Hugs Not Required

6B976E7C-D118-43C4-B4F9-2F48FBBB8771Pondering everything and noticing a difference in me this past week has been interesting.  Apparently, I have changed, there has been healing within me.  Quite shocking!

Years upon years I have yearned for love, especially motherly-type love from certain ones and I would be so hurt if ignored or not hugged. 3CB4807F-3F7A-433F-9AF3-45502CF056ED

My mind within was screaming, please love me.  My body would tense of the ache from this internal voice screaming.

Understanding childhood emotional neglect, abandonment issues, moreso, and how this lack of love affected me from youth to old age, has been eye opening.

Through the past four years in counseling and as my counselor listened and help me see the why in my craziness with this, she helped calm that by giving me a hug after our sessions.

Maybe she could hear my mind screaming, ‘PLEASE HUG ME’ as I was struggling just in our sessions.  Maybe she could see within my eyes the anguish I felt within my heart.  Maybe she has the heart of God to reach out to the child stuck within me.  I have no doubt, all of those reasons came into play.

By all rights, she did not have to hug me but I truly feel that she felt the pain within me.  Her hugs helped heal the hurts and void within.  Being heard and understood goes a long way.

To trust her with this deep, emotional pain and be honest with her, brought freedom each time.  It was not easy.

Those hugs were not required by her but for healing within me, they were.

Still healing.  Still welcome hugs but not required.

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My Little Girl Within

E8F21D4F-FF17-42A0-8746-882C77B74462Years ago, I started counseling mainly due to marriage issues and just at a loss, feeling crazy, feeling alone and no hope in life.  Stuck.

It was after we got through that part and I understood what is what, finding answers, setting boundaries and hope restored within me, did the counseling turn toward me individually.  No more marriage discussions, although we touched base off and on in areas of concern.

F4594D7D-7388-4DF6-9DB4-23817556ECF7Now, fearfully and not at all what I was expecting in counseling, it was all about me.  Realizing, with each counseling session, I had a choice to dig my heels in and grasp what is or high tail it out of there.

Depending upon the session, I have felt both ways and at times frustrated, angry, emotionally distraught and you name it but oftentimes, too, I was grateful for a counselor that was just as determined to see me healed from childhood issues and life experiences.

Still I am amazed how well this counselor picked up on things and understood me. Nobody ever did that with me and to explain why I do or did things, validate the confusion I felt all of these years.

If you have been reading my blogs, you realize how thankful I am for her in my life and God sent, just for me.

Adult problems are childhood issues, a phrase I have heard and understood, but not in depth as she helped me understand within my own life.

For most, I could comprehend and wiggle through to understand.  When the inner child and it is necessary to connect and re-parent the wounded child within, I could not grasp although I understood what she was trying to tell me.

056D71BF-7FB6-4A26-AECA-90626B38BA91Part of me felt it was crazy thinking how to do this and get to the point of making this work.  Honestly, I still have issues with this.

C51A7CD3-2255-404F-BC14-C9167C89F867Thankfully, I know to give myself grace and in time I will have my inner child trusting me and knowing that I love her unconditionally.

I don’t know what all happened to me as a child and if I am in total denial or blocking pieces out, but I do know that the Lord is healing me.   I have to trust Him in this journey and be patient and willing to be healed.

The other night, while driving through the Christmas lights, feeling the excitement and being in the moment, was probably a true connection I had with my inner child.  While that may not be of exciting news to you, I am still on cloud nine as they say because I felt like a child enjoying the lights.  I loved the sights, smells and the joy of Christmas as a child and all those memories flooded my soul last night.  Little me was present.  That was a gift to myself.  I’m slowly grasping this inner child stuff, which I need to do for healing in my life.

Perhaps you, too, need to connect to your inner child.  Maybe you have heard of this and thought it was crazy thinking.  Are you too wrapped in work and doing for others, even church work?  Stop, reflect and love the inner child within you.

As I mentioned early on with my counselor and the inner child stuff, I was lost and unknowing of such a thing.  There are a lot of books, Facebook group pages, research articles on Google, etc., available to read and gain knowledge and hopefully healing.   I hope that my story helps someone.

E8341B37-CCFA-485A-ADCB-2D30CC878CF6Growing up, I yearned for love and attention and sadly, I do as an adult.  With counseling, understanding why this caused such in my life, I am doing better.  I’m understanding that the little me needs me to love her and care and have fun, too.

I was worth the love and attention as a child that I did not receive.

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Temporary

7F1B569C-FE5D-414E-8D88-9800E6CC0890Temporary, seems to be the word of the day or maybe this week.  Time will tell. Moving to our temporary office location, I keep hearing the others in the office repeat and remind themselves of this fact.

All evening, I have been in blah-ville.  Ever been there?   B5AA4D88-7B3E-434D-A4E5-AB827BB5D91FJust could not shake the sadness of grief, memories and the tears came easy.  I’ve done so well but realizing these thoughts and feelings are only temporary.  I understand them.

While receiving a text from my best sister-like, friend, of her situation living out west, as we both are settling in for bedtime, she expressed what she went through today and also said, it’s only temporary.

I know without a doubt that a good night’s sleep will bring new strength tomorrow.

Just know and reminding myself, it’s only temporary.

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