Quiet friend who has come so far, feel how your breathing makes more space around you.Let this darkness be a bell towerand you the bell. As you ring, what batters you becomes your strength.Move back and forth into the change.What is it like, such intensity of pain?If the drink is bitter, turn yourself to wine….
Sometimes ‘Bad’ is ‘Good’
Photo Credit: Rebel Recovery A container of mostly water with a couple of sticks of celery fell out of my fridge onto my kitchen floor yesterday. Water pooled on the floor tiles next to the fridge. No one likes unanticipated problems and I griped to myself as I soaked up the spill with some paper…
Your Astonishing Light
Photo credit: Rebel Recovery “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” – Hafiz You are not alone on this human journey. Annie.
Even Nature has Boundaries
Photo Credit: Alt National Park & Forest Service.* Thank you to the Facebook page, ‘Ancient Forests and Champion Trees,’ for sharing the image and therefore bringing it to my attention. _________________________ Nature has so much to teach us. I love this visual reminder of the beauty — and absolute necessity — of clear personal boundaries….
Sweet, Blissful Relaxation
Photo credit: Rebel Recovery I’ve enjoyed a routine of vigorous physical activity for two decades but health challenges in the past few years interrupted some of my habits. It’s taken time for me to develop new habits that work for me — sometimes. For the past sixteen mornings in a row I’ve gotten out of…
Know First Who You Are
Know first who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly. Epictetus This is what recovery — in the big way that I define it — is really all about, isn’t it. So important, and yet so much easier said than done. This is my journey. Sending you strength and clarity on your journey to you. xoAnnie…
Alice Miller
Alice Miller was a Swiss psychoanalyst who wrote extensively about the ways in which parents do not respect their own children and the impact of emotional wounds experienced by children on their lives as adults. She should be read widely. Yours in healing. Yours in creating a better tomorrow. Annie
Breaking the Silence (Willie P. Bennett)
Photo credit: Willie P. Bennett Legacy Project via http://kawarthanow.com/2018/02/03/celebrating-willie-p-bennett I was stunned to stumble upon this video on Youtube recently of a man singing — clearly, openly, and honestly — about his experience of being sexually abused as a boy (starting at 1:10). Of course I wasn’t surprised to learn about a man who was…
Leaving my Home in the Forest
I’ve just — just — completed the task of moving from my little, healing, home made of grounding rock and logs, deep in the forest. I moved there — found myself there, really — more than two years ago, when I was desperate for affordable housing following declaring bankruptcy and was also unable to work…
Find your voice… then listen to it.
Image and verse credit: Leigh Standley – Curly Girl I love finding art that communicates a healing message. The message on this greeting card is worth sharing, widely. Thank you Leigh Standley! Find your voice then listen to it. Even when it shakes. Especially then. Write your story sing your song speak truth into…
My Life is Mine (and I Own my Glory!)
My life is MINE! Oh, how I wish I could have had someone strong in my corner whispering this truth in my ear when I was a little girl. How I wish I could have been protected as a child from the chronic abuse, intimidation and withholding of a father who thought I was something…
Diana Nyad: My Life After Sexual Assault
For anyone who as a child was abused or otherwise exploited in any way by someone in a position of trust. A powerful, poignant, beautiful, brutal and heart-breaking essay by swimmer Diane Nyad about her experiences of sexual assault by her coach and the after-effects for her. May all of us who have had our…
Rebel Recovery 