“You don’t have to rebuild a relationship with everyone you’ve forgiven.” ~Unknown It’s natural, when you’re hurting and lonely, to want to reach out to people you’ve been close to in the past. Especially if there’s unfinished business with someone. And especially given the added isolation that comes with a global pandemic. Whether or not […]
“We eventually learn that emotional closure is our own action.” ~David Deida When my last relationship ended, I didn’t really understand why. After eight years together and still feeling love for each other, my partner walked away saying he didn’t feel able to commit. He didn’t want to work on the relationship because he felt […]
“True forgiveness comes when you realize there is something totally radiant inside you, that nobody could ever touch” ~Eckhart Tolle I grew up in an emotionally abusive household. My father was a man who diligently provided for us, but he left me with scars and shattered self-esteem. My mother cooked me my favorite foods and […]
“You will survive, and you will find purpose in the chaos. Moving on doesn’t mean letting go.” ~Mary VanHaute I was ten years old when I discovered the truth. He didn’t fall. He wasn’t pushed. It wasn’t an accident. He jumped. Suicide isn’t a concept easily explained to a six-year-old, much less her younger siblings, […]
“I understand the life around me better, not from love, which everyone acknowledges to be a great teacher, but from estrangement, to which nobody has attributed the power of reinforcing insight.” ~Nirad C. Chaudhuri I was brought up to understand that family is family. So I have naturally given great weight to the importance of […]
Brett’s name flits onto my screen with an incoming email. “Call you right back,” I say, hanging up on a friend. Last time I talked to Brett, the Obama family lived in the White House. Last time I thought of him? Last year, as Melania took her third crack at presidential Christmas décor, and I […]
“Be there. Be open. Be honest. Be kind. Be willing to listen, understand, accept, support, and forgive. This is what it means to love.” ~Lori Deschene They say your heart pounds when you’re in love. But the very idea of opening up and letting love in can bring on the wrong kind of palpitations. Saying […]
“Forgive yourself for not knowing better at the time. Forgive yourself for giving away your power. Forgive yourself for past behaviors. Forgive yourself for the survival patterns and traits you picked up while enduring trauma. Forgive yourself for being who you needed to be.” ~Audrey Kitching “I can’t do this.” “Why do I look so […]
“The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.” ~Pema Chodron After you come out a meaningful relationship that you didn’t foresee ending, you begin to think about everything you did wrong. If you were not the one who wanted to the breakup, you may spend a lot of time […]
“Forgive yourself for not knowing better at the time. Forgive yourself for giving away your power. Forgive yourself for past behaviors. Forgive yourself for the survival patterns and traits you picked up while enduring trauma. Forgive yourself for being who you needed to be.” ~Audrey Kitching I used to suffer from survivor’s remorse. What does […]
