Today, I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 10 of Erica Tucci’s Virtual Blog Tour. Erica’s book Radiant Survivor: How to Shine and Thrive through Recovery from Stroke, Cancer, Abuse, Addiction and Other Life-Altering Experiences is celebrating its big Amazon launch on November 19th, 2013 at http://www.radiantsurvivor.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.php
Although the author reflects on her experience with stroke, we feel her message easily applies to all of us here at Conditional Publications, and our readers.
Erica Tucci had a full life as a corporate manager of a Fortune 500 company, a healing arts business owner and an author of three books. It all came to a screeching halt in June 2011 when she had a stroke that left her completely paralyzed on her right side. While spending more than two years in recovery, she gained much wisdom about what’s really important in life. She re-entered the world with a new mission: to use her story as an inspiration for others facing life challenges, which we all have, big or small. That story can be found in her brand new book, Radiant Survivor. Erica is also an official Online Ambassador for the American Stroke Association.
Yesterday, Erica visited Gill Potter at http://yoursacredpurposeblog.com/2013/11/virtual-interview-with-erica-tucci/, where they talked about important life lessons, self-belief and the challenges of living in the moment even during challenging times.
Today, I’d like to share with you a recent interview I had with Erica when I got to ask her some questions about self-acceptance, the effect her circumstances has had on her relationships, and her personal transformation.
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Vrinda Pendred: I really liked your idea about applying the five stages of grief to traumatic experiences. Our readers will all either have been diagnosed with a lifelong neurological condition (e.g. Tourette’s Syndrome), or someone in their family will have such a diagnosis. What advice would you give for getting to the end of the grief cycle and reaching that place of self-acceptance in spite of the challenges?
Erica Tucci: I feel the way to come to full acceptance of any circumstance is to surrender, and let go and let God, which I will talk about in a minute, but first I want to talk about the emotions we go through during our process of recovery. You should allow yourself to go through any emotion that you feel throughout the process, whether it’s sadness, anger, depression, or whatever. If we deny ourselves the experience of our emotions, they can fester inside and cause even more harm. But try not to get stuck in an emotional whirlwind. Let them move through you and then release them as best as you can. They may rise and fall throughout your recovery, but don’t let them overwhelm you. Now about surrender. My massage therapist has a plaque above his massage table that says “the Power that created the body can heal the body.” That is so true! So often we think we have to control everything in our lives, but we are “co-creators” of our lives, working in concert with God (Spirit, the Universe, our Creator, Allah or however you define the Higher Power). We must do our part as we travel down our path of recovery, but we must also feel in our hearts that God “has our back” and is supporting us every step of the way, guiding us to the end, no matter what the circumstance. And the outcome will be based on what you believe it to be. If you believe in your heart that you can recover fully, then that’s where God will ultimately guide you. I have a mantra that I live by: “I am on a magic carpet ride with Spirit at the helm.” What I am accepting is full recovery, and I believe that Spirit will take me there, in time. So why not put your circumstance in the hands of God and see how far you can go in your recovery? You may just have a wonderful miracle happen!
Vrinda Pendred: In your book, you mentioned past lives and reincarnation, and my impression is that you’ve come away from the experience a stronger person, with a richer understanding of life. Would you say that, in a way, you’ve experienced a kind of reincarnation within this life?
Erica Tucci: That is a very interesting way to look at it! If you look at the word “re-incarnate,” it means to have a new embodiment…in a sense, a “rebirth.” From that point of view, yes, I am having a reincarnation in my current life since I feel my stroke has led me to a transformation of self at all levels – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I believe that my body is going to be better than it was before. My mind is becoming more focused on the present moment and not so consumed by the anxieties and fears of the past and future, as it was before. And spiritually, I feel I am growing by leaps and bounds. I consider my stroke a gift from the heavens for what I have learned along my path to healing and recovery. I feel that any life trauma that one faces can cause a person to go through a reincarnation if they open their mind and heart to the opportunities of personal growth and transformation afforded by the experience.
Vrinda Pendred: Do you think your stroke, and ultimately your personal growth, has affected your relationships with family and friends?
Erica Tucci: You bet! I realized who my real friends were when I had my stroke. My so-called “best friend” from before completely abandoned me. She said she had her own problems she had to tend to. I know what her problems were since we had been friends for years, and she could have at least come to see me in the hospital just for a brief time to show she cared. Yes, she did live a couple of hours away, but God knows how many times I went to visit her when I was well. In fact, I was the one who always went to visit her; she rarely came to visit me before my stroke. Geez, if we all waited until we had no problems in our lives, nobody would help anyone in times of strife, since most of us have something going on in our lives at any given time. On the other hand, another friend whom I never suspected would give me support came over week after week to visit. He still periodically does. As for family, my mom has been my rock, my angel! She took me in after I left in-patient rehab and took care of me on top of her full-time job as a university professor. She’s 77 years old and still working, but she found the time to be my caregiver. At her age, she shouldn’t have to be working, and I should be caring for her. Because I am still not ready to live on my own, I am still living with her. But my ordeal has strengthened our relationship. In spite of the pain we have endured, we have had a lot of belly laughs. Laughter is so good for the soul, and we have had some real soulful moments. Her story is in the “caregiver” chapter in my book Radiant Survivor.
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I hope you enjoyed this interview with Erica Tucci and that you’ll check out her book Radiant Survivor at http://www.radiantsurvivor.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.php
Here Are Two Reasons Why You Should:
Reason 1: FREE 3-DAY EVENT
Radiant Survivor Telesummit November 12th through 14th, 2013
Finding Our Inner Strength! Tuesday November 12th, 2013: 12 – 1:30pm PST
The Emotional Journey of Recovery Wednesday November 13th, 2013: 12 – 1:30pm PST
Spiritual Surrender and Letting Go Thursday November 14th, 2013: 12 – 1:30pm PST
When you visit the page at the above link and request a “launch reminder”, you will automatically receive a FREE pass to Erica’s 3-day “Radiant Survivor Telesummit” which runs from November 12th through 14th, 2013, with a panel of 11 world-renowned experts on recovery and transformation. You can listen to the telesummit online in the comfort of your own home, and even ask questions during the broadcast.
Guests Include:
- Erica Tucci – Life Coach; Reiki Master; stroke survivor; author of Radiant Survivor: How to Shine and Thrive through Recovery from Stroke, Cancer, Abuse, Addiction and Other Life-Altering Experiences
- Lynn Serafinn – Coach; marketer; author of The 7 Graces of Marketing
- Bernie Siegel MD – World-renowned surgeon; author of A Book of Miracles and The Art of Healing
- Allison Maslan – Entrepreneur; author of Blast-Off!
- Barbara Techel – Speaker; author of Through Frankie’s Eyes; contributing author for Radiant Survivor
- Sue Frederick – Author of Bridges to Heaven, I See Your Dream Job, and I See Your Soul
- Deb Scott – Author of The Sky is Green and The Grass is Blue; host of “The Best People We Know Show”
- Delanie Stephenson – Stroke survivor; author The Calm before the Storm; Online Ambassador for the American Stroke Association
- Mal Duane – Alcoholism survivor; certified Life Recovery Coach; author of Alpha Chick
- Suzanne Rose Lubkowski – Energy healer; intuitive Life Coach; contributing author for Radiant Survivor
- Callie Carling – Cancer survivor; Laughter Yoga teacher; creativity coach; contributing author for Radiant Survivor
This telesummit is a completely free “no purchase necessary” gift from Erica
To register or for more info, go to
http://radiantsurvivor.com/book-launch/pages/telesummit.php
Reason 2: FREE GIFTS
When you buy Erica’s book on Tuesday November 19, 2013, you can receive the MP3 downloads of all 3 days of the inspiring Radiant Survivor Telesummit, plus a complete library of beautiful personal development gifts from authors, speakers, coaches and other enlightened professionals from around the globe.
To claim your FREE pass to the Radiant Survivor Telesummit
and read about the free gifts, go to:
http://www.radiantsurvivor.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.php
Thanks for reading! Please share your comments and thoughts below. We love reading your feedback.
AND…be sure to follow Erica tomorrow when the next stop on her Virtual Blog Tour is Shawngela Pierce, who will be interviewing Erica on living in the moment, gratitude and her pearls of wisdom for others. To visit that “stop” on the tour, go to http://www.seekwithinyou.com/blog-2/98-healing.
