Yesterday I came home from my “Freedom Cruise” to Alaska. I call it that because I celebrated the 4th of July onboard, and also because I believe my new book, From Victim Into Victor, contains insightful and powerful skills, tools, and perspectives to create freedom from Trauma and Abuse for my readers.
I went onboard to celebrate the publishing of my book and celebrate my gratitude for freedom and so many blessings in my life, and met people who apparently needed to learn from me and talk with me. I wasn’t onboard to market my book. It just happened that I met trauma survivors on the ship.
I met some amazing people onboard that I got to know quite deeply and quickly. They shared their trauma and wounds with me, in seemingly random circumstances of just sitting at adjacent tables and starting a conversation. I understand that nothing is truly random, and that my life is Divinely lead and guided.
We talked about the struggles I have overcome, and the ones they were still grappling with. A mother and daughter talked with me for more than 5 hours as we watched the beautiful Alaskan terrain out the window. I helped the mother reframe her perspective of her perceived mistakes in “overprotecting” her children while they grew up. This beautiful woman, although a trauma survivor herself, raised 4 children to adulthood without experiencing the kind of trauma she survived. I offered the perspective that her sacrifices and vigilance in watching over them now allows them to thrive and give their gifts to the world without the burdens and profound limitations that are caused by trauma. I applaud her!
A couple I sat across from at the formal dinner began talking with me. We talked about why I was cruising alone to celebrate life and my book publishing. After she asked me more questions about my life experiences and trauma she said, “You don’t know how significant this is to me. This conversation with you is a Godsend. I will definitely be staying in touch and I will talk more with you about my experiences.” She and her husband invited me to their farm called “the Phoenix” to write my 3rd book. (I already have my next series of books in manuscript form called “Transform Yourself.”)
I challenge you to: Rise above the superficial interactions so common in our society– everyone benefits. You may be the answer to someone’s deepest need for acknowledgement, new perspectives, validation, or even more.