by W Katherine Waite-Gracie
I have always loved completely and unapologetically. I have such love for others, nature, animals, music, art, and the inner beauty waiting to shine from within all of us.
As the oldest of a co-dependent, abusive, alcoholic home, I started my journey of caregiving and peacemaker early. I was a very sick little girl as well, living life with a brain tumour, which remained unfound until it became an absolute emergency. If I’d gone just one more week, I would have faced a lifetime of paralysis and blindness. This early trauma certainly taught me to appreciate life and to love with my whole heart even more than I already had been. I might not be who I am today if I hadn’t lived through those situations.
As I grow older, and continue to heal, and expand, I am thankful for my blessings. Overcoming childhood trauma is difficult, but it has allowed me to see from a different perspective. Understanding why I am who I am and giving myself the grace to learn from those lessons is invaluable.
Knowing how close I came to never walking again. That I might never have been blessed with my two beautiful children. The thought of being blind, and the loss that would have been for me, and the burden on those having to take care of me, have added to who I am today, allowing me the capacity to have more compassion and a sense of awe for those who live with disabilities every day.
I am a lover of creativity. I have many journals, diaries, poetry and short stories, that have been great outlets for me over the years. I love to draw, paint, sing, and dance. Being in nature, walking among trees, swimming in lakes, surrounded by animals and sitting still, in quiet, peaceful, reflection are some of my greatest inspiration.
I’ve always dreamed of being an author. After my brain surgery, the day before my 13th birthday, I wrote about my experience. I hope to publish that story one day, but at age 45, I still have some healing to do with that chapter in my life, and that story is still too raw for me to finish. I love mystery and have dreamed about writing murder mystery books, but found, in parenthood, writing became a practice I lost. Then a year ago, I was given a beautiful idea by an old friend, and it re-lit that old spark deep within. Maggie Ashberry was born onto the pages of my journal and a year later, she has become a 5-part series, 2 of which have been published and shared with the world. I was embarrassed and a bit reluctant to share the words that had so easily poured from my soul. It’s funny to me now, as a loving, passionate woman, that I didn’t see myself writing romance, but life is full of surprises. Yes, this series is spicy, but the foundation is that of love and compassion for others.
Being kind, understanding, helpful humans, supporting each other and remembering to love first, because we all have a story. We all have a beautiful, rich, struggled, joyous past, and if we are lucky we get to share that with friends, family and perhaps lovers who love us for who we are.
Out of all of life’s beautiful struggles, I will continue to send love to everyone I can reach. The beautiful thing about love is that it grows and comes back to you.
Shine your light, BRIGHT! Step into your truth. Embrace your dreams and take those leaps.
Love and Light.
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