Strength, hope and hard truths

Those of us living in America are faced with heartache, pain, anger and confusion, both in the streets and in our hearts. This pandemic has affected all our lives, some were personally touched by loss and suffering of our loved ones.  And in the midst of all this, the light is being shined on issues that existed more apparently to some than others. 

First I want to take a moment to acknowledge all the people who have died of covid-19 and all the people who are in extreme pain and anger due to the racial issues happening in this country; issues that have existed but perhaps were never dealt with or discussed. 

With all the chaos in the streets we have been given the opportunity to truly learn about one another and the darkness some of our people face. For those of you who have not seen these hard truths before, perhaps though lack of exposure to what people of color have had to deal with, I salute you for trying to learn; to make a difference. For true change to occur, it starts with understanding the issues, knowing their effects and then together coming up with solutions to better the situation.

For those of us of color, no one can truly understand what we have experienced and are experiencing unless they have been there.  Many people don’t know what they don’t know.  Using our voices can help them to no longer be ignorant of our truths.

There is much anger in many people in our country, and while anger is a natural response, and people have a right to feel this way, we need a solution, we need change. Is it possible to channel this anger into a solution, into moving forward in a constructive way?

Hard truths come to light that have left us all in pain and fear. Whether you know it or not, you are getting up each day and getting through the pain.  Acknowledge yourself for doing that. Even when you feel overwhelmed, the strength to do that exists within you. 

Your pain and anger are starting points for your strength.TOGETHER WE SHALL OVERCOME

I ask you to join me and express your solidarity by taking 60 seconds of Silence for all those lives needlessly lost, for all those stories that were never told, for all the pain, fear and heartache that our beautiful country is facing.  Let’s stand together as a nation, and make a difference. 

Just take a small action, whether it is taking time to understand why people are so angry, what they have been experiencing, or whether it is taking more concrete action by speaking out, sharing your stories of pain and teaching others where this stems from.

Together we can create change.  By standing together in unity and love, supporting one another, making the effort to truly look at why people are hurting so much, we can begin to heal as a nation and be better and stronger for it.

Be Well, Be Blessed

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