New Artwork - Weeping Willow

I'm sure everybody has heard this phrase at least once or twice in their lives . . . find a "happy place" . . . whether it's in a movie, or from a therapist, or what have you.

Personally, I have always visualized a tree that I used to love to climb in as a child. It was a weeping willow tree down by the creek. It was always so peaceful . . . and somehow I knew that nothing could bother me there. The gentle breeze, the fresh air, the sound of the birds singing . . . yeah . . . that's where I want to be about now!

New Artwork - Comfort

My therapist told me last week that I need to imagine what it would have been like if someone would have comforted me after the abuse, to imagine what "comfort" would look like to me. I told her I wasn't really sure, but that I'd always imagined how nice it would have been to be wrapped up in my mother's arms and cry on her shoulder, to have her say "it's okay, it's not your fault," etc. So this picture/project is very different from most that I've done recently in that it is more positive and potentially inspirational.

What I would say to survivors of abuse is this -- maybe there wasn't anybody there to rescue you way back when. Maybe you were afraid to tell anyone. Maybe you DID tell someone, but weren't believed. Whatever the case may be, it's NEVER to late to be comforted . . . even if you have to do the comforting YOURSELF.


In my case, I'm simply trying to learn to nurture that part of me, my "inner child," so to speak . . . to hold her and reassure her that everything's okay now, that she's special, she's safe, and she's LOVED.