Author: bjukuri

  • Mother’s eyes.

    With Mother's Day, comes a sense of doing something, honor or acknowledge memories and acts of love…dedication to the woman of our childhood…or the role model we followed.  We see our mother through our childhood experiences.

    As a mother, you are then in the middle where you look up and are looked at from below; your children.

    When we think of Mother's Day, we often don't see their children. 

    Mother's are links in the chain…each bringing forth the legacy of family.

    But, as you all know, my link and my mother's link don't fit together…the continum has been broken.  

    The very character and traits that are my mother, ARE what I have changed and left behind.  We no longer resemble each other.  It is as if we are strangers.

    How do you celebrate or honor the very character flaws that I had to bury?

    I guess, what I get left with more than anything, is the gratefulness I have for all my changes.  The changes that made me stronger, truthful and with clear boundaries and values, is what has put distance between my mother and I.

    With these changes,  I hope my daughters will have traits, character and memories of a woman to whom they can take parts and carry them forward.  That our links will fit together…to hold family.

    I don't think we can clearly see our mother until we mother.

    Or in times where our truths are either seen or denied.  

    Alice Miller says, that we see ourselve through our mother's eyes.

    If that is true, we also see our truths or the lack thereof, in how our mother sees not only her reality, but ours.

    How her choices impact the lives of her children.

    While there is a separation…there is also a link.

    I don't feel that I was a mother, until my choices were made to honor the child; my children as well as my inner child.

    One of the hardest things to overcome is to go against your mother.

    To stand up and disappoint her, in order to honor your truths.

    We are taught to obey our moms.

    To do what brings her happiness.

    I have disappointed and dishonored her, by my silence and distance.

    And I have done so without regrets.

    For I was my mother for 46 years, and had I not changed.  I would have wanted my children to stand clear of me, to do different than I, to be stronger…to see what I failed to see and to act in ways that honored their truth and being; their self.

    I am being the daughter I hope my daughters (and son) will be.

    One who will stand for her(his) Self, no matter what.

    I know that many will view my estrangement from my mother on Mother's Day an act of rebellion or being stubborn even Unloving…they want me to reclaim my mother.  But in doing so I would leave behind my innerchild…my truth and self.

    In dysfunctional homes, there is no way to honor your parent and your self…you have to pick one.  

    One will repeat history and the other will reconnect you to your soul.

    One denies the truth, the other embraces it.

    In one you move towards love, peace and joy and the other away from it.

    One the child is innocent and the other the parent is.

    When I saw my innocent child, I saw my mother's neglect of me.

    I then saw my neglect of my children.  I had to be the mother I didn't have in order to break the chain.

    I would not be the mother I am today, had I not left my mother.  

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    I stayed with her…my little girl.  I saw her and didn't turn away…from her abuse.

    I honor all mother's who can see to the truth of their child. A child's self worth shines from their mother's eyes. 

     

     

     

  • Set the bar high.

    The reason we have been married for 27 years, is the fact that my husband is a kind man.  His kindness and caring for his kids goes beyond the outer edge of great.

    While some women would be upset that her anniversary evening was spent alone…I feel grateful he is my husband.   

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    His daughter's car needed breaks.  He said it would be a quick job. But, he also never does a 'good enough' job, but takes his time and makes sure it is done right.  So four hours later…he feels it is road worthy again for his daughter.

    I knew after about 2 hours, that our date was off.  

    What more can a woman ask for after 27 years?  He has not lowered his standard for caring.  He has always known his priorities.  Caring for our family is at the top of his list.  Yes, it often comes before our date time.  

    To see his care, for his adult children, melts my insides…it isn't a job for him.  It is what a loving dad would do.  

    We can date another night.  

    He has set the bar high…

     

     

  • Reverence

     

    I named this quilt "Reverence" and here are the words that I wrote about this quilt.

    "I stand in reverence of my old self…it wasn't an easy life to live so shut down, choiceless and voiceless…to keep my truth from pouring out.  To live disconnected not only from her self but the Universe, feelings and emotions..and Love.  A cold, empty life…broken but unable to know it….wounded and untreated; trying to be normal and even perfect.  An impossible task after abuse.  Her life was to keep the abuse from ever being known…once it was out, her life was over and My life began.  She was a pretend me. Survival me.  The person I had to live as in order to belong in my family. I understood she was born to save me from reality…and she died when I was able to see that which was too terrifying to see as a child….abuse.  A pedophile instead of a father and a mother buried in denial.   She was perfect coming from whence she came.  In order to grow into my Self, she had to die."

    I love this quilt in how it honors but buries the old me.

    Until you can understand that a life after abuse is to hide the abuse while displaying it, you can't fully appreciate the journey a person has to take to reclaim their life.

    A life that fully accepts and sees abuse and its affects while then transcending them by making new choices.  To do what feels like going against nature's force.

    A force field of fear and the only life you have ever known.

    It literally is to die in one life and be born in another while alive.

    I am in reverence for the hard life I lived and for what it took to die and be reborn.

    Abused folks are the perfect representation of abuse.  I M Perfect…and it is impossible not to be….perfectly Me…the old and new.

     

     

  • And yet they stay.

    What is interesting about being estranged from family, due to abuse, is that others can see why I would move away, but not why they need to.  They have no troubles with me excluding MY family.  But they will not exclude theirs.

    There is a weird perception with abuse, in that it is easier to see abuse when it is outside of your own family and friend circle…than to look within.  

    Most often other victims of abuse will agree wholeheartedly why I left and can see clearly into my reasoning…and yet find a laundry list of reasons why it would be impossible for them to do the same.  

    Or, find ways to perceive their families in a nicer light…that will stop such drastic behavior such as estrangement. Or better still, remind me that they will not be so 'unkind'…inadvertantly calling me unkind.  

    Perhaps those most against me, are fellow victims of childhood abuse…those who agree in words…but not deeds.  They don't mean to be, but are.

    Most want the 'kinder' version of healing. 

    Is there one?

    Is there a way to honor and respect yourself within a family of folks who can't see you and your needs?

    What I find so puzzling is how divorcing a spouse seldom is seen unkind…but leaving a family that isn't conducive to trust, honor and respect IS.

    The sentiments that I am unkind, IS what stops most from making the same choices…for it is socially and religiously more kinder to forgive, forget and continue on IN the family, than leave.

    There is a stigma I carry.

    Remember the meaning of stigma?  "a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person."  

    Most try to put the disgrace upon me.  Me, the one who has walked away from abuse.  I am seen as unkind.

    How again does that work?

    Leaving a family that is steeped in abuse is unkind….to whom?

    Who benefits the most if we all stay?

    Certainly not the next generations of victims….but the abuser and his/her supporters.

    Just as a spouse who stays within an abusive marriage…staying only allows the abuser to abuse more.  It is never good for the abused.  And those who leave, are not called unkind.

    As long as victims stay, or try and make things better within an abusive family, abuse will flourish.  There is no love, trust and respect, there is only victims who see it as unkind to leave.

    Kindness stays, forgives, forgets, looks towards the positive, ignorning the bad. 

    Unkindness means walking away, putting up boundaries, setting standards higher than the family…self-care.

    I am a disgrace for wanting more.  

    My new level of self-care includes me, my peace, my happiness…my love.

    One definition of estrangement is to "Turn away in feeling or affection".

    What I believe, is that this "Turning Away" happens in the moment of abuse.

    My estrangement happened as a child.  I am just honoring that today.

    How many victims have feelings or affection for those who abused them?

    And yet they stay?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Matches their tune.

    When family functions arise, or when news of siblings enter into my world…I feel a phantom family take shape.  Its presence plays with my insides, messes with my head and questions who I am.

    I would have thought, that my resolve would have solidified by now, and that the nerve endings where the family used to be, would be long dead. Or, that I would not feel inclined to respond…and yet it is like a reflex reaction…before my mind remembers.

    And when I remember, I know that once again my lack of presence will not be understood, but ridiculed…belittled and demeaned, scoffed at as mental, insane, bitter and cold.  

    What I think I long for is family acceptance…and the pain I flinch from is to once again feel their rejection of me and my truths.

    Its almost like self-infliction…staying away and the barbs it reaps.

    Each of us both are moving away…being repelled by our beliefs and/or our truths…they simply can't co-exist.

    While I know many will fault me for not attending, few will see their own distaste for me and the truth.

    It is odd to walk as the truth and feel how many turn away…and yet blame the truth for its content and not their own lack of willingness to dance with it.

    The music I see my family playing is a repeat from histories long ago…the family tune…stuck on the same old song.

    There are perhaps some changes in people and ages and they have taken on new roles etc, but the music and words behind the gatherings echo our past. 

    All the negative points to me…while abuse attends the party unscathed.

    In the past few days, I have felt this heavy energy inside of me like a fog that seeps into my cells and fills me with hopelessness and at the same time acceptance…that no matter what I have done, the music plays on.  Playing my father's song.

    I carry the wrath that should be his…

    I am on the outside and abusers like him…on the inside.

    Today is my mother's 82nd Birthday…she too on the inside.

    Celebrated as Mom.

    Don't know what praises she will reap…how many will acknowledge her today.

    The band plays on.

    I stopped.

    Nothing else did.

    It takes time to find my peace inside again. To feel strong. To gather myself back…to know that even if they have changed nothing.  I have.

    I changed the music inside of me…and it no longer matches their tune.

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    Recalling the "Lady Bug Medicine"….I will dance the lady bug dance..fearlessly.

    "Ladybug's medicine includes carrying the golden strand that leads to the centre of the universe, past lives, spiritual enlightenment, death and rebirth, renewal, regeneration, fearlessness, protection, good luck, wishes being fulfilled, protection." 

  • Men Engage

    I had a chance to talk to the man who spoke at the Take Back the Night event last night.  He attended the Dial Help Gala…and it has taken me a day to assimilate what the difference was about his talk.

    For the first time as a victim I felt I didn't have a responsibility; it wasn't my duty…the message wasn't for victims to create change, but for men to act against the men who abuse.  

    I told him it felt strange to be in the audience and not have to feel like it was my fight, but rather someone was fighting for me.

    Me being a woman/victim.

    His whole message was to be the voice women need….  The voice of the strong un-abusing male, taking to task those who feel it is their right to hurt women in word and deed.

    I almost felt the passing of the baton and to have men picking it up.  

    For instead of teaching women how to ward off abuse, they will teach men NOT to abuse.  It makes so much sense, it amazes me it has taken so long to begin.

    He is part of Men Engage…a online organization that promotes gender equality around the world.  Our local group is Men Matter and Russ is lending his wisdom as they learn and grow.  Things will change as men engage! 

  • Walked with us.

    Just came from the Take Back the Night event…about 150 students were in attendance.  A great jump from the last one I attended!  The speaker Russ Funk, spoke to the guys, mainly.  In how to be vocal and visible in leading other men, to stop tolerating negative talk and actions against women.  

    It changes the responsibility and places it where it belongs….on crimes against women perpetrated by men….on men.  It isn't how women dress etc, but how other men speak up or stay silent.  

    What will make the difference is when men stop tolerating men demeaning women.  

    When it becomes socially unacceptable to disrepect women…when men stand up against other men, we will see changes in our society.

    Oddly, most of these types of events, of creating awareness have been started by women.  It is good to see men getting involved.  Until they do, we will not see the kinds of changes our society needs to lower the rates of crimes against women.

    Instead of being victims screaming out for awareness, we will have men stepping in and making men accountable for their actions.  When men no longer tolerate men behaving badly, women's lives will change.

    Thanks to the guys who came….who walked with us.  

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  • Ladybug Medicine.

    Making Art for someone, is like being a surrogate mother…giving birth to something that isn't yours.  Perhaps all of Art is this way.  

    I began this quilt with the intent of giving it away…and when it was done, I wanted to keep it around for awhile.  Mostly I enjoy the process of starting from nothing and watching it develop, I enjoy the ride.  

    Some quilts, (my Story Line) have an immediate resonance with me…feel that they are part of the journal of my life.  Others just are fun and delightful friends I played with for awhile and I am okay saying good-bye.

    Others.

    Well others are ladies I would like to hang around with…longer.

    Which is the case with these two dancing on the shore.  I loved their connection or energy and even their challenge to capture them on film.

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    It was as if the wind swirled and danced with them.

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    It is like something special that passes too quickly, or a moment you are unable to grasp.  

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     I looked up the spiritual meaning of "Lady Bug" –

    "Ladybug's medicine includes carrying the golden strand that leads to the centre of the universe, past lives, spiritual enlightenment, death and rebirth, renewal, regeneration, fearlessness, protection, good luck, wishes being fulfilled, protection."

    May this quilt inspire those who gaze upon it…and give them the ladybug medicine!

     

  • Begin Being You.

    I had a blog written about Yearning, and in the meanwhile (site was down), I thought about the difference between Yearning and Waiting…and was there even a difference?

    Yearning is a longing.

    Waiting is…well, I had to look it up.

    "The action of staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or until something else happens."

    I was shocked.  I thought waiting was waiting for someone or something to come.  I didn't know it was an action of staying where one was.

    Here is what I have thought about between the two; that yearning is an inner voice that is beckoning you to live your truth, your passion….to be you.  

    And, waiting is to want someone else to "make you".

    Make you happy.

    Make you comfortable.

    Make you loveable.

    Make you rich….etc.

    That you are sitting like a lump of clay waiting for 'someone' to create you into this wildly incredible exciting somebody.

    In Sue Monk Kidd's book "The Invention of Wings" her characters are talking about the yearning they felt God planted in them….and then how tragic 'He' doesn't make them bloom.  And one character says, "It isn't God's fault that your yearnings go unanswered, but Man."

    I love the idea that God has planted in us our purpose and it is up to us to see it grow and expand.

    I would also challenge you to decide if you are waiting (staying put) or longing for you to begin being you.

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    Yearning – "Dance of the Soul"

  • What are you Longing for?

    I listened to Sue Monk Kidd being interviewed by Oprah and a few things really struck me.  One, what is your heart's deepest desire, what are you longing for? She believes that this is the voice of your soul….I do too.

    This longing, this voiceless voice, this plea that seems far behind our usual day, the distant calling, is what we need to try and hear.  

    Here is what I believe, we do hear the voice, often.

    We hear the voice, the desire and the longing, but it often is in opposition of where we are and even who we are. It is the what Sue calls "your authentic self". 

    We long to be real.

    We long for the courage to just say it.  No matter what is.

    We long to drop all the stuff that doesn't excite us or make us happy.

    We long to be free.

    We long for security and knowing.

    Maybe the longing is calling us back to our true self.  

    We think we want to know and be certain, when we are not even certain of who we are and if we are living our soul's purpose.  I think the fear of being uncertain stems from not being certain of who we are.

    Once you are certain of yourself, you can let the other uncertainties be.

    I am much more certain of who I am, now…than 10 years ago.  

    I know my voice and have the courage to speak it, especially in moments that will define relationships. 

    Sue said something else that caught my attention. "Failure of courage."

    We can fail at being courageous, even in small moments.  

    It will take courage to follow your longing, to voice your authentic self, and to hear it behind the clamor of what others want or need.  

    We will often stuff it away in order to serve others.  

    It gets set aside for 'love'.

    But what a great question today. "What are you Longing for?"

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    (I have Sue Monk Kidd's newest book "The Invention of Wings" downloaded on my ipad, to listen to as I toss mail!)