I DANCE, I ENJOY, I LIVE
Jolijn Reenen, Shaolin Wahnam Netherlands
Jolijn in a chi kung state of mind
The following testimonial is reproduced from the thread Testimonial started in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum on 27th March 2010.
Dear all,
I have been reading the forum for a while now, and it is a real pleasure to read all those posts. I would like to introduce myself and share my own story. Since I started learning Shaolin Wahnam Chi kung from Sifu Darryl Collett about 1,5 years ago, my life has changed tremendously. It is a long story, but a complete change of life can't be described in a few words. .
Four years ago, at the age of nineteen, I became very ill. I suffered from chronic nausea, which forced me to stop my study, my work and almost any social activity. The condition was waxing and waning, but it started to get worse, and for the duration of two years the nausea was almost unbearable. Every day I woke up because I was terribly sick, and every night the nausea kept me awake for hours. After two months I thought I could not carry on anymore, but it would last for years longer. Every day was a struggle.
After numerous tests in the hospital, they finally found the disease; an Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a so-called incurable disease. There are a few treatments to reduce the symptoms, but none of them worked. My nausea continued, and I became extremely fearful of the future. I was crying and screaming in my bed, because the nausea made me crazy, never gave me a break. Moreover the idea this was never going to end causes real panic, a strong claustrophobic feeling. I became increasingly angry. Angry at the doctors who did not take me seriously, angry at the people who had let me down, angry at my disease. It was exhausting. There was almost no energy left for anything else. Sometimes I thought the only reason why I could carry on was simply because time passed by, and every morning became evening and so on.
2,5 years ago a friend of mine told me about Shaolin Wahnam Chi Kung, and although it seemed pretty interesting to me, I thought this was nothing for me. It sounded a bit too vague for this level-headed Dutch girl. One year later I thought about it again, and decided to follow a course from Sifu Darryl Collett. Perhaps practicing Chi Kung could reduce some of the stress I experienced.
Jolijn creating a ball of chi for fun
Right now I am looking back on 1.5 years which changed my life tremendously. Within a few months I felt more energy, experienced less nausea and started to enjoy some small things again. After five months I felt an important change of attitude towards my disease. I realized although I was ill there were things and people in my life who gave me energy and joy. I started to think having a chronic disease perhaps did not mean the end of my life. There are other aspects in life to enjoy. And my anger became less. I learned to use the energy for the good things in life. And I started to feel I was getting more control over my disease, instead of the disease was controlling me.
Actually, the following months I kept feeling better and better. I started to feel real joy in daily life, and my nausea became less and less. Suddenly, after seven months of training Chi Kung, I (the skeptical biomedical student) realized I was recovering. Slowly but steadily, my condition was improving. Though I still had some doubts, and thoughts like it would actually be too good to be true. But Sifu always seemed to say exactly the right words to give me hope and courage.
Last October I went to the Intensive Chi Kung Course in Malaysia to meet Sigung Wong Kiew Kit, which of course is a whole story on his own . But I can tell that, although the nausea is not completely gone, there is not a single doubt in me anymore, I have made a huge step forwards, and ever since I can be so full of joy and energy I have never felt before.
Right now, about 1.5 years after my first class, I am writing this, and I feel very well. I smile, I meet new people, I dance, I enjoy, I live. I am actually looking for the possibilities to apply for university again, which I would love to do which I thought I could never do again.
And what is absolutely beautiful about practicing Chi Kung, being healthy is only the beginning! Actually, at the same time many other aspects in life have changed too. To name just a few: It helps me to feel calm, to cope with stress, to deal with negative emotions, to feel courageous, to throw my negative thoughts away, to feel compassion for the people instead of being angry at them, to forgive people who have hurt me, to feel self-assured, to choose what I really want to do with my life, to enjoy my relationship, family and friends, and especially to be full of the joy of living.
The Eastern philosophy, arts and medicine are becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands. Personally I think much of this is drifting further and further from the genuine arts. I think real masters are rare. Therefore I am very grateful to learn weekly from a real master, Darryl Collett. Every class he gives me so much energy, motivation, inspiration and the courage to keep on going. The gratitude I feel towards him and Sigung is indescribable.
In short; the great luck that led me to Shaolin Wahnam Chi Kung is one of the best things that ever happened to me, which I guess I share with many of you .
Greetings
Jolijn
Jolijn in the background performing Lifting the Sky at the Intensive Chi Kung Course