Exploring The Backroads: Public History with Jessica Hanson

“So often survivors have had their experiences denied, trivialized, or distorted. Writing is an important avenue for healing because it gives you the opportunity to define your own reality. You can say: This did happen to me. It was that bad. It was the fault & responsibility of the adult. I was—and am—innocent.”  -The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass & Laura Davis Yes, sometimes you are "innocent," but that word is complex. Humans often victim shame. Some individuals take on self-shame as a result. We often take a lot on our own shoulders due to a lack of validation from: childhood, relationships, career failures, etc...  One Instagram Psychotherapist (Sarah Crosby  @themindgeek ) & self-proclaimed "Mental Note Maker" created this ^ graphic & idea. She poses, "An Anxious Attachment is often linked to a childhood in which our caregiver has been:  Unpredictable in their availability Inconsistent with their messages Not attuned to our needs Encouragi...

In the book I've been reading the past few days, Ashley Lemieux's Born To Shine,  Ashley reflects, "I do not know why life divvies out pain and hurt the way it does, but what I do know about eight-year-old little girls is that their courage is fierce, and it helps them stand back up on the field. I don't know what happened to you at age eight, or fifteen, twenty-six, or forty-two, but I do know that no matter what has been taken from you, somewhere inside of that resilient heart of yours lives a little girl. This girl wants to trust the world, find her courage, and stand back up, so let her. Write her a letter to let her know how much you love her and to give her the permission she needs to find happiness again."  Dear Jessica,  Do you remember how you aspired to travel the United States like your adventurous dad? Do you remember paying off your student loans with the goal to travel the world-yet have only gone to 2 other countries? Do you remember riding your bik...