Stepping into 2023

In two days’ time, we will find ourselves stepping into a new year. As the New Year dawns, I leave you
with this reminder:

You made it – you survived this year. You are still here, still breathing. The steady beat of your heart is
your reminder that you are alive.

You are a survivor, and your beautiful Soul is continuously growing, healing, and seeking greatness.
No matter what this year has been for you, you have the power to choose what the next year will be.
Start by choosing you. Put yourself back into your own life.

Every day you get a do-over. You get to start fresh and let go of yesterday’s frustrations or perceived failures. You can decide what the new day will be from the moment you open your eyes. If you don’t like where you are in that moment, you can shift the moment through small actions.

Small moments combined, lead to great shifts. Each day you can choose what those small moments will be, and in which direction your day will move. You get to choose the people you spend time with and the things you allow into your mind.

The past consists of every moment before this one. You get to decide if you will drag that past with you into the next moment Joy, Peace, Love stepping into 2023or allow yourself to let it go. We are human. We are not perfect. We make mistakes and do or say things that we wish we hadn’t, but we can decide if those actions become set in stone or if we will move forward, heal, and let go. It is okay to let go and stop beating yourself up for the things you wish were different. It is time to move into the future you choose.

Decide what is right for you, because only you know what that is. No one else has the power to decide for you unless you allow them to. Choose what makes you happy – if you don’t know what that is, spend time each day looking for those things that make you happy until you find what calls to you.

You came into this world as a loved, whole being, and you get to refill this cup daily. Craft a daily routine that makes you feel good.

  • Choose the first thing you will do when you open your eyes and, before you get out of bed, set the tone for your day. As you move through your day, you can shift yourself to a better place any time you need to.
  • Choose the last thing you want to fill your mind with before you sleep each night, allowing your sleep to nourish your being.
  • Fill the in-between moments by seeking things that bring you joy. This is what life is about – the journey of finding our way to joy.

As always, I am here supporting you on your journey of healing. Whether you choose to step into my
community, or simply drop by to catch up on my weekly conversations, you matter to me. Reach out
and let me know what is on your mind, and how I can best support you in creating your coming year.

Many Blessings,

Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

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