My grandmother would have turned 83 today. I think this is the first time in a very long time that I feel more blessed by her memory than sad that … Continue reading Of blessed memory.
Author: Diana Koester
Road map. (TW: brief mentions of sexual abuse)
Sprinkled all over my blog are discussions of the utmost importance of boundaries. As someone who grew up without them and had to insert them herself as an adult – … Continue reading Road map. (TW: brief mentions of sexual abuse)
Look down. Look back.
Don’t look down, they say. Don’t look back. Keep your eyes straight ahead toward where you’re going, rather than focusing on everything you’re putting behind you. I think the intention … Continue reading Look down. Look back.
Just somebody.
That feeling when your daughter comes across your old photo album full of family pictures, and wants to look through it to see you as a baby, and you start … Continue reading Just somebody.
Learning to function. (TW: assault, rape, aftermath)
I had a dentist appointment this morning. Routine, but overdue, I’d had to reschedule it several times over the last three months. My hygienist was at the reception desk when … Continue reading Learning to function. (TW: assault, rape, aftermath)
Hippo birdie days.
Some days are just fucking hard. All days have their challenges, some small, some massive, and a variety in between. And I do believe that no challenge is insurmountable, even … Continue reading Hippo birdie days.
No such thing as closure. (TW: parent’s attempted suicide)
“I drag myself out of nightmares each morning and find there’s no relief in waking.” -Finnick Odair, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. My father tried to kill himself when I … Continue reading No such thing as closure. (TW: parent’s attempted suicide)
The threat of authenticity.
Have you ever asked a question – one that you thought was innocuous, just something you were curious about or didn’t understand – and been completely shut down for it? … Continue reading The threat of authenticity.
Be afraid, and do the thing.
The air is heavy this evening. I go out to the backyard with the dog, and I’m immediately weighed down by it, my lungs struggling to expand. Today, we got … Continue reading Be afraid, and do the thing.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Recently I spoke with a fellow survivor of narcissistic abuse (yes, survivor – I hate the word victim). She’s just starting out on her journey of recovery and reclaiming herself, … Continue reading It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Journeys in the Dark 