The Pain of Shame
Recovery work is painful. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. It is no wonder that I spent two decades avoiding it. Deep down in my unconscious where the memories were stored, I had...
Where Do Bullies Come From?
I don’t write about my experiences with bullying very often. Maybe I have internalized society’s beliefs that I should have stood up for myself in middle and high school, especially when my peers...
My Life is Not My Own
I was raised by narcissists. That probably doesn’t come as a surprise. As a child, my life never belonged to me. There was no autonomy. There were no choices at all. For illustrative purposes, I...
Making Truth a Priority
After writing publicly for more than a year, I received the first blog comment that attempted to deny the truth of my story. I have never received these comments because I am telling the truth...
Who Do You Want Me to Be?
Sometimes I receive emails from acquaintances I knew in my early years. They usually start by expressing their deep concern for me and what I went through. Each message like this is healing...
What Do Teenagers Want?
After a childhood of severe abuse, I am a walking web of defense mechanisms. The most destructive mechanisms were developed when I was a younger child. Because of their devastating impact on my...
Back to the Basics
There is a problem with the human experience. We don’t have a point of reference. We have only known one reality. And that one reality may not be the best way to live a life. I am finding that...
The Healing Power of Sharing
When I first started recovering memories from my abusive childhood, I had no idea what to do with them. I felt like they were stuck somewhere inside of my body and that’s where they would stay. ...
The Five People I Have Met on My Recovery Journey
I have read countless books on self-actualization, self-realization and spiritual awareness. I have done hundreds of hours of yoga, pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation. I have worked...
The Failing of Single Parents
When Jared Leto won an Oscar last night, I don’t think anyone was shocked. However, his undeniably beautiful dedication to his single mother may have been surprising to some. Why? In our...
