The older we get, the more we feel the impact of the responsibilities we have as adults. For many, the responsibilities we hold overshadow our personal wishes and dreams. We have taught ourselves to either shelve our dreams in favor of meeting our obligations, or we dream smaller and simpler dreams, giving up those we …
It’s never too late to fly – to do those things that call to you. Our world is focused on what is logical and what is appropriate do to at a certain age, but life has evolved so much, and we are no longer confined to our small part of the world. We live in …
Breath is life. Every breath we take reaffirms our existence in this world. It cleanses our body, and is a constant rhythm and way to focus. Our breath is the one tool we always have with us. We never need to remember to pack it, but we do need to remember the gift it provides …
Getting creative is a powerful healing tool. When we step into the creative zone, it is a fun, playful space to deal with issues we need to release or heal from. Being creative came naturally to us as children. The older we got, the more we were taught to be responsible and work hard and …
We all find ourselves holding onto things from our past – past experiences, regrets, or things we wish we had done differently. It is time to release this weight we are carrying around and begin anew. It is time to let yourself shine. Holding onto the past keeps us stuck in the past, blocking the …
Our mind, body and Spirit are the three major pieces that comprise who we are and how our life unfolds. Often this connection is either ignored, or we segment the three by acknowledging them individually as the need arises. Consciously becoming aware of their interconnected nature allows us to move forward in healing. When we …
Our lives are in constant flow. In all our busyness and the routines of our week, we forget to be present. We miss the singular moment of time that we live in. The present moment is the only time we are ever in. The past is done and cannot be changed. The future, however, is …
It’s easy to fall into the trap of letting what is going on around us determine how we feel. We give away our power to the external – when things are good we feel good and when things are tough, we feel like life is impossible. If we operate from this state, we always end …
No matter where we are or what we are doing, we always have our breath with us. It is the one tool that does not need to be carried around, charged in order to work, or remembered when leaving home! We do need to be reminded to connect to this gift. We can use our …
We all have the innate power to create the life we desire. We have the power to shift ourselves from where we are, no matter what we are going through. We are born knowing that life will give us what we ask for. We learn not to ask or recognize that we have the power …
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
