The Daughter Journey

one daughter's journey as the adult child of an emotionally absent mother

rollercoaster,emotion,emotions

[Emotional] Rollercoaster

Today was one of those days…where 7 days feel crammed into one, with all of a week’s worth of errands to run, tasks to complete, and emotions to flow crazily through my body. I was happy yet sad, patient yet frustrated, giving yet stubborn. I loved my life one minute,

[Emotional] Rollercoaster Keep Reading

Sex with a Stranger

Eyes open. I am naked in a bed next to a man who is naked.Heavy, pounding pain with the pace and purpose of a fetal heartbeat fills my head. My mouth and throat are bone dry. My body is heavy and begs me to go back to sleep. Sleep where? My

Sex with a Stranger Keep Reading

composing, woman, fantasy-2391033.jpg

The “F” Word

I’m talking Family. I’ve never quite felt like I belonged. My biological father left my life soon after I was born and joined the army. I didn’t see him for several years. “Why doesn’t he want me?” I remember crying out to my mother. I had a wallet sized picture

The “F” Word Keep Reading

man, head, mind

Kristin on Ketamine

About two weeks ago I began Ketamine IV therapy for treatment-resistant depression as well as for anxiety and suicidal ideation. Prior to treatment, I was thinking about killing myself every day. I had a plan, I had written my letters to friends and family, I just had to muster up

Kristin on Ketamine Keep Reading

snail, gastropod, mollusc-7253351.jpg

I’m still relevant

I was just re-reading my “About” page, checking for typos and just generally making sure the content is still relevant. And yes, unfortunately it’s still relevant. Why unfortunately? It’s still hard to admit my truth. My truth about my childhood and early adulthood. It hurts to know, to finally understand,

I’m still relevant Keep Reading

Just write something

I told myself after my evening walk I would write something. Anything. So this is it. I’ve been listening to music all day. Work went well. I survived my commute – both ways. I found the motivation to go on a 2-mile walk. God is good. With joy, K

Just write something Keep Reading

spring, outdoors, flowers-7181766.jpg

The loneliest place

“The loneliest place is a lonely marriage,” my counselor Paige told me. I knew she was right then, and her words ring true to me at this very moment. Is this just a challenge of marriage, feeling hatred toward my spouse, or is this “the lonely place”? Trust can’t be

The loneliest place Keep Reading

submarine, ocean, sea-7105870.jpg

To Aries from a Libra

If you read this blog then you know I LOVE music. I love discovering new artists, whether they are fresh on the scene or just new to me. I am on Spotify all day every day making playlists, looking up artists, seeing what artists are recommended based on my listening,

To Aries from a Libra Keep Reading

watercolour, watercolor, paint-2053247.jpg

Birthday Blues

It’s my mother’s birthday on Friday. I never considered her birthday to be a trigger for my childhood trauma, but alas it is. When I say childhood trauma, I’m not referring to physical abuse or sexual abuse, neither of which I have experienced (surprisingly, considering the amount and quality of

Birthday Blues Keep Reading

woman, field, sunlight-1509956.jpg

And so I abide

I just had a very clear thought. “It’s Daughter Journey time.” And so I abide… My dad has throat cancer. Cancer. He begins chemo Monday. I don’t even believe it. I cannot watch this man deteriorate. I watched my grandmother deteriorate with Alzheimer’s and I can’t imagine seeing my dad

And so I abide Keep Reading

light, light bulb, lamp-677062.jpg

To Drink or Not to Drink

Let’s look at my history with alcohol. Multiple arguments, the ending of relationships, the ending of going to school, the ending of a fresh reputation. For those reasons alone I would think that I am a person who should not drink. Yet I do. I am, to this day, so

To Drink or Not to Drink Keep Reading

suitcase, woman, girl-1488516.jpg

This Journey I’m On

I’m wondering if I’m doing myself (and you) a disservice by posting daily. I don’t feel like I’m giving you a whole lot of substance to keep you interested in reading. I’m also afraid that if I don’t blog everyday that I’ll go back into writing hibernation where I wasn’t

This Journey I’m On Keep Reading

mandala, flower, lotus-1542825.jpg

Freedom in Forgiveness

I haven’t done Rituals for Transformation (RFT) perfectly. I didn’t night journal a couple of nights and my meditation needs more practice. I seriously can close my eyes for a few minutes but then I start getting antsy, my mind wanders and meditation is the last thing on my mind.

Freedom in Forgiveness Keep Reading

path, rural, nature-6567149.jpg

Lackluster

Lackluster. That’s the best way to describe how I feel on this leg of the journey of my Rituals for Transformation reading. I say “this leg of the journey” because previously I was feeling great, I noticeably felt well all around. The messages I’m reading are completely flipping the script

Lackluster Keep Reading

mountain, colors, paint-6538890.jpg

Getting rid of the icky

So what’s been helping my mood? Rituals for Transformation is the biggest reason and it’s because the book calls for twice a day meditation and journaling. Plus, I’m reading all of the good messages of the day in the book. It’s a lot of positivity that is entering my brain

Getting rid of the icky Keep Reading

yoga, woman, lake-2176668.jpg

Making space for stillness

Today’s Rituals for Transformation message is to make time for stillness. Still my mind. Still my thoughts. Gently pull myself back to stillness when I find myself going down rabbit holes. I identify with stillness more than meditation, even though meditation is essentially stillness. Maybe I just need to find

Making space for stillness Keep Reading

composing, woman, fantasy-2391033.jpg

Sharing my truth

My mood fluctuates, that’s no surprise. The other day was bad. Today was good. That’s normal, right? I can’t expect to have a good day everyday…or can I? Can I expect to have “rad” days (as rated on my mood tracker) everyday? I suppose I can. But will I? (Not

Sharing my truth Keep Reading

sad, girl, sadness-2042536.jpg

Today was a sad day

I have no idea what to write about yet I’m crying, for the second time today. Today was a rough day. Mondays I’m supposed to go into the office but I worked from home. I just didn’t have it in me to get up and ready for the day. So

Today was a sad day Keep Reading

common heather, calluna, snezka-6581569.jpg

Day 1/Day 18

I am on the 18th day of Rituals for Transformation (RFT) but this is the first day of my “blog everyday” promise. It’s a promise to me as much as it’s a promise to you. It also just makes sense. I will continue to journal by hand because I read

Day 1/Day 18 Keep Reading

woman, butterflies, fashion-6588614.jpg

Two birds, one stone

I’m working through Rituals for Transformation: 108 Day Journey to Your Sacred Life. Each day calls for morning and evening meditation followed by journaling. Today I thought, “What if I blogged my meditation writings?” My mind works so much faster than my hand when writing PLUS I’d be sharing my

Two birds, one stone Keep Reading

writing, write, person-828911.jpg

108 Day Journey

“Let me know, let me know when I’ve got room to run” – Dermot Kennedy I’m very much moved by music. I easily cry during my favorite songs. And my favorite artist is singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy. I listen to him a lot. Therefore, I cry a lot. His music makes

108 Day Journey Keep Reading

soap bubble, frost, snow

Winter in Spring

“Feels like winter follows you around.” There’s a song by Dermot Kennedy and that is a line in one of his songs. I relate to that lyric so much. Like that Peanuts character who was always getting rained on, or Oscar the Grouch (he lives in a trashcan afterall). Depression

Winter in Spring Keep Reading

heart, love, ornament

My World Awakens

I’m sitting outside listening to the birds chirp their language of life and presence. Something about birds has always intrigued me. Possibly because my great-grandparents had several bird features and even a bird bath! Can you imagine being a kid and watching birds land on this statue-esque structure and clean

My World Awakens Keep Reading

tree, branches, silhouette

The Other Scarlet Letter

A. A for abortion. This post is about abortion. So, if that is a topic that offends you or you feel strongly about, I’m telling you now: reading my personal opinion may ignite something inside of you. And to an extent, I hope it does. But we’re all adults so

The Other Scarlet Letter Keep Reading

egret, flying, fog

Quiet Breath

I’m sitting outside. It’s nighttime; it’s quiet. I imagine the neighborhood kids are already in bed, along with their parents and pets. It’s nighttime; it’s quiet. I’m inhaling and exhaling these full breaths and I feel my shoulders release and my stomach untightens. I’m going to look into doing more

Quiet Breath Keep Reading

rose, red, smoke

Laying it out there

I attended an emotionally absent mother (EAM) 6-week course offered by Motherless Daughters Ministry in October with the intention of opening up my space, my heart really. I wanted to bring you on my motherless daughter journey by writing to you about it in real time. But I soon realized

Laying it out there Keep Reading

floor, hallway, corridor

The Instagram Effect

This could easily be titled The Twitter Effect. And maybe it should be. I manage my company’s social media accounts and I noticed that I feel really good when our analytics show we’re getting a lot of exposure. And if these tweets don’t get likes then I feel myself getting

The Instagram Effect Keep Reading

tulip, leaf, flower

Sunrise

My Instagram feed told me that Michelle Obama just turned 57. Some may say she’s at the peak of her life. Her beauty, inside and out, is so apparent. And she is beautiful. She is America. Then I got to thinking, I’ll be that age in 20 years. I was

Sunrise Keep Reading

fantasy, woman, sea

Peculiar

The thing is there’s nothing particularly interesting or unique about me. I’ve just fucked up a lot of times and I want to share my experiences because maybe someone can relate to what I’m saying. I was thinking just yesterday that alcohol has ended so many relationships that actuallhy had

Peculiar Keep Reading

RandomRamblings

This post isn’t going to really serve the purpose of much of anything. It’s literally random ramblings I’m having post-EAM class. It is Thursday after all, thus I have the Emotionally Absent Mother class which wrapped up about 45 minutes ago. I’m just kind of sitting with myself, listening to

RandomRamblings Keep Reading

night, moon, sea

When You Have No Friends

I look around me, and I see no friends. No shopping buddies, coffee dates or spa partners. I have my husband, yes, but every girl needs at least one friend. My friendlessness is due to two main reasons: I sabotaged the relationships I did have, and I isolate myself from

When You Have No Friends Keep Reading

Afternoon Journaling

Random thoughts on a random day. Kind of not a random day as Labor Day was yesterday. I didn’t do anything but watch Netflix and sleep. That sounds so pitiful to me. That’s not normal, is it? I need guidance because I am very confused. I need to know what

Afternoon Journaling Keep Reading

P.M. Ponderings

I’m going to try something new. I’m still working on the whole staying consistent thing, so we’ll see how long this lasts. Basically, I’m going to ramble about my thoughts and experiences I’ve had through the day, ruminating thoughts, bouts of depression, sky high anxiety…you know all the good sunshine

P.M. Ponderings Keep Reading

Scroll to Top