Ode to she who fights for another

Things we do when we can’t talk it through: getting creative in the name of self discovery

portrait of many selves in a single moment

stabilo all pencil on paper (water activated)

Every person deserves a therapist like ours

I ache.

I called it dissociation and named it fear and I was comfortable with that.

She called it victim and challenged me to own my worth.

I am uncomfortable with that.

I was ready to leave it there, in frightened disconnect, leave it for another time.

She showed up on my behalf and demanded I face it now.

I was ready to keep fighting the same battles week in and week out and, each time I fall, claim dissociation and fear.

She wants to see me fight new battles each week. The kind that lead to healing.

And face fear head on and wrestle dissociation.

I was ready to clip my wings and keep myself grounded.

She is determined I am going to fly.

I ache

I called it dissociation and named it fear and I was comfortable with that.

She named it victim and forbid it on my behalf.

And so I am challenged to find a new name.

To name my worth.

And call it Me.

Myself.

My whole self.

I am uncomfortable with that.

She looks at me intently, knowingly and says “don’t go backwards”

And I am uncomfortable.

I ache

But I won’t retreat.

She fights.

And so

so will I

text by Kendall

art by Maddie, Delilah and Tyson

Can't talk it out? Can you draw it? Squiggle it? Dig holes into the couch? Burn something (safely!). Blow a dandelion and watch it scatter?

anything and everything matters

If it comes from you, it is IMPORTANT

We are in this together

The Very Human Beings