Thanks again for your generosity in making yourself vulnerable to your community. What an example you set for the rest of us, Lisa! Here's a quote from an interview response from Sandra Cisneros (9/21/22) that resonated with me. "If you don't tell your most vulnerable secrets, someone will tell them for you, so you'd better get them out there before you die. I don't want to have any open secrets."
I hear you and am right there with you. I loved reading Memorial Drive by Natasha Threthewey. She gave me the courage to experiment with integrating my Soul Voice now and then in my memoir essays to gain not only distance from past trauma but to disentangle some of the stuff and make meaning for myself. Exciting, even if I know not where it will all lead.
I LOVE the concept of your Soul Voice! What a perfect way to describe that truest part of who we. are. I can't wait to see where it leads you. Happy writing! And thanks for sharing your love of Memorial Drive. :)
Thank you for this piece, Lisa. You give a wonderful example and model of giving ourselves grace and listening to our inner wisdom. And I remember that Brady Bunch episode, such a great connection that you’ve made with it!
Thanks for reading, Deborah, and for being an important part of this journey. I can't wait for people to read your memoir. I know it's going to help so many people. It's good to hear that others remember that episode. It was such a kooky one.
This is such a wonderful piece, and thank you for sharing. I love that you are open to experiencing these thoughts, and that, when necessary, they become the priority, that life suspends so you can look at them deeper, to be curious about them. As for a line from a book, for my own purposes of self exploration I bastardised a line from a movie.
I was interviewed recently for a podcast, and the interviewer, at the end of our time together, asked about the extent of my trauma (1 x civil war, 1 x traumatic relationship; the relationship was by far the more traumatic experience), and she asked about how I handled them. Well, I write about them, constantly, and I love how the process of editing - if we're being 1000% honest with ourselves - takes us to the kernel of truth. I write constantly about my family's experience of trauma, of war, and my own experience of relationship trauma. This helps me process these events, and probably helped me resolve many concerns about family dynamics.
The line I bastardized is from the movie The Martian, and Mark Watney - the astronaut trapped on Mars - is in a moment pondering his fate. He states, "Every day I go outside and I look at the vast horizons, just because I can."
Me? I think, "Every day I go *inside* and I look at the vast horizons, just because I can."
As a trauma therapist, I know I am beyond fortunate to not be avoidant of my traumas. My heart goes out to those who are, or are made so.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, E.R.J.! I love the way you've commandeered that quote from The Martian and made it your own. I truly believe that revision is where the magic of writing our stories comes to life, and, as you said, leads us to the kernel of truth. Thank you for doing this work and for so generously sharing your wisdom. It's truly a gift to all of us.
I've long been a fan of Edmund White's writing voice:
“I was always inclined toward love. If someone would respond to me, open up his body to me, smear kisses across my bruised lips, I would instantly begin to love him, to imagine our future, plan to prepare his favorite dishes, find his points of secret vanity and play up to them.”
I am moved and honored to hear about your process with your emotional flashbacks and buried memory. You inspire and give me hope. Thank you......and I look forward to being part of your group tomorrow!
Thank you so much, Cynthia! It has been quite the journey, but I truly believe that liberation exists on the other side of these healing opportunities. I look forward to working with you during tomorrow's session!
I'm so sorry you also had a Big Bad Thing, but I'm glad you are here and that we can walk this journey together. I rewatched part of that episode in preparation for this post, and I was blown away by their fashion choices--especially the shirt Peter wore to the recording studio.
Oh, Brava, Lisa! Such courage. I had a similar experience last fall, where something triggered me so that I became my 4 year old - 11 year old - 15 year old self (because we become who we think we need to be to survive) in response to what was happening. I'm still processing too, and I get, at least a little bit, the courage you have had this whole year. Again I say, BRAVA!
Thank you, Michal, for sharing your story with me. Yes, triggers certainly transport us to unexpected places, but when we are willing to do the work, we find liberation. Wishing you peace and sending gratitude for your solidarity.
I've been reading PEGGY by Rebecca Godfrey. I was well into the book before I realized Rebecca had written this story about another person (Peggy Guggenheim) in the First Person. Which feels like Rebecca was living through Peggy's life - writing an entertaining and fully authentic story. I love, too, that Leslie Jamieson had a hand in completing the book after Rebecca died.
Wow, that's really fascinating. Thanks for sharing this bit of wisdom about this novel. I love that Leslie Jamieson stepped in to finish it. She's such a great writer.
Okay, first, I have total hair envy 🥰 I can *so* relate to this! It took ages to be able to touch my core wound—and the way you describe it was exactly my experience: I couldn’t have handled it any sooner. And as you know, my writing voice changed profoundly. It’s not a process that can be rushed, but it’s pretty wild to witness how it unfold. ❤️😽
Yeah, that hair was pretty magical. I still can't believe that it was so long when I was so young. Thank you for validating the importance of trusting the process. I LOVE your writing voice and reading your work makes me excited to discover what mine will look like a year from now.
Lisa, you are such an amazing person!! It’s one thing to face your traumas, it’s another to articulate them so exquisitely to your readers. Thx from the bottom of my heart!
I, too tried EMDR and my brain told me it was not a good time-we must always listen to our inner voices!!!! 🤗 Sherri Rose
Thank you for sharing your story, Sherri! EMDR is a great healing tool when it works, but it's not right for everyone. Sounds like your wise brain and nervous system had your back too! Do you have a line from an author with a strong voice that speaks to you? Sending you a big hug!
Thanks again for your generosity in making yourself vulnerable to your community. What an example you set for the rest of us, Lisa! Here's a quote from an interview response from Sandra Cisneros (9/21/22) that resonated with me. "If you don't tell your most vulnerable secrets, someone will tell them for you, so you'd better get them out there before you die. I don't want to have any open secrets."
What a great quote, Stephanie! Thanks for sharing it. Can you share the link to the interview? I'd love to read it.
I loved this, and it resonated so strongly, Lisa! I've written you a separate email in response.
Thank you so much, Cora!
I hear you and am right there with you. I loved reading Memorial Drive by Natasha Threthewey. She gave me the courage to experiment with integrating my Soul Voice now and then in my memoir essays to gain not only distance from past trauma but to disentangle some of the stuff and make meaning for myself. Exciting, even if I know not where it will all lead.
I LOVE the concept of your Soul Voice! What a perfect way to describe that truest part of who we. are. I can't wait to see where it leads you. Happy writing! And thanks for sharing your love of Memorial Drive. :)
Thank you for this piece, Lisa. You give a wonderful example and model of giving ourselves grace and listening to our inner wisdom. And I remember that Brady Bunch episode, such a great connection that you’ve made with it!
Thanks for reading, Deborah, and for being an important part of this journey. I can't wait for people to read your memoir. I know it's going to help so many people. It's good to hear that others remember that episode. It was such a kooky one.
This is such a wonderful piece, and thank you for sharing. I love that you are open to experiencing these thoughts, and that, when necessary, they become the priority, that life suspends so you can look at them deeper, to be curious about them. As for a line from a book, for my own purposes of self exploration I bastardised a line from a movie.
I was interviewed recently for a podcast, and the interviewer, at the end of our time together, asked about the extent of my trauma (1 x civil war, 1 x traumatic relationship; the relationship was by far the more traumatic experience), and she asked about how I handled them. Well, I write about them, constantly, and I love how the process of editing - if we're being 1000% honest with ourselves - takes us to the kernel of truth. I write constantly about my family's experience of trauma, of war, and my own experience of relationship trauma. This helps me process these events, and probably helped me resolve many concerns about family dynamics.
The line I bastardized is from the movie The Martian, and Mark Watney - the astronaut trapped on Mars - is in a moment pondering his fate. He states, "Every day I go outside and I look at the vast horizons, just because I can."
Me? I think, "Every day I go *inside* and I look at the vast horizons, just because I can."
As a trauma therapist, I know I am beyond fortunate to not be avoidant of my traumas. My heart goes out to those who are, or are made so.
Thanks again for a wonderful, inspiring post.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, E.R.J.! I love the way you've commandeered that quote from The Martian and made it your own. I truly believe that revision is where the magic of writing our stories comes to life, and, as you said, leads us to the kernel of truth. Thank you for doing this work and for so generously sharing your wisdom. It's truly a gift to all of us.
Wow. This spoke to me. I have a big bad also, and I've been telling it that it's okay to show me.
Thank you for sharing it. I hope that if the time is right, it makes an appearance. And if it does, that you are supported fully through this process.
I've long been a fan of Edmund White's writing voice:
“I was always inclined toward love. If someone would respond to me, open up his body to me, smear kisses across my bruised lips, I would instantly begin to love him, to imagine our future, plan to prepare his favorite dishes, find his points of secret vanity and play up to them.”
What a fantastic sentence and a great example! The way it's paced reminds me of a beating heart. Thanks for sharing it with all of us, Brian. :)
Precisely. It's the commas amid all those phrases that pound it out for me.
Let's go Season 5!!!!
Yay! I can't wait to share it with everyone!!!!
I can't wait to listen! Are you already done recording??
I've been recording episodes since late last December. Editing them down is what takes the most time.
I am moved and honored to hear about your process with your emotional flashbacks and buried memory. You inspire and give me hope. Thank you......and I look forward to being part of your group tomorrow!
Thank you so much, Cynthia! It has been quite the journey, but I truly believe that liberation exists on the other side of these healing opportunities. I look forward to working with you during tomorrow's session!
As someone who also has a Big Bad Thing, I deeply appreciate this. And I so remember that episode of the Brady Bunch!
I'm so sorry you also had a Big Bad Thing, but I'm glad you are here and that we can walk this journey together. I rewatched part of that episode in preparation for this post, and I was blown away by their fashion choices--especially the shirt Peter wore to the recording studio.
Oh, Brava, Lisa! Such courage. I had a similar experience last fall, where something triggered me so that I became my 4 year old - 11 year old - 15 year old self (because we become who we think we need to be to survive) in response to what was happening. I'm still processing too, and I get, at least a little bit, the courage you have had this whole year. Again I say, BRAVA!
Thank you, Michal, for sharing your story with me. Yes, triggers certainly transport us to unexpected places, but when we are willing to do the work, we find liberation. Wishing you peace and sending gratitude for your solidarity.
Great newsletter!! I love your vulnerability and honesty. I am currently reading ANGER by Thich Nhat Hang. Very good!
Keep those awesome newsletters coming! Joan
Thank you so much, beautiful lady. I LOVE Thich Nhat Hanh's work. He's so wise. I'm glad you're embracing your anger. It's serving you so well.
I've been reading PEGGY by Rebecca Godfrey. I was well into the book before I realized Rebecca had written this story about another person (Peggy Guggenheim) in the First Person. Which feels like Rebecca was living through Peggy's life - writing an entertaining and fully authentic story. I love, too, that Leslie Jamieson had a hand in completing the book after Rebecca died.
Wow, that's really fascinating. Thanks for sharing this bit of wisdom about this novel. I love that Leslie Jamieson stepped in to finish it. She's such a great writer.
Okay, first, I have total hair envy 🥰 I can *so* relate to this! It took ages to be able to touch my core wound—and the way you describe it was exactly my experience: I couldn’t have handled it any sooner. And as you know, my writing voice changed profoundly. It’s not a process that can be rushed, but it’s pretty wild to witness how it unfold. ❤️😽
Yeah, that hair was pretty magical. I still can't believe that it was so long when I was so young. Thank you for validating the importance of trusting the process. I LOVE your writing voice and reading your work makes me excited to discover what mine will look like a year from now.
Lisa, wow! This resonated with me. Thank you, as always, for your wonderful writing and teaching.
Thank you so much, Cora! I'm truly grateful to have walked this journey alongside you.
Lisa, you are such an amazing person!! It’s one thing to face your traumas, it’s another to articulate them so exquisitely to your readers. Thx from the bottom of my heart!
I, too tried EMDR and my brain told me it was not a good time-we must always listen to our inner voices!!!! 🤗 Sherri Rose
Thank you for sharing your story, Sherri! EMDR is a great healing tool when it works, but it's not right for everyone. Sounds like your wise brain and nervous system had your back too! Do you have a line from an author with a strong voice that speaks to you? Sending you a big hug!