For almost two decades, I was married to someone I loved. We had a beautiful family, a stable life, and a strong friendship. By most people’s standards, it was a good relationship—safe, supportive, kind. He was a good man. We shared joy, laughter, lots of life, vacations, sweet moments with our children, and a deep respect for each other.
But here’s what I didn’t understand back then: You can love someone with your whole heart… and still not be in the right frequency for your soul. You can build a whole life with someone… and still not be in alignment.
Because what I had wasn’t bad—it just wasn’t mine.
I had already met my Twin Flame while I was still married. And what that connection awakened in me was something I didn’t even know I had been missing: a level of intimacy, spiritual recognition, and divine truth that shook me to my core. He once gave me a song with the lyric: “I never knew I had a dream until that dream was you.” And that’s exactly what it felt like.
Until that moment, I didn’t even know I had a hunger for that kind of transcendent love. And once that part of me woke up, I couldn’t go back to sleep.
But I tried. God knows I tried.
For ten years, I pushed myself to make my marriage work. I tried to restore it, fix it, prove my love- to him, to myself, to everyone- through what I now know was guilt and obligation. I told myself I owed it to my kids. To him. To God. I forced myself to be present when my soul was crying. And that constant self-betrayal created deep, long-lasting trauma.
Because here’s what they don’t tell you: Being in a relationship that isn’t your true vibrational match will wear down your soul.
Me in 2017… hiding behind heartbreak
Even if it looks good on the outside. Even if there’s love there.
It’s not about blame. My ex wasn’t abusive. He didn’t try to trap me or control me. In fact, he told me more than once that he never wanted me to fake it. But the truth is—I did. I faked it because I didn’t feel like I had a way out. I faked it because I thought love was supposed to look like sacrifice.
Even now, years after our divorce, my nervous system is still healing. That’s how deep the pattern of self-abandonment ran. That’s how much I tried to contort myself into a relationship that didn’t fit.
I used to think that if someone was kind and stable and loving, that should be enough. But I’ve learned something sacred through my healing: Safe doesn’t mean aligned. And love alone doesn’t mean union.
If you’re constantly having to explain yourself… If you feel like your partner just doesn’t get you, no matter how you try to translate… If you’re always tiptoeing around your truth, your light, your sensitivity… If you’re not even sure you can speak certain feelings out loud without being shut down…
Then you’re probably not tuned to the same frequency. And that dissonance, over time, becomes unbearable.
They’re not a bad person. They’re not unloving or uncaring. They’re just not your person.
Different radio stations aren’t evil—they’re just not playing the same genre. And you don’t have to keep screaming into static and calling it love.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE 🌟
Great news. You don’t have to settle.
Your Twin Flame is the one whose soul mirrors yours exactly. They’re not “good enough”—they’re you. They meet you on the frequency of your truth. They challenge your illusions. They help you ascend—not through force, but through presence. And it’s a whole different world.
So if you’re reading this and wondering why your “perfectly good” relationship still leaves you empty, confused, or unseen… I want you to know you’re not crazy. You’re not ungrateful. You’re not asking for too much. You’re just starting to tune into the truth. ⛓️💥
If you can’t spread your wings around someone… how can you ever truly fly? 🪽
Keep choosing you. Keep returning to your frequency. Keep pouring love on the places you once abandoned. And trust—you’re not meant to settle. You’re meant to soar. 🕊️
(I’m hearing Bill Murray in Scrooged- “I’m back! I can see now!” 😂)
I’ve missed this space. I’ve missed us.
Over the past year and a half since my last public post, I’ve done a lot of deep work, the brave work—stepping more fully into my voice, my divinity, and my healing.
What started as intentional ascension through twin flame awareness, trauma recovery, divorce, and nervous system rewiring has blossomed into a life aligned with unshakeable peace and clarity.
✨ What I’ve learned and celebrated so far:
Rooted out complex trauma, healed wounds, and redefined worth as God gave it to me.
I’ve walked through divorce with integrity and grace, and I’ve emerged in ease—in body, mind, and spirit.
I’ve established energetic sovereignty: boundaries that honor me, relationships that uplift, and a restored alignment with God’s love.
I’ve forgiven myself and others. Set free from old identity loops.
I’ve Chosen heaven.
What I’m coming back to share:
🌈 My ongoing healing process and how that affects my life, relationships, and my life purpose.
❤️🔥The Twin Flame journey—you know I’ll speak the truth on soul mirrors, ascension triggers, and sacred union. ❤️ Relationship dynamics—how to love deeply, without losing yourself. 🕊️ Emotional + energetic healing tools—I’m sharing more about MAP, the Mirror Exercise, nervous system recalibration, and practices that worked for me. 🌟Spiritual integration—reconnecting with Divine Self in everyday life, grounded in unconditional Love and God’s grace.
What’s coming next:
Blog series: Signature essays on love, loss, ascension, and emerging awareness.
YouTube shorts and videos: talking about my insights on love, God, and life
Community connection: More Q&A, invited questions, reader reflections.
Let’s build this journey together.
Want to see specific stories or topics covered? Have questions about your Twin Flame path, or how to heal trauma without losing your joy? Drop me a message, comment below, or connect with me via my link tree.
It’s been about 180 days since I started on my intentional ascension path. (I say intentional because I think I always have been, we all are. Just now, I’m CHOOSING it).
When I started, I didn’t even know what ascension meant. I mean, I know what the word means. But I didn’t know what it meant for me.
I write about this here. But, more important is today.
This is a healing journey first and foremost. I am a healer. I’ve always been a healer. I love people and I want to share the truth because I want people to be set free.
I matter 🦋
In the spring of 2014, almost a year after I was fired from my favorite job working with my favorite person, I was prophesized over. While praying in a small group at a women’s retreat, my friend’s friend, Carol, who I had never met, began singing in tongues. My friend Gina, translated. Carol kept saying “healer, counselor, healer”. When we finished praying (and crying), Gina said that God was calling me to become a counselor.
Me… 😳🥹
Less than a month later Liberty University called me saying they received an inquiry from me (I didn’t submit an inquiry 😅). I hadn’t told anyone I was considering going back to school. It was like a teeny tiny idea. But, they had me on the phone, we talked about my vision for the world, and they said “you’d be a perfect fit for our marriage and family therapy program”. Three months later I started my master’s program at Liberty University.
I was in a LOT of emotional pain back then. I knew I was called to do MORE with my life, but I didn’t know what, how, or when. God knew though. God made a way.
He always makes a way.
My 3.5 year master’s journey was also a self healing journey. All that healing took me out of our shabby home on an off ramp and brought me to the rural suburbs. My vibration increased as I healed and I attracted wealth. Not just money. But a priceless relationship – with my supervisor who is a sage of his own kind (and very very much reminds me of my spiritual teacher and my twin flame ❤️🔥). I attracted a neighborhood that is peaceful and safe. I also attracted A LOT of clients on the same journey as me. They made me the therapist I am today and I’m forever grateful 🥰
The purpose of ascension is to heal the consciousness and “ascend” closer to God and all that God is. You can achieve some levels of higher vibration without really knowing you’re doing it just by pursuing more. God’s wealth and abundance are limitless and if you desire more, you can remove the blocks to achieve whatever you want. This is what the “overnight success” story is… The intentional purification of your consciousness to align with your desires. Believing you deserve more and allowing yourself to receive it. 🦋
You and God are ONE. If you have a desire it’s because God gave it to you. (You have to think about this deeply, not surface-ly, God is not a vicious careless uncompassionate God).
This is why I was able to achieve what I did. Because I purified parts of my consciousness which drew me closer to God and this manifested in the 3D as new home, new town, new relationships, new opportunities.
But I held on to old parts which kept me conflicted, strained, stressed, depressed, small. And repeating some of the same patterns.
This applies to all relationships 💕
I’m now ascending ON PURPOSE. Which is a much more intense journey – the pruning and perfecting can be painful at times, especially when I resist feeling my feelings and letting go of old patterns.
In the past 180 days I’ve been intentionally purging my consciousness of everything that is out of alignment with God.
The most important part of this process is to understand Who God Is and let go of every belief and idea that isn’t God. I had a LOT of misaligned beliefs about God.. lots of rotten fruit to be shaken out of my tree so I could begin to bear more fruit.
This is the process of ascension, of making a full 180. You can do it too! We all belong in God’s kingdom. He has a very special plan and process for you, too 💖
I’ve been doing this work for 6 months and it’s time to fully release all the gunk and embrace all the good. Worthiness and unforgiveness kept me stuck in the old and as a result I was experiencing a LOT of contrast and negativity. Basically, the universe was screaming at me… LET IT GO KITTY!!!
I thought “let it go” meant let go of everything I want. Nope. It doesn’t. I’m done believing that lie.
Let it go means…
Let go of scarcity, poverty, lack.
Let go of guilt, shame, and condemnation.
Let go of self punishment.
Let go of powerlessness and smallness.
Let go of weakness, depression, sadness, anxiety, and worry.
Let go of my trauma story; let go of feeling unlovable.
Let go of willfulness, trying, pining, chasing, controlling.
Let go of emotional chaos and emotional immaturity, explosiveness, demandingness, emotional intensity.
Let go of provoking and passive aggressiveness and anger.
Let go of these immature patterns that aren’t serving me. These patterns are not of God. And now that I’m pursuing God with my whole heart, there’s no room for these things. If I try to hold on to them, even subconsciously, God will not allow it and I will experience negative consequences- and I have! This is God’s way of loving me, loving us.
Heaven on earth has boundaries, too. ❤️🔥
I’m still healing but I’ve made HUGE strides because of the healing, learning, and growing I’ve done in my ascension school and with my ascension coach at Twin Flames Universe.
Side note – if you still think it’s a cult or you think I can’t discern properly lol, that’s your own stuff and I encourage you to work through it using the mirror exercise AND read their media statement. That’s all I’m going to say about that because entertaining fear and doubt isn’t a game I’m playing anymore 🕊️ I’m intelligent, discerning, and very protective of my heart, mind, time, and resources. I had to work through doubt and fear too and stop projecting it onto other people ❤️ it’s safe to trust Love.
So, with that said! ❤️🔥🔥💖🥳🎉🎊🥂
And it’s time to celebrate my success. It’s time to celebrate my 180! 🦋
Through the help of my teachers, Jeff and Shaleia, my coach Michaila, my MAP practitioner Christie, the TFU community, and my ascension buddies, I have successfully…
Healed Complex PTSD and childhood sexual abuse trauma. Yes, it’s healed. 🦋
Divorced, grieved, and now live in peace with my exhusband. We coparent beautifully and naturally. We respect each other and coexist as friendly Divine children of God. 🦋
Made over 7k since January by purging unneeded items. I did this by valuing myself and thus, this energy went into my things. I see myself as valuable thus my stuff is valued 🦋
Unenmeshed myself emotionally and financially from my ex and I now manage my own finances. I am working on getting my own loans, housing, health insurance, etc. I am becoming an adult. This is probably one of the most humbling things to admit. I was completely dependent on Bryce. Towards the end I couldn’t make any decisions on my own. I didn’t even like to make a phone call. I now have freedom, my own resources, and 50% of weekends to myself to do what I want. If you’re a mom, you get how valuable this time is. Divorce has been an incredible gift! 🦋
I have restored multiple strained/estranged relationships. I’ve even talked to my dad a few times (we didn’t speak for 10 years). I don’t desire a close relationship with him because he’s not safe, but I feel at peace with our relationship. This is true for all my relationships, actually. I’ve completely lost contact with a few that were not healthy, I’ve established inner boundaries with ones I desire to keep in contact with, and I’ve acquired a whole community of unconditionally loving friends and people who truly want the best for me, who are also pursuing God with their whole heart. This is a very big deal to me. I’ve always wanted this. 🦋
And lastly, but not leastly, I’m healing my relationship with God, Jesus, and the church. 6 months ago I had a LOT of hurt and anger towards the church. I’ve felt my feelings and released the pain and upset. I understand that people only give what they know and understand. No one intentionally tried to hurt me. We all have a responsibility to “be above reproach” but most don’t really know what that means. And that’s okay. That’s their journey. They can only harm me if I allow them, and I did. And now, I’m not. I choose to see everyone as a divine child of God, on their own journey to Love. 🦋
I now understand that I am One with God. I am not separate from him. 🦋
I own all of my feelings and upsets. I’ve stopped projecting onto other people, I’ve stopped blaming others for my suffering. I’m responsible for my healing.
🦋
And, I’ve healed and continue to heal communication. My twin flame and I are not in communication and won’t be in physical communication as long as I’m harboring unforgiveness, anger, and acting from a place of emotional immaturity and explosiveness. I’ve healed and I’m healing passive aggressiveness, manipulation, coercion, willfulness, and the pattern where I provoke, control, demand, and become vitriolic. This is humbling to admit but it’s the truth. In my deepest darkest parts and pain, I have not been very loving or kind. I was this way to others because I was this way to myself. I choose to forgive myself, surrender this toxic pattern, and communicate with myself and others from a place of compassion, gentleness, grace, and Love.
I am no longer unloving to myself. Feels pretty good 🥰🦋
Scripture says over and over that we are forgiven. This is not something we will experience in heaven. We are already IN heaven if we choose to be. You get to choose whether you experience heaven or hell, right now.
I choose heaven. I am free. I am forgiven. I am a new creation! 🦋
I’m able to make a 180 because I realize now that I am in complete control of my life, my self. No one’s going to do it for me or even with me. I have lots and lots of support but because I’ve called in all of Me, my Divine Self, NO ONE is going to or has enabled me to stay small.
For this, I am eternally grateful.
Amen amen amen. I choose this. 🦋
Thank you for journeying with me. I’ve only just begun! 🦋
I feel called, inspired, and have a strong desire to teach.
You may or may not know, I’ve been deeply wounded by the traditional Christian church and how the masses have interpreted and taught some scriptures. Especially scriptures around Satan, love and marriage, God, and sin.
I’ve spent ten years deep in prayer, study, and discernment… Pulling apart scripture and the teachings I received and testing it against what I KNOW to be true- which is that God is Love.
It’s taken me this long to admit to myself what Love really is.
Side note… I’ve always loved this song. Since 2002. I can confidently say that I absolutely KNOW what love is now and I absolutely KNOW what I want 🥰❤️🔥
I held a lot of conservative evangelical beliefs and teachings around these things and this indoctrination has caused me a lot of confusion, heartache, and pain.
I believe God is calling me to join the masses of those who grew up in the 90s purity culture, toxic Christian masculine, hell-evil-Satan obsessed theology who are calling themselves exvangelicals.
Some are completely renouncing their faith. (Not me).
Some are teaching the Truth (me).
Some are providing safe and empathetic spaces for those like me to heal (this is also me).
God is calling me to teach. To set the record straight. To turn these theologies right side up and align it all with love.
Who knows what’s going to come out of this. I’m trusting God for inspiration and flow. I’m learning A LOT. I’ve studied A LOT. I also have a very deep and personal relationship with God and for the first time in my life I can confidently say that he is still speaking. And because I’ve healed and I’m healing, I can confidently say that God is speaking through me. He’s always tried. He speaks to all of us all the time. We just have to remove the blocks that are in the way to hearing his voice.
In another post, I’ll share what those blocks were/are for me.
I’m not perfect nor do I claim to be. I may misspeak or mishear God and as a result give incomplete teaching. I’m not a master and I don’t claim to be. But I’m not going to wait to teach until I’m perfect because then… It will never happen. So, as with all things, use your discernment and talk to God about what I say here.
I’ll never say “you must believe this” and I’ll never say that I know everything. I am a child of God… I am not God. But, God is speaking through me. And this is how it’s supposed to be… For all of us! We’re supposed to hear God. We’re supposed to receive inspiration from God. God is active and speaking NOW. Not just in a 2000+ year old text 😬😅 You can scripture check that! 💖😁
So, stay tuned for some new interpretations. I hope it enlightens, brings clarity and peace, and helps you understand God in a deeper, more loving way ❤️
I don’t think I realized how much heartache, pain, and confusion I have carried in my body. I’ve always been pretty resilient. I’ve never had allergies. I’ve never gotten a rash (other than poison ivy 😬😅) But now my body continues to react to the trauma work I’m doing by breaking out in rashes/hives. It started on my most sensitive and intimate parts… The parts directly affected by the abuse trauma, and now it’s radiating out to my extremities.
It’s like working its way OUT of me.
The meaning I’m making out of this is that my body is working hard to release the “score” that trauma has left in my body because it had no place to go. The rash is proof that it’s working. Amazing.
Our bodies are truly amazing.
My skin is feeling dry and like leathery now that it’s healing. I’m using Curel- a lotion called “ultra healing” which I feel like it’s another message of confirmation. I’m healing. Praise God. 🙌
The new layer of skin has me feeling like a brand new person. Like I shed my old life. I will give a brand new body, a healed body, to my twin flame. This is just so divine and I had no idea this was God’s plan. I’m so grateful. He deserves all of me. The best version of me. ❤️🔥
The temporary leathery feeling is a reminder to have good boundaries. To protect my body, to treat it like the temple it is. I feel like God is giving me a second chance. Complete and total healing. It’s a miracle. It’s MAP. ❤️🔥
In Ascension School, Jeff and Shaleia teach that we all have a twin flame and the purpose of twin flames is to experience God’s love; heaven on earth. The process of achieving union involves removing all blocks to love. This is also the process of ascension, oneness with God. Because God is love, removing all blocks to love naturally results in oneness with God or Christ consciousness. This is a simple process… But not easy. We all have different blocks. Twin flame couples have the same. exact. blocks. This is one of the ways we can PROVE twin flames are real. Because of these blocks. And, like freaking magic, only one twin needs to heal those blocks. Because we share the same consciousness, as I heal, he heals. I don’t need to talk to him. I don’t need to teach him. I don’t need to mother him, parent him, push him, pressure him. He’s a divine being and will heal with God’s love and presence in his life. Twin flames ALWAYS have a deep deep spiritual life and bond. We activate that growth and desire in each other and then perfectly mirror each other’s spiritual growth and core beliefs. This isn’t a theory. This is literally science. It can be proven by comparing core values and core blocks and also by doing the work and watching twins become magnetized to each other. My ascension coach did the work and magnetized her twin flame and didn’t even know him. It’s seriously amazing. Y’all might think it’s too good to be true but that’s God. God is too good to be true and yet, here we all are.
Because God LOVES US he created us this way, with a divine partner, one human who experiences all of life at the core the same way you do. It will look different on the outside. Just like Jesus’ work on earth looks different than the Holy Spirit’s work. This is how we’re made in God’s image (think about how the trinity works as one). Twin Flames ❤️🔥
One of the most telling signs of true twin flames is their core blocks. Every couple has that one big mountain that they think they’ll never get over. I’ve been working hard and fast (sorry twin flame… But also, I know you’re strong and you got this. We got this ❤️🔥) so I’ve been moving through years of upsets and contrast like a boss 🙌 but my next (building) block has made itself known… And it’s a biggy. It keeps coming up. Over and over and over and over.
It’s silence.
My twin hasn’t spoken to me since I infiltrated his life in October and dropped the life changing “I’m getting divorced” bomb on his lap. I didn’t understand twin flames back then. At all. So I pushed and chased and was really anxious and really needy. I was confused, hurting, desperate. I was trying to get something from him. And he loved me perfectly by not giving it to me.
In soul mate and karmic relationships this energy is no problem. In fact, lots of people build relationships on this energy of misery, common enemy, shared grief. Using each other to feel better. Not twin flames. They can’t. Is not divine so we can’t align. Instead, we push each other energetically to ascend. To pursue the heart of God. Because it’s only ever actually about God.
That’s how I can “do this”, mom. Because it’s only ever about God.
Twin flames are God’s perfect design for union on this planet. Created from the same soul, they MUST devote their heart, soul, mind, everything to God to be in unity. And God rewards their union with so. much. good. He and I had a taste of that for a few sweet months ten years ago. A few sweet months (and years of friendship and heartache) is what kept me alive during the dark ages (2017-June 2022). It’s what woke me up. It’s what pulled me out of my house in the middle of the night and threw me into my car bare foot and had me drive the 59.7 miles to his house with no explanation other than “Go. Now”.
It’s God. It’s all about God. He called me home to get me to Go Back Home.
I’ve learned that God wants us to be Happy. God cares about what I care about. God is a loving God. A good good Father. And like a good good father, he wants me to have everything I want. My desires have always been good and pure because that is my true soul’s nature. I’m pursuing the heart of God. I’m not going to have a desire outside of His desires.
Sorry church, you’ve messed up. That’s a different post for a different day. But anyone reading should know that 1. God sees you. 2. GOD is in control. 3. God wants to give you the desires of your heart because he is a good God. A God of abundance. Align with LOVE and you’ll understand the heart of God.
The strongest desire of my heart has always been for my twin flame. And then, I met him, and my heart and mind and body exploded into this new version of me. It took me a minute (5,259,600 of them) to understand what happened and why… Now I finally understand.
I will have my harmonious union.
No, it doesn’t look like that on the outside. He may even come here and read this and be like “wtf Kitty, you’re crazy”. I understand now that EVERYTHING he feels and thinks it’s just a mirror for me to see the same thing within myself. And I heal it. For both of us. Just watch. Watch it unfold.
It. Will. Happen. ❤️🔥 In fact, because time is an illusion and meaningless in God’s eternity, it’s already happened. It already exists. That’s why I have dreams and visions. Because it’s already here 💗
So, the next step that’s been revealed is my younger me.
She’s been asking to be heard for a long time. I have no idea what she has to say. Or when she’ll be done speaking. I have no idea if this is the big mountain… But I know it’s one of them because silence is quite possibly the most hurtful thing a person could do to me. And all. the. men. in my life have given me years of silence.
And I’ve given myself years of silence, too.
I know how to heal it. I don’t know all the parts, yet. I’m asking God for wisdom and insight. He keeps calling me to write. And also… Vlog. So yeah. An elder millennial vlogging her way through life. More on this another day.
For tonight… I’m snuggling my childhood stuffies- two Care Bears- that have special meaning to me and my twin… Cupcakes and rainbows 💗
I believe it can all be cupcakes and rainbows, joja 💗
And, I’m listening to this song on repeat as I write myself and the world a love letter to myself. As I give her the love she always wanted and never realized she had… Right there… In her heart the whole. time.
Dear younger me Where do I start If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far Then you could be One step ahead Of all the painful memories still running thru my head I wonder how much different things would be
Dear younger me I cannot decide Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life Or do I go deep And try to change The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride Dear younger me, If I knew then what I know now Condemnation would’ve had no power My joy, my pain would’ve never been my worth If I knew then what I know now Would’ve not been hard to figure out What I would’ve changed if I had heard
Dear younger me It’s not your fault You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross Dear younger me You are holy You are righteous You are one of the redeemed Set apart a brand new heart You are free indeed Every mountain every valley Thru each heartache you will see Every moment brings you closer To who you were meant to be
You are holy You are righteous You are one of the redeemed Set apart a brand new heart You are free indeed
Honest. Kind. Shine. XxOoXXo.
Adding this song to go with the image I chose to go with this writing… My dear friend sent it to me today because she knows… She knows my heart.
I write when I feel inspired. It’s like the words can’t help but fall from my lips, or fingertips, rather. The past 3-4 months are evidence of a lot of inspiration ….but also evidence of a lot of chaos which has come as a result of absolute panic.
Remember I said I had a secret? Well, the secrets keep unveiling themselves, secrets that I didn’t even know I had….are you seeing a pattern? Apparently I have a lot of them (patterns… And secrets) 😬
If you know me, you know that I’m about as authentic as they come. I have a fierce need to be genuine, to be real. There’s nothing more painful, exhausting, and awkward for me than to be fake or not myself… I’ve only ever been “fake” or dishonest about one thing, one person. Anytime I’ve felt like I have to be something other than I am/was with this person or in regards to this person I FLAILED and flailed hard. Like a chicken with my head cut off. Like a fish out of water.
I panic. I act crazy. I act so out of character and it’s like I can’t stop!!!! I embarrass myself, I embarrassed this person. I broke their trust with my flailing. They trusted me. They hoped I would be who they thought I was… Calm, kind, soft, sweet, silly, safe, warm, inviting, thoughtful, considerate.
But I wasn’t. They trusted me and I flailed and therefore, I failed.
I’ve been wearing a mask.
I’ve been walking with one shoe.
I’ve been painting with the wrong end of the brush.
I’ve managed to keep very essential parts of myself hidden, unseen, unheard, and mostly untouched, and consequently, I’ve disrespected myself, my values, my boundaries, and my needs for most of my life.
How has this happened. How could I, Kitty, have been so disillusioned for so. long.??
It just doesn’t add up. It doesn’t add up to my true nature and who I am at my core. A free spirit, a lover, a force of unbridled passion, creativity that frees and inspires, and a life full of compassion and grace… This is who I know that I am…. yet… It just doesn’t all add up. How can I be so genuine but keep some things so hidden. I’m still uncovering this reality. It’s a painful and humbling process.
(I just had a realization while proof reading…. If I flail and draw attention to that chaotic part of me then it will distract from the deeper hurting powerless part of me. The part of me that experienced the fullness of love but believed she couldn’t have it. The inability to be true to myself in this way is the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. I flailed because I was in pain. Insurmountable grief. Heart shattered. And a grief that hasn’t stopped in ten years.)
So, yeah, I have secrets that are spilling out, some like acid on soft skin, burning the tender parts of those who get too close. Or that I pull too close. My heart feels like it’s a caged wild bird, full of rage and emotions that come on strong and fast- I’m doing anything and everything to break free from this prison. I’m having realizations and gaining information that is almost too much to process all at once.
When I slow down and take an honest look at myself though, I realize that I’ve been processing all of this slowly for years.
I’ve been quietly untangling every delicate thread and I didn’t even realize it.
I’m not the type to rip and tear unless the thread, or the chain seems unfixable or not worth the untangling effort.
Have you ever helped your grandma untangle a bunch of necklaces?
I was about 14 or so and my Grammy had a few necklaces that got tangled up. She got ‘flustrated’ and offered me a try. Little did I know, I loved the careful process of untangling and unknotting. It was so relieving when I was finally able to pull one loose, to make big progress and work out a giant knot. It’s exhilarating, weirdly. As they say, idle hands are the devil’s playground and when you’re untangling knots, well, it’s impossible for your hands to be idle. Not saying I agree with this sentiment now as an adult, but it was this kind of stuff that was forced into my mind as a kid. Like me and every other overworked and underfun-ed evangelical ever…. we’ve believed some bs.
As a result of the bs lies and a trauma response/anxious/insecure coping mechanism, I meticulously untangle every knot in my mind. Maybe I like doing it. Maybe it’s to my detriment. Maybe it’s both and then something more.
I’m not ready to share my secrets. And maybe I never will, publicly anyway. But, I will say that this is what I realized:
For 10+ years I’ve been untangling one giant mess. I’ve been untying a knot, so to speak.
As I work through it, I find nuggets of truth and hidden gems. Sometimes I flail as I get close to uncovering a diamond or gold. The flailing is, I’m realizing, a response to panic and desperation.
Just imagine that you’re realizing that you’ve been a tangled up mess full of diamonds and gold you didn’t even realize and then one day your Spirit is like “WAKE UP!!! You have gold all tangled up in there!!!! Time to excavate.”
It’s like living in a desert, desperate for water, seeing a mirage and running for it. I’ll always think of Fievel Goes West when I think of mirages.
Admittedly, I haven’t handled this excavating process as delicately as I probably should have. I used hammers and drills when I should have used brushes and picks. I would probably not make a great paleontologist. Or maybe I would… I just need some time on the job.
It makes me sad to think that I may have destroyed precious gems that have been buried deep inside the crevices of my heart, mind, and soul for over a decade. That I didn’t understand until now how delicate this process is. I was so desperate for freedom, for a solution, for love that I flailed. Yes, I flailed.
I set fires with my words, I pushed boundaries with my body and choices. I have not honored myself, my needs, and wants for most of my life so therefore I cannot and have not honored others boundaries. When I’m flailing, I’m unpredictable chaos. Like the high speed chase down RT 15 that ended with the lady’s car on top of the Chinese restaurant…. How did that actually happen anyway???
It’s just embarrassing. I’m humiliated. I’ve lived a life that I thought was good, right, authentic, and God honoring. I’ve done my best to follow the rules, consider scripture, and live a life modeled after the spiritual leaders I respect.
But, I failed. And I flailed.
My favorite coworker and I used to say “everybody panic!!!!” as a joke. Little did he know that I would take him seriously one day.
So yeah. I panicked and pushed you away by trying to pull you close to a hot stove. I flailed and revealed the ugliest parts of myself.
It’s crazy when the thing you love the most is the detriment… Let that sink in.
You can think again, when the hand you wanna hold is a weapon and You’re nothin’ but skin.
As you can tell 😬 I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself today. I’m being hard on myself because I think that if I do it then everyone will leave me alone. Or it won’t hurt so bad when others do it. Maybe they’ll think “she’s already punished herself enough”. It never seems to work out that way. In fact, my vulnerability and transparency seems to set me up for more lashings. People loooove to come after the scapegoat standing on the chopping block. (Hint, it’s me). It’s interesting that I have no problem taking ownership. Too much ownership. Codependency is a bitch.
Yet, it’s no coincidence that on the day I’m feeling guilty and sorry for myself is the day we celebrate the birth of our youngest, Anna Grace.
She’s 7 today. And amazing. My mini. ❤️ She’s everything I dreamed a daughter would be and so so so much more. I would do a lot of things over but not a single second that brought her to me. God knew she’s exactly what I needed to finally learn to love myself. There’s nothing that’s a better teacher than a baby girl who looks, acts, loves, and sees the world like you do. Every moment with her is like watching myself. As a childhood abuse survivor, this is heartbreaking and incredibly healing. Because if I want to do better by her then I have to heal myself. Because a love that pure only can come from a place of deep self love and respect. A deep KNOWING of who you are- holy, perfect, good, and worthy. Not a sinner.
I’m unlearning so much. For her. For all my kids. For myself. They’re worth it. I’m worth it.
She gets a childhood I didn’t have. Stable, peaceful, full of childhood “problems” and joys. She gets the full experience of just being a kid. Giving her this experience is worth every tear, every sacrifice, and every flail. It’s worth every moment that I’ve been untrue to myself. Because I lied for her. I denied myself to give them joys and stability and consistency and love that I never had. And because of that, I don’t regret a thing.
But, time is up now. It’s time to pay attention to my soul. My soul has been quietly screaming, behind closed doors, behind a caged up heart. Very very very very very few people know the reality of my experience – it’s depth, my pain….how hard I’ve tried. How much I’ve cried. How desperate I’ve been to fulfill the law as defined by my spiritual (religious) guides.
I’ve followed the leading of the holy spirit. I’ve committed my life to prayer and to the fruit of the holy spirit. I’m constantly learning, growing, pouring myself into wisdom and goodness. And I’ve still failed. Because I’ve lied. I lied so good I believed it was the truth. I genuinely believed.
It’s crazy how what we believe influences how much we know, even about ourselves.
The good part of all of this is grace.
And now that I’ve spent some time feeling bad and guilty and beating myself up, it’s time to talk about grace, grace, God’s grace.
When I was pregnant with Anna, this song would come on the radio, A LOT. At 2:42 you’ll hear “let me introduce you to grace, grace, God’s grace” and it sounds like angels singing. Every time I heard this frame I would burst into tears uncontrollably… There was just something so compelling about it…
Anna didn’t have a name until she was about 3 hours old. We had discussed naming her Anna if she was born on the 24th because that is also her great grandfather’s birthday, and his mother’s name is Anna. As fate would have it, she was indeed born on grandpa’s birthday. We already had the middle name Grace picked out.
My mom asked when she was about 6 hours old what “Anna” means… Go ahead and Google it. I’ll wait.
So, here she is, Grace Grace- our double portion of grace. How cool is that.
I often wake up around 3am full of emotion – mostly love, especially these days. Sometimes I wake up crying, grieving, full of love so deep that I could drown in it. I so desperately want to be held in these moments. I’ve felt so alone throughout my 39 years…even with the company of the 4 warm bodies that adorn my bed from time to time.
Because the truth is that there’s nothing that comforts better than God’s embrace. I’m sure He’s held me more times than I’m aware of.
Our first night together, I fell asleep breastfeeding my brand new almost 9 pound bundle of girly goodness and woke up, about 3am to this song, her song, playing in my head. Anna looked up at me as I heard the lyrics, and angels sang, ‘Let me introduce you to Grace, Grace, God’s Grace.’
I flashbacked to every moment I heard that song while I was pregnant with her. Every moment I had to pull over in the car because I was overwhelmed by God’s love and embrace. Every time I fell to my knees because it was like angels were singing inside of my womb.
And then, there she was, Anna Grace- the girl who would have only been named Anna if she was born on that day… TEN LONG DAYS after her due date. It was meant to be. ❤️
Three short years before this I got caught up in one of the most difficult, life changing moments of my existence. I felt incredibly guilty for my choices, for such a long time. I beat myself up more than necessary, especially as I see it all so much more clearly now.
For yearsss I’ve been so unkind to myself because of guilt. I’ve denied myself because of this ongoing guilt. I’ve made myself small, accepted mistreatment, and completely denied my needs because of this guilt. Go ahead and tell me that I’m already forgiven…. Ya, I know. But y’all will go ahead and tell me that I’m a sinner and should feel guilty the second I wanna talk about it. The second I find a thread of good in the tangled up mess.
Side note: Evangelicals are so quick to destroy each other. That’s why I’m done. I’m an exvangelical.
I’m still a believer though, in fact, I think my spirituality is stronger and more faceted than it’s ever been. I feel more and more spiritually rooted everyday. I’ve flailed as recent as Friday last week but as I finish untangling this mess I’m beginning to really see how beautiful all the different threads and colors are. I’m beginning to see how all my flailing and chaos was a result of being all tangled up. Of trying to be an efficient spool of thread while actually being a tangled up mess inside. And I’m over here like I’m fine. Everything’s fine.
After all, that’s how we’re supposed to be when we’re walking with Christ, right? Some would say it’s normal to be a hot mess. Honestly though, I kinda hoped life would be more than that. That I might actually be fulfilled, whole, happy. That the fruit would be multiplied without having to kill myself to make it happen. I think I’ve been doing it wrong. And no one even noticed.
But how were they supposed to? I didn’t even notice.
I know God will redeem all of this. I know it simply because he is good. He is a good good father. And his grace is sufficient. It’s sufficient in all of my humanity. I am perfect and holy.
In my walking with God, I may be called to depths you’ve never explored. I may do things you never thought I would do. You may doubt and question everything.
Here’s the simple truth. I don’t care what you think. I care what God thinks. I’m going to continue to pursue the Divine with all my heart and soul and trust that the universe has my best interest at heart and that they are leading me towards love. Anna is a literal gift of grace. God saw me hating myself and beating myself up for so long. And all He ever sang over me was grace. I couldn’t hear it past all the noise so He had to put it in me. Grace. Just grace. It wasn’t an affair. It wasn’t sin. It wasn’t wrong, bad, evil, deserving of eternal or even earthly punishment. God sees it for what it was/is and His grace prevails. I will not live in shame or condemnation anymore. If you don’t get it, that’s a you problem, not a me problem.
His grace covers me, His grace is in my veins, it’s in and behind every tear, every word, every misstep. His grace is sufficient. I am whole. I am peace. I am free. I am fire.
This freedom is what sets my soul on fire. This love is what gives me the ability to bask in grace, grace, God’s grace.
Fire without grace is a hot flailing mess.
Grace without fire is…well… codependency. And boring lol.
This post talks about some of my suicidal thoughts. If you are triggered by or upset by these kinds of thoughts, please do not read. If you read and do become upset, that’s normal and okay! Please reach out to someone you trust. You can always reach out to me, too. ❤️
September is suicide awareness month. It also happens to be my birthday month. (yes I get a whole month. Deal 😋😁).
For my birthday this year, I’m asking for donations to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Facebook offers these easy ways to donate money around your birthday time. I’ve seen some become really successful! I’m hoping this blog post will motivate readers to find compassion in their hearts for people like me. There’s more than you can imagine. Currently, we have a 13 year old kiddo who has come into our life who experiences suicidal ideation daily.
SI is often met with judgement. I’m going to strongly challenge you, if you are prone to judgement, in regards to suicide or otherwise, that YOU indeed are part of the problem.
I’m judgmental too. It’s really hard not to be. We are analytical humans, always trying to understand our world and the people in it. Some of us are even professional judgers! (Hint: therapists, pastors, doctors, anyone who works in human services… We are trained to judge.)
It’s time to FLUSH our judgments. Flush em all. Like seriously, all of them.
Blue cat=judgementalness
I have experienced suicidal ideation on and off for most of my adult life. I don’t mind talking about it except that many many people think that those who have SI are “attention seeking” and wildly, irresponsibly, and overly emotional. I’ll tell ya one thing- it sure sucks to be judged when you already feel like a burden.
That’s what my SI has said to me.
You’re a burden. You’re unlovable. You annoy people, frustrated them, no one understands you because you’re broken, you’re sinful.
Your heart is deceitful, it lies. Your heart has hurt everyone you love. Your love is like death. Your thoughts and needs drive the people you love crazy.
You’re too much.
You exhaust everyone around you. The world would be better off without your crazy mind, misplaced emotions, and inability to function like the rest of us. You’re hurting everyone. Your children deserve better.
Your death would open up space for someone to do better. Someone who understands how people are supposed to be. You don’t understand. You shouldn’t BE.
I could never actively take my life. But I have passively wished for it to end more times than I can count.
The quiet and often solitude experience of suicidal thoughts is enough to drain years off a life and overall diminish a person’s quality of life. Imagine carrying these thoughts around with you. Imagine thinking that no one actually cares. The world must keep spinning, right? After all, everyone has to work, sleep, watch their TV shows, scroll their phones…
No one has time for your whiney bullshit, Kitty. No one should have to stop their life to help you feel loved. Who TF do you think you are?
Suicidal thoughts are obviously lies.
Sadly, ALL of us who experience them experience them as TRUTH. And, go looking for evidence, you’ll find it. People think the world is flat for heaven’s sake. It’s not that far of a stretch to believe you’re a burden when the people in your life literally don’t call or text back.
Oy.
I don’t want sympathy. Empathy would be nice- if you really care you can ask what my SI experience is like for me. You can ask me why I have thoughts like this. You can ask me what you can do in those moments and then follow through. (Hint: it’s not much. Just hugs mostly.)
Suicide is heavy. Talking about it takes some of the shame out of it. Talking about it empowers others who haven’t healed yet to talk about it. I’m not 100% healed but I’m better than I was two days ago, two months ago, two years ago.
If talking about suicide makes you feel uncomfortable, that’s okay! That’s normal. Feel free to say that; be honest about your feelings. Try not to avoid talking about it though. Avoidance is the fuel for suicidal thoughts.
Try to imagine what it would be like to feel suicidal. Ask your suicidal friend what it’s like for them. Hold lots of space. No need to fix it.
The best thing you can do is slow down. Be present. Be available.
If a friend calls and is upset…MAKE space. If you can’t make space, you don’t know how to love. If you have a hair cut scheduled, reschedule it. If you made plans to go out with a buddy, ask for a rain check. If you’re at work, ask for a mental health hour. If you’re in the middle of dinner with your family, quietly excuse yourself. PEOPLE will understand. And if they don’t, are they really your kind of people?
Facebook takes care of the donation processing with no fees. My goal is $390 for my 39th birthday. A $39 donation is enough of a birthday gift for me ❤️ Thank you for caring about other people.
Empathy. Vulnerability. Safety.
Let them tell their story.
If you’re not able or willing to do this hard task, that’s okay. Talking is hard, listening is even harder. Just donate money and help save lives. Tell your friend to call 988. There are lots of people like me out there who feel unloved, worthless, like a burden. Your donation will communicate to them that their life is worth living… That YOU want THEM to stay alive.
Screenshot to donate, use your image search 🔎
We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention crisis line available to anyone in the U.S. in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 988, the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in our national network of crisis centers. You can also text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. The 988 Lifeline is a program funded by SAMHSA and run by Vibrant Emotional Health, a 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation will go to Vibrant Emotional Health to support the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other programs and services administered by Vibrant.
I’m burdened by the hypocrisy of the “Christian” church.
I can’t believe I’ve played a part in this nonsense… This hate.
Church…we’ve messed up. Big time.
This is abhorrent.#guiltyActually, ask yourself if anyone feels loved by you. Change my mind.Burn every copy of love&respect 🤮Submit submit submit and God will bless you with an asshole for a husband who can’t even find the ketchup on the front door. Also, was told by my pastor and “Christian” therapist that they were angry with me for trying to feel loved. Fuck purity Sounds a bit narcissistic I didn’t write this. I don’t like those words at the end but you should seriously think about if and how your beliefs are hurting you and other people. People should not be able to love better than God.Yeah, this one’s tough for me too. No caption needed. Other than *note: WITHOUT STRINGS ATTACHED #yepThe hypocrisy is as THICK as their skulls…Y’all. I don’t even understand this logic Or this logicI’m actually okay being kept awake. I’m sorry.Cherry picking should be left for actual cherries We’ve really messed up.Well, does it?🎤I try to remember to talk to my unpleasant emotions like I would a little toddler. What do you need? How can I help?No virtue. Read it again with me.I seriously do not even understand how one could think they should be in office.😬Sick.
I’m kind of done with this “Christian” nonsense. Pray for my soul.
Keturah Mae Shine 