Ironic is the term I just attached to you. You used to live less than 50 miles from me and I never saw this much writing. Now you move halfway around the world and all I see is you spreading your wings a flying. It's beautiful to see. Thanks for taking me along.
I understand the direction of the piece, but I’m not sure trauma language can safely hold that kind of universal claim. Some people will recognise themselves here deeply. Others won’t. And I think that distinction matters. Agree?
hi birgit! i have missed you. i hope whatever it was you have been navigating that you had the love and support you needed for it. regarding this, i’m curious where that part was exactly and what you mean. was i saying we all have trauma in one way or another and that felt too universal? and thank you for being honest about how it landed… maybe i can rework that part to not be presumptive, if you show me where it is in the piece… sending love. ❤️
Hi Venus, thank you for receiving that so openly ❤️ I missed you too.
Yes, that line is near the beginning, where you wrote: “you know exactly what i’m talking about because you have experienced it as well. we all have.”
That was the part that made me pause.
I understand the emotional direction, especially because you also wrote, “since i assume you wouldn’t be reading my words unless we had some resonance with each other.” I just think with trauma language, especially, “we all” can become a bit too wide. Some people will recognise themselves here through trauma. Others through neglect, shame, religious or cultural conditioning, systemic pressure, family roles, survival strategies… or simply the ordinary human difficulty of learning to care for oneself in a world that often rewards self-abandonment.
So for me, it’s less about the heart of the piece and more about leaving enough room for different histories, bodies, nervous systems, and social locations.
Thank you for asking. I really appreciate it, Venus.
thank you for so much for insight! i showed your comment to another writer here and they helped me see that i’m slightly misusing the word ‘trauma’ as what i mean is that we all have experienced pain suffering, let down, some form of betrayal, micro or macro… and trauma is the word i use when technically i should maybe just say pain or suffering… in one shape or another…
Thank you for sharing this Venus. It's an interesting perspective and goes far beyond looking in the mirror with daily "I love you" and "I am enough" affirmations.🪞
Which I never had to do until I experienced the worst challenges in my life.
I really connected with this. It makes me feel like I'm not alone in the healing journey. ❤️🩹
I think many people have been told to love themselves without ever being taught how much grief is involved in coming home to yourself. you described that beautifully 🤍😊
Ironic is the term I just attached to you. You used to live less than 50 miles from me and I never saw this much writing. Now you move halfway around the world and all I see is you spreading your wings a flying. It's beautiful to see. Thanks for taking me along.
aww, thanks jay! sometimes we have to take to the sky… though healing trauma is no joke! it’s worth it in the end.
Venus, I paused at “we all have.”
I understand the direction of the piece, but I’m not sure trauma language can safely hold that kind of universal claim. Some people will recognise themselves here deeply. Others won’t. And I think that distinction matters. Agree?
hi birgit! i have missed you. i hope whatever it was you have been navigating that you had the love and support you needed for it. regarding this, i’m curious where that part was exactly and what you mean. was i saying we all have trauma in one way or another and that felt too universal? and thank you for being honest about how it landed… maybe i can rework that part to not be presumptive, if you show me where it is in the piece… sending love. ❤️
Hi Venus, thank you for receiving that so openly ❤️ I missed you too.
Yes, that line is near the beginning, where you wrote: “you know exactly what i’m talking about because you have experienced it as well. we all have.”
That was the part that made me pause.
I understand the emotional direction, especially because you also wrote, “since i assume you wouldn’t be reading my words unless we had some resonance with each other.” I just think with trauma language, especially, “we all” can become a bit too wide. Some people will recognise themselves here through trauma. Others through neglect, shame, religious or cultural conditioning, systemic pressure, family roles, survival strategies… or simply the ordinary human difficulty of learning to care for oneself in a world that often rewards self-abandonment.
So for me, it’s less about the heart of the piece and more about leaving enough room for different histories, bodies, nervous systems, and social locations.
Thank you for asking. I really appreciate it, Venus.
thank you for so much for insight! i showed your comment to another writer here and they helped me see that i’m slightly misusing the word ‘trauma’ as what i mean is that we all have experienced pain suffering, let down, some form of betrayal, micro or macro… and trauma is the word i use when technically i should maybe just say pain or suffering… in one shape or another…
Thank you for sharing this Venus. It's an interesting perspective and goes far beyond looking in the mirror with daily "I love you" and "I am enough" affirmations.🪞
Which I never had to do until I experienced the worst challenges in my life.
I really connected with this. It makes me feel like I'm not alone in the healing journey. ❤️🩹
I always love and appreciate your brilliant writing. And somehow Substack hasn’t been showing your posts to me. I had to look you up and find you ♥️
I think many people have been told to love themselves without ever being taught how much grief is involved in coming home to yourself. you described that beautifully 🤍😊
thank you so much for your thoughtful reply! you have so much wisdom in your comments! greatly appreciated.