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It hurt to read what you had to endure, and it certainly had me delve back into my own experience.

I never had the courage nor the talent as a writer to share my own story; but as an artist, I let my hands do the talking. My art always expressed and transmuted all my pain into dreams, forms, colors and textures… and that gift kept me going.

I am sure that I am not alone in finding renewed courage to fight when you shared your own story and your knowledge. Thank you Solarah!

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First, it’s great to see you smiling. 😊 Thank you for sharing some of your story, I really felt it deeply. All the ways in which you’ve been sidelined and stepped on and discarded, and the hustle and movement that you had to draw upon in order to move forward in your life, move forward and move forward, rather than be at a standstill. And of course all the ways in which other people perceive you, without seeing into the heart of you.

It’s a familiar story, not my own, but familiar - and what stands out is your transparency and calling it what it is - I want to call that bravery, also it’s just your gift, the way that you can shine as a beacon for others to feel seen and heard and validated in their struggles. But it’s a lot a lot a lot. And sometimes we just need a break. A warm hug and a shared meal with laughter and the good kind of tears. So I hope you have that too. ❤️

My own story I can’t share online because of the people who are involved, not from danger but for respecting the privacy of what we’ve been through. It’s different, of course, and yet the struggle was definitely real for many years, and I can say that something has shifted me out of the struggle and striving. A series of somethings, realizations and awakenings - and it’s a long story, but I will share that for while the recognition I needed to stop struggling and striving came before the actual stopping of it. I seemed to be playing out habitual patterns, but with more of a distance, as if I were watching myself do the same old thing and going, what are you doing woman? And then there was another drop and another, and then it was as if I just couldn’t do it anymore.

Difficult stuff happens. Like, there are financial issues, children with chronic health conditions, a friend who is dying… it’s all there, but I am in a different place. I feel like a polished stone in a river. Life just happens around me.

My whole relationship with success has changed. With the Enneagram, I am a 3. A friend of mine who has done really deep work with it, which I haven’t, told me that my largest lesson in life is to accept this statement: “ I am now as successful.as I’ll ever be in my entire life.” I definitely felt that sting when she said it, because there’s a part of me that it wants to constantly be striving and striving, it’s an old story that comes from childhood wounding.

But I also realise that when I personally sink into that statement and can just accept that this is the case, I am okay.

Don’t know if any of my rambling makes sense! But thank you as always for your sharing and wise words. I hope that you land in a soft place.

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With great respect, thank you. Thank you for your strength, thank you for your courage, sheer grit and determination. Thank you for sharing the horror of what you have endured. I am so very sorry you had to live through this. Your inner beauty shines, with intention and purpose. We are privileged to be on this road by your side. May you and your children always be safe, and protected in all the wonderful things you do and will do. Thank you. Thriving i am not…..but through you, your work, this community, i am learning and not giving up. My inner lion feels your inner lion and roars with much love.

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Forever grateful! 🔆🙏🏾💗

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