MIKAH BLOG
Lessons from Satine Phoenix
I always say that the difference between the survivor and the thriver is mainly that the thriver is a giver. They take what broke them to help others, and there is no question that Satine is a thriver. Satine found her Ikigai.
“You have no power over me.” - Movie: Labyrinth (1986)
"Sometimes, we have to hit rock bottom in order to catapult ourselves out of the breakage. It is so scary. She hopes that she can create a platform for those with similar backgrounds and similar interests so they can be a family, a community of support while they all add gold to their breaks."
What People Take for Granted
My parents knew they were expecting twins. After an ultrasound, the doctors told them there was something wrong with twin A. They would only know more after birth. After all, this was over 24 years ago and technology wasn't what it is today.
I was twin A.
A Fierce Story of Perseverance from Cathy
One miscarriage is enough to break someone. After the cancer treatment, she had two miscarriages, but she continued. Cathy did this because she had a dream, and she was not taking no for an answer.
Tragedy Saves a Life
"So, the fight to be a mother continued. There were more and more tests being administered. Finally, a test showed that something was off."
A Difficult Time in the Financial Downturn Creates Growth
"The value of the home continued dropping and dropped over 1 million dollars during this time period."
Learning from Madeleine's Kintsugi Story
If you let go of anger, you open the door to joy. This happened when she could think about her circumstances in a more empathetic way. She began understanding a bit of the other side. Madeleine grasped that these men were not born evil, that at some point they were innocent babies. Something awful must have happened to them to turn them into rapists, and she could actually feel compassion and empathy.
From Innocent Joy to Tragedy
I spent a month in a juvenile psychiatric hospital, and after that I was back to my awful behavior. I drank. I did drugs. I was promiscuous, because I did not believe I could say no. I did not love myself, nor did I believe that anyone ever could. You see, I thought I was dirty and broken forever.
Reflections from a different vantage point
It is hard to see the detail when we are so close to the picture. But the miracles in our own journeys are sprinkled through our lives and if we want to see, we may need to just step back a bit and look onto our lives as an outsider and we will also, be able to see the miracles within.
Dreams of Motherhood Shattered
I was crying, and I told my husband,
"I mourn the death of me."
"Why is everything so out of control?"
"I hate what I see in the mirror."
"Why am I so upset about my scars?"
A Dream Becomes a Nightmare
He remained abstinent for the few weeks leading up to the birth, but then began to use a week after. The hormones and lack of sleep alone can put a new mom over the edge. I was constantly worried. But also very sad, very angry, very helpless and very alone.
The bond of Kintsugi
Wow! I continued writing, as she was saying, “I am so lucky.” At my count, I believe she said it 8-10 times in the interview. She was someone recounting her multiple falls, breaks, disenchantments, and incredible pain. At the same time, she could clearly see the loving and guiding hand that was next to her.