We need people who we can confide in, laugh with, and cry on their shoulders. Humans are social creatures. We need each other. Recovery from childhood trauma does not happen in a vacuum. We need a network of supportive people. I am grateful today for my network.
I grew up surrounded by extended family. We lived on the same property as my maternal grandparents, separated by vineyards. We spent every weekend at my paternal grandparents' house thirty miles away. On Sunday mornings, we attended a German Lutheran church that my great-great-grandfather built. Through my grandmother, I am related to many in the congregation. On Sunday evenings, four generations of my father's family would eat dinner together. I had trauma as a child, but I also had love.
I created a family of choice at my church. Every Sunday morning after church, a small group of us sit in the lobby and talk for an hour or more. I look forward to the after-Sunday chats. Sometimes the topics we discuss are serious ones, and other times they are fun. A few weeks ago, my friend and I were reminiscing about the high school we attended. We remembered that we had to dance to the song Staying Alive by the Bee Gees. In the ladies' bathroom, we started doing the dance and laughing.
I leave you with photos of my family of origin and church family. I pray everyone reading this has a family of choice that loves and supports them.
If you are discouraged about your recovery from trauma, depression, anxiety, or addictions, email me at thepossiblepath@gmail.com for a word of encouragement. You are not alone!
This is a picture of my dad’s side in the early 1980s. I am the little dark-haired girl in the front. My sister is next to me in a matching dress. Mom often put us in matching dresses. My grandparents are in the front with my cousins on their laps. My parents are the adults on the right in the back row.
My cousins, sister, and me with our great-grandmother. I am the girl on the dark-haired girl on the right. That big 1980s hair was a result of natural curls.
My cousins, sister, and their spouses with my grandmother about 8 years ago. I am in the back row, second from right.
My parents, sister, bro-in-law (the baby brother I always wanted), nephew, and me about 12 years ago. Yes, we color-coordinated our outfits at my sister’s insistence.
With ladies at my church. I am second from the left in the back row.
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Praise God for loved ones and precious friends who help us on our healing journey. Praise God for therapy also. Love you, dear Gina and so proud of you! <3
As someone who's been recovering for 37 years I can tell you you absolutely can not do it alone