Each month, I will be sharing a guest piece written by someone from my online community. October’s submission is a poetic piece by guest writer and Wounds to Wisdom alumn, Maritza Padilla. I’m humbled by the writing I received, and I’m proud as hell to share a space with so many courageous individuals who are willing to share their stories. The work of destigmatizing mental health is a community one, and I’m honored to share this space.
Read MoreThe last time I cried at the airport I was 11 years old.
My family and I were moving halfway across the world—a move that filled me with rage for my parents & a fear of loneliness I’d never felt before.
Read MoreEach month, I will be sharing a guest piece written by someone from my online community. September’s submissions included pieces about suicide in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. I’m humbled by the writing I received, and I’m proud as hell to share a space with so many courageous individuals who are willing to share their stories. The work of destigmatizing mental health is a community one, and I’m honored to share this space.
Read MoreLately I have been in deep conversation with my therapist around love. After getting divorced in 2020, I really never thought I’d be open to love again. I was certain that Josh was the only man I’d ever love. Certain that I’d given him all my love, and that I’d have no more to give even if I was open to it again. Certain that he was the best love I’d ever receive, and to hope for something as good as, let alone better, would be a hopeless mission.
Read MoreI want to tell you a story about the stranger who told me she loved me.
Read MoreYesterday, before heading out for my afternoon plans, my husband said to me, “Rachel, I have to tell you something.” Fuck. What did I do. I could tell he was nervous — he had that look on his face that said I am so sorry I know this is going to make you upset, but I’m trying so hard to be really nice and sweet while I say it. I nodded and gave him my I’m ready for this, I’m a strong, powerful, confident woman, and braced myself for criticism with my super-coping cape.
Read MoreToday, I have been in recovery for 5 years, and I am swimming in self-love, in great part because of my affirmation practice. I am a better partner because I take care of and love myself. I am a more thoughtful and considerate friend because I believe in my skills as a listener and empath. I work smarter, not harder, because know I deserve breaks to recharge. I want to share with you my affirmation practice, because it has evolved dramatically from those first few months in treatment. I want to teach you how to go from writing simple, generalized affirmations to powerful, uniquely your affirmations.
Read MoreI love tradition, and ritual, and ceremony. And even though I chose not to write resolutions, I wanted to honor the end of a year. I wanted to use the transition as an opportunity to reflect. So I decided that in lieu of New Years Resolutions, I would write New Years Reflections: I would find gratitude for this past year.
Read MoreI used to live by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done unto you. In love, I operated under the assumption that to show my partner I loved him, I should do what I would want him to do for me. After all, that’s how you express love, right?
Wrong.
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