Touching base

 As an almost 40-something woman, I wonder - every day - how I got here. How to deal with my trauma responses and my defense mechanisms. How to be a good friend, a supportive mom, an enjoyable coworker, a loving girlfriend, a present daughter, and a  ... sister. How do I juggle my many titles? Do I need to understand my back to look forward? And if yes, why?

I was born and raised in a rural area, the second of 4 brothers and sisters. I love cats and reading. I enjoy silence. I listen the most to female artists. I write. I work as an administrative assistant. I have a toddler who's almost 18 months now. This list peaks a tiny bit into my circumstances. It doesn't tell you who I am though. What made me? I have been searching my past for so long now and the only way I know how to make sense of it is writing. Yes, I could write a journal (and I do) but I need feedback. I need to dig and show something for the time spent.

So here I am, trying to understand the journey that brings us to the present, a circle back to the episodes of my life.

Canadian Consortium on Child and Youth Trauma have found that 1 in 3 Canadians have experienced adverse childhood experiences, including sexual and physical abuse, and/or exposure to family violence. Some children and youth also face neglect and or adverse ommunity experiences such as discrimination, poverty, and/or other forms of violence and oppression.

I will try my best to gather as many sources as possible when posting about a topic - whatever it is. I hope you'll leave comments to challenge my views and share your own stories.