Stories of Hope & Healing
Off the Off the Trail Finding m y w a y Back Finding my way Back Trail
G e tt i n g l ost on a tr ail r e m i n ded m e h ow heali n g af t e r ab ort i on o f t e n t ake s hel p f rom ot he rs to fi n d your w a y t h rou gh . Getting lost on a trail reminded me how healing after abortion often takes help from others to find your way through.
I ’ m a heali n g g roup facili t a tor , leadi n g sm all g roups o f wom e n w h o w a nt hel p af t e r e xp e r ie n ci n g ab ort i on . T he y stru ggle w i t h de pr e ss i on , a n ge r , g r ief , i so la t i on , s ha m e — all t he diffe r e nt e mot i ons m e nt i on ed i n t hi s 5 i n 5 N a tur e H eali n g C halle n ge . I ’ m g o i n g to s ha r e t he C halle n ge w i t h my c urr e nt g roup , b ut I decided to try i t mys elf . I w e nt to a fa vor i t e n a tur e spot e xp ec t i n g to w alk f or my usu al 45 m i nut e s . I s a w so m a ny s ce n e s a n d had g r ea t i nsp i r a t i ons f or w ha t t he wom e n m a y fi n d a n d t hi n k ab out w he n t he y d o t he challe n ge . S o w h y a p ic tur e o f my s h o e s ? B eca us e I g ot l ost . I w e nt d own a n i nt e r e st i n g tr ail , w hich led to a not he r tr ail I ha v e n ’ t bee n on bef or e , unt il I r eali z ed I did n ’ t k now w he r e I w a s or h ow to ge t back . A s I too k mor e un hel p f u l turns , I g ot mor e str e ss ed . U nt il I a s ked a c oup le I m e t . T ha n kf u ll y , t he y w e r e a v id hike rs i n t hi s p a r k a n d k n e w t he tr ail s r eall y w ell . I w a s t ha n kf u l not on l y f or t hei r g u ida n ce , b ut al so f or t hei r ad v ice t ha t I wou ld p a ss a fe w ot he r p a t h s t ha t wou ld al so ge t m e back to w he r e I w a nt ed to be , b ut t he y wou ld t ake mor e t i m e a n d be a ha r de r hike . I went to a favorite nature spot expecting to walk for my usual 45 minutes. I saw so many scenes and had great inspirations for what the women may find and think about when they do the challenge. So why a picture of my shoes? Because I got lost. I went down an interesting trail, which led to another trail I haven’t been on before, until I realized I didn’t know where I was or how to get back. As I took more unhelpful turns, I got more stressed. Until I asked a couple I met. Thankfully, they were avid hikers in this park and knew the trails really well. I was thankful not only for their guidance, but also for their advice that I would pass a few other paths that would also get me back to where I wanted to be, but they would take more time and be a harder hike. W he n I fi n all y r eached my de st i n a t i on , 2 . 5 h ours af t e r I st a rt ed , I fel t su ch r elief a n d g r a t i tu de f or t hei r hel p . I t m ade m e t hi n k ab out t he wom e n w h o a r e deali n g w i t h tou gh e mot i ons a n d s i tu a t i ons af t e r ab ort i on — a n d t he l on g p a t h s som e o f t hei r li v e s t ake bef or e t he y r each out f or hel p — a n d t he r elief a n d j oy t he y feel a s t he y s ha r e t hei r stor ie s , wor k t h rou gh t hei r e mot i ons , a n d c om e out stron ge r , mor e c on fide nt , a n d i n a heal t hie r e mot i on al sp ace . When I finally reached my destination, 2.5 hours after I started, I felt such relief and gratitude for their help. It made me think about the women who are dealing with tough emotions and situations after abortion — and the long paths some of their lives take before they reach out for help — and the relief and joy they feel as they share their stories, work through their emotions, and come out stronger, more confident, and in a healthier emotional space. I’m a healing group facilitator, leading small groups of women who want help after experiencing abortion. They struggle with depression, anger, grief, isolation, shame — all the different emotions mentioned in this 5 in 5 Nature Healing Challenge . I’m going to share the Challenge with my current group, but I decided to try it myself.
6
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker