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I learned a lot about myself around this time last year. As we began focusing on boundaries at CUAV, I learned about how my boundaries are like a snail’s shell – protective, natural, and always available. And also like a snail, boundaries are considered by some to be undesirable things. As for me, I learned [...]

Springtime feels like the right time for reflecting on my life. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and – well, okay, and we’re in the Bay Area, so it’s still pretty chilly. But the air feels like the world’s awakening, so I might as well do the same. I’m looking around at the [...]

Making choices – it’s on my mind, once again. During February, we’re spending our second month with the Butterfly of Self-Determination, just like we did at this time last year. You might think it’d get a little repetitive, repeating the same cycle. But I’m finding out there’s always more insight to gain, particularly as we [...]

It’s a new year, which is often known as a time for new beginnings. But it can feel pretty stressful to have to rebuild your whole life, all new. I know I’m feeling the pressure, to come up with a fresh outlook on life, to create new work-out routines, or even to buy new clothes, [...]

This is a time of year for making wishes. As a kid, my wintertime wishes frequently involved material things. And even wishing for toys and gifts meant believing in some kind of magic in the air. If I just hoped hard enough, I believed, I could will all my wishes to come true. These days, [...]

I’ve been asking for things. Little things, mostly. I’ve asked a co-worker to pass me a pen I couldn’t reach, instead of getting up to get it. I’ve asked a friend to let me know if I had any food in my teeth, since I didn’t have a mirror to see for myself. And sure, [...]

I don’t mean to brag or anything, but my body’s pretty smart. As we continue talking about setting boundaries here at CUAV, I’m learning more and more about how much knowledge my body carries. Our participants and staff spent all of August focusing on the idea that “my boundaries are already in me.” This means [...]

If you’d asked me six months ago to lead a group on setting boundaries, I probably would have laughed. Me? The one who sometimes feels like the world will end if I dare to say “no,” teaching others about boundaries? I’m glad that at CUAV we’re not about pretending to be experts who can teach [...]

Poetry feeds me. The words simmer with the aroma of truth and hope. Reading makes me feel full, and writing fills my mouth with a sweet self-confidence that dribbles down my chin. Dancing gives me the savory satisfaction of eating something that’s good for my soul. Building community with other survivors is like digging into a holiday feast, complete with joy and pride in our ability to gather life’s ingredients and create a hearty meal.

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