunity to tell your story but she brings your story to life. I can say it gave me so much pleasure to relive the memories of how the stroke occurred.  I’m five years post and have maybe blurted a synopsis a couple umpteenth times, BUT never from an outside perspective bringing these type of details about. I now understand my purpose even more clearly! Beyond Stillness, I cannot thank you enough for your timeless service in giving my thoughts a home!

When I started working with Beyond Stillness, I didn't know what to expect. To my delight, I found the process of crafting my stroke story enlightening and creative. Beyond Stillness helped me so much - putting my thoughts and emotions into words that captured the essence of my story. I discovered that by sharing my story, I could encourage other stroke survivors to seize opportunities to find fulfillment in their lives.

The process and reflective conversations were very enjoyable. They helped me tell my story in a meaningful way. Each week, I shared stories about what and who was helpful throughout recovery.  I would come up with more and more between weekly meetings.  I got to focus on the meaningful and motivating parts of recovery.

Meeting Molly Buccola and being a small part of Beyond Stillness was a fantastic journey. Molly is the most supportive, encouraging, and joyful/grateful person. I looked forward to our weekly Zoom meetings as I told her of my stroke and health problems. She asked the right questions, always listening to my heart more than my words. Going through this process and revisiting my stroke all over again strengthened my confidence and purpose. Molly, you truly are an angel on earth. I can never thank you enough!

It was so easy to share my story with Beyond Stillness. Not only is Molly one of the nicest people I know, her deep and spiritual soul helps you share your post-stroke changes and challenge. I discovered a deeper meaning to the word HEALING. I miss our chats.

Once I went within it just flowed out of me and with Molly’s kind encouragement and help with words, it has become a very deep personal story to me and totally my truth.

If anyone is on the fence about doing it. I would encourage you. It will help you expunge any pent up frustrations. Molly doesn't bite. Beyond Stillness gently guides you through, never altering the spirit of what you want to say. And the audience is made up of either people who have lived your experience and can relate, or people who need to hear your experience. Don't be scared. You have been through much much much worse.

Working with Beyond Stillness was rough but worth it. It was hard to go back through my early days of stroke recovery but Molly gave me a judgment free space to tell my truth. If you are ready to tell your stroke story but don't know how, contact Beyond Stillness. You will not regret it.

I would highly recommend working with Beyond Stillness. The process they take you through to craft your story is gentle and accessible for all. As a stroke survivor herself, Molly completely gets what you're trying to say and what you want to get across. I loved the whole process of working on this and recommend it to stroke survivors. Molly's warmth and kindness shines through in the amazing work. Beyond Stillness shines a light on survivors and their stories.

The weekly meetings with Beyond Stillness were a way to take something raw, and get it to fit the format. My Story Steward was a gentle editor. Always positive. Never dismissive (though at times she probably should have been :-)) By the time we reached a finished product, I was very happy with the final result. What had been left on the cutting room floor wasn't because it was invalid. It just wasn't useful for this moment and this time.

Meeting Molly Buccola and being a small part of Beyond Stillness was a fantastic journey. Molly is the most supportive, encouraging, and joyful/grateful person. I looked forward to our weekly Zoom meetings as I told her of my stroke and health problems. She asked the right questions, always listening to my heart more than my words. Going through this process and revisiting my stroke all over again strengthened my confidence and purpose. Molly, you truly are an angel on earth. I can never thank you enough!

I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I think I’ve learned so much just from speaking with Beyond Stillness and listening to prior stories. I wish I’d have known about this earlier in my recovery. I really would have benefitted from more realistic expectations, knowing I’m not alone in this and feeling reassured I’m not the first or only person to be struggling with recovery. I hope Beyond Stillness will please market this to recovery facilities. Such a great tool for patients from people who’ve been in and through it. The struggle is legit!

Beyond Stillness created a safe, fun space for me to openly distill my story to relatable gold nuggets that could help me better connect with others. Molly is an exceptional listener, recognizing meaning beyond the mere words. While collaborating with Beyond Stillness, I was always at peace. The storycrafting process helped me identify catalyst moments in my recovery which I will share with others going forward. I am convinced now, more than ever, that my unique story has a purpose. I was amazed at how many life lessons I learned through my recovery journey. I highly recommend this reflective storycrafting process to stroke survivors. They themselves will benefit from the introspection and, just as importantly, they will realize they can make a difference in other's lives - just by being their authentic self.