My therapist told me today that in the seven-plus years she’s worked with me, she’s watched me learn how to have hope again, how to trust in the safety of … Continue reading There is always hope.
Confronting the attacker.
Narcissists don’t change. People who’ve gotten sucked into a narcissist’s manipulative picture of reality tend to think they can help guide the narcissist to play better with others. They think … Continue reading Confronting the attacker.
Stranger Danger.
To the old man who seemed to feel perfectly entitled to come up to a mother shopping at the grocery store with her daughter this afternoon, and badger them into … Continue reading Stranger Danger.
Mommy issues.
“Side? I am on nobody’s side, because nobody’s on my side, little Orc.” —Treebeard to Pippin, from The Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers You know, for me, Father’s … Continue reading Mommy issues.
To all the motherless women out there…
To all the motherless women Out there, This weekend very well may suck. It may suck from start to finish, Or it may have intermittent suckage, Or it may just … Continue reading To all the motherless women out there…
Starfish.
I read a little story once about a beach that was covered in hundreds of starfish that had washed up with the tide. A young person was walking along the … Continue reading Starfish.
Every memory a eulogy.
Every story I share about my father Every memory I hold Feels invariably like a eulogy And the trouble is, I’m not sure for whom. He died seventeen years ago, … Continue reading Every memory a eulogy.
Dear Diana.
Dear Diana, Who loses herself In empathy for everyone else From the tiniest field mouse To her own abusers, But who holds sympathy For her own lifetime Of pain Like … Continue reading Dear Diana.
On recognizing freedom.
“He cannot take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency.” —Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring, talking to Gandalf about … Continue reading On recognizing freedom.
Eternally Egypt.
The Haggadah demands each year That we see ourselves As having personally been Redeemed. That we each feel as though With an outstretched arm And a mighty hand The Lord … Continue reading Eternally Egypt.