Category Archives: Present Day

“Surrender”

Posted on April 11, 2016 by jenny

I talked to my friend who said of my recent blog post about “Living Well” that I was in reactive/responsive orientation instead of creative orientation.  I did some thinking about this.  “Reactive/responsive” is choosing what to do with things that come at … Continue reading →

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AA and Therapy

Posted on April 3, 2016 by jenny

My brother, who is a recovering alcoholic, came to visit recently.  It was a great visit.  He has seven years of sobriety, and it makes me feel really good to see how much he’s changed his life.  We read some … Continue reading →

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Question of “Living Well”

Posted on March 24, 2016 by jenny

Oliver Sacks says of his life:  “My predominant feeling is one of gratitude.  I have loved and been loved.  I have been given much and I have given something in return.”  I would say this is a “good life” and … Continue reading →

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The Five Gates of Grief

Posted on March 17, 2016 by jenny

The Five Gates of Grief are listed by Francis Weller in The Wild Edge of Sorrow.  Quotes from the book are given in italics. The First Gate: Everything We Love, We will Lose I remember when Shenanigan died, and Bella, … Continue reading →

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Grief and Grieving

Posted on February 3, 2016 by jenny

This is a response to a blog post on Tim Lawrence’s “The Adversity Within.”  [Edit 2/26/20 — I went to this link and got something completely different.  Don’t know what happened.  I fear that he may have killed himself.]  He’s … Continue reading →

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The Core of Trauma

Posted on January 24, 2016 by jenny

This last week has been really tough.  On Tuesday I had the hardest, most painful therapy session that I’ve ever experienced.  Before I drove down I wrote: Damn!  I’m starting to feel scared.  Part of it may be that there’s … Continue reading →

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Living with PTSD

Posted on January 23, 2016 by jenny

Erica suggested I take one of my affirmations/realizations and write from it.  I chose “Depression is a big deal.  It has taken courage, strength and determination to create as much of a life as I have.”  I became aware of … Continue reading →

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Triggered

Posted on December 28, 2015 by jenny

I started reading Invisible Heroes, the book on trauma survivors by Belleruth Naparstek, because it often helps me.  But this morning I read a description of trauma that so accurately described how I feel when the baby is triggered, that … Continue reading →

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Grace is Always Coming Down

Posted on December 25, 2015 by jenny

News flash!  I just saw that the Jenny Erica sees is big enough to hold the Jenny I experience, hold her with compassion, and tell her “You are OK just as you are.  You don’t have to “heal” or “be … Continue reading →

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Struggle to Fit the Pieces Together

Posted on December 23, 2015 by jenny

A good session with Erica.  I drove home feeling much better — a warmth in my belly — and did my best to savor it.  We talked about the child needing to see themselves in the gaze of a loving … Continue reading →

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