Who am I? I struggle with this question so much when I'm trying to introduce myself to someone. I never quite know which parts of myself to focus on and I feel like I'm just lists of dichotomies sometimes!
In light of the topics you broach on your blog and because I find myself drawn to so much of what you write, I will let that flavor a bit of my description here.
I am a wife and a mom to 5 mostly adult children and a grandma... but I am also a survivor of yet another generation of dysfunctional family 'secrets' and what I would probably call curses. My greatest accomplishment as a mother was breaking free of all the generations of abuse. Moving my family away from all of it, yet being open and honest about the realities of our families histories in hopes that it would never be buried or secret again and thus taking away from the power that is held in secrets.
Writing brings me to life. Working with children and teaching, inspiring them to be true to themselves has brought me to life for years and years.
Now my kids are grown and I'm not involved in the community activities I used to be (for a plethora of reasons) so I am looking for new ways to inspire others, hopefully to help and encourage other parents of younger children to break free of things that hold them back.
And, I suppose, at some point, in some way, to share my own story, my own truths so that other people can know that they aren't alone and that healing is entirely possible.
That, I suppose, is the best way I can introduce myself for now.
This is a beautiful introduction, @byn. I am moved that you work to not only break the cycle from your family, but to help others change their family patterns as well. It sounds like you are a healer, and that you have come to that by choosing survival over being bound by toxic blood. No going septic for you.
When you say you aren't doing some of the activities you were, I hear you. While I don't know the specifics, I do know that we have to seek balance and listen to our limitations and see them as helpful boundaries.
Thank you for being here and introducing yourself. I am grateful for this firm handshake.