Jennifer walked into the room with ripped white jeans, a tight red t-shirt, and green hair. A halo of sweet vape smoke lingered.
Her breath came in fits and starts (she was nervous), yet her gaze was purposeful.
She came to tell her story to a room full of familiar strangers for the first time.
Between a rising chest and wringing hands and shifting weight from foot to foot, she shared.
Jennifer lost her baby girl when she was nineteen. She wasn’t ready to be pregnant, but when she saw those two pink lines for the first time, she thought that just maybe this baby could save her.
The room echoed and nodded as she told her story, familiar: sexual abuse, broken home, drugs. More abuse. More drugs.
“I was stretched to the breaking point, but did not break,” she said.
And then recovery.
Jennifer said Ms. Faye came into the prison to talk about Jesus.
She said she got baptized because she was bored. The rest of the women were doing it.
Two years later after more (abuse, drugs, prison), Jennifer got saved again. Letting the water fall down her back, carrying with it the sins of her shame. The faces of the men. Street lamps and high heels. When you try to wash away ashes, it takes time. The residual holds on like eyelash glue.
She was ready this time.
Ready to live.
In recovery, we are invited to share our stories.
When I found myself nestled into a lop-sided circle of chairs with a rag-tag crew of people who instantly felt like my people, I wasn’t prepared for what I’d learn over time about the power of stories.
I didn’t realize that in my own journey what I’d been missing for so long was this:
The ability to connect with another human being.
Truly connect.
To let someone into the dark, secret, shameful parts, and to also bring someone into the joys, successes, praises, and gratitude.
[like this]
Trauma and recovery
It took me too long to get to a place of healing. Dealing with my traumatic history was something that I continued to run from. When I was in active addiction I was plagued by thoughts and questions like why do I need to use to feel normal, or calm?
Something miraculous happens in recovery spaces and that’s why I feel so moved to share these happenings with you.
I believe that we are all in recovery from something and we can all benefit from hearing our stories of recovery, hope, and resilience.
That’s why I’m excited to announce that I’m bringing back storytelling – from you – and I’ll be opening submissions for stories beginning now on Circle of Chairs. I’ve got a new website and a new team and I can’t wait to widen the circle.
Pull up a chair. Share your story.
Check out the new website!
*if you remember, I started this story-telling journey three years ago this fall with Bright Story Shine. In the same spirit, this new home for women’s stories (and all y’all who support/identify with/love women’s communities) will hopefully bring more opportunities to connect and learn and share and grow.
Interested in sharing your story and being featured on Circle of Chairs? Check out the submission guidelines here.
ps. This is a great podcast from my friend Dr. Lee Warren that talks about what happens in the circles of recovery with best-selling author, Philip Yancey.
Check out the submission guidelines.
The new website looks great.....congratulations!