Our daily lives are consumed by the responsibilities we hold, our work, our family needs, the commitments we have made to others, and our routines. We often don’t make it onto our own daily lists. How often have you skipped doing something for yourself because someone asked you for something? You may have traded the […]
The Power of Daily Self-Care Practices to Transform Your Life Read More »
Do you show yourself the same love and care you show others? Do you give yourself the same level of attention that you give to others? How you love yourself teaches others how to love you. It’s so easy to show love and kindness to others, but we tend to be hard on ourselves. We
Love Yourself Today Read More »
We are the main characters in our life’s story. Often, the way we feel about ourselves is built from life experiences, the opinions of others, things we have heard about ourselves from the village around us, and society’s view on who we should be. Have you taken time to check in with what you really
What’s in Your Mirror? Read More »
Have you put yourself on your daily list? Life responsibilities like work, family, and the commitments we make, tend to take precedence over our personal well-being. We have been taught that it is better to sacrifice oneself in service of another. Yet, If we cannot shine our own light by giving to self each day,
Say YES to Yourself! Read More »
Now that you have a better idea of what you want this year, the next step is to break things down into doable action steps. Though you may not notice this at first, taking small actions daily towards your dream creates a steady momentum that brings it to your life quickly. This day, this moment,
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Have you taken time this year to ask your heart what it wants you to know? With the renewal of the new year, we get to change how we think and feel. We get to shed the old and step into the new. We get to create habits we choose, let go of things that
New Year, New You Meditation Read More »
It’s the start of a new year, and with this comes new energy. According to society’s traditions, the New Year is a time to make resolutions that we hope we will stick with. Rather than this being a momentous, once-off occasion, I invite you to embrace the energy that comes with a new year –
New Year, New Beginnings Read More »
My wish for you this Holiday Season is to claim who you are, unapologetically and proudly. Whether this has been a good year, or a year full of trials, you are still here, surviving – that is thriving. Every day is a new day for you to say YES to yourself and choose what you
Holidays can be fun or they can be a difficult time of the year. Either way, they bring up a lot of emotion and may open old wounds. There is so much expectation from society, the people in our lives, and even the area we live in, about what holidays need to be. We are
The holiday season can be a distraction from life or make one hyper-aware of one’s current life. Instead of losing ourselves to distractions, we can create something new by becoming more aware of how much abundance is waiting and ready for us to claim. When we actively look for something, we find it. As we
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This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.
Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out.
In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.”
The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.
An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.
Pub Date: May 3, 2022 | ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6 | Page Count: 264 | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph | Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022
