Huffington Post on a Thursday
June 25th, 2009
Sometimes there is a day you will always remember for one special reason. Or maybe you will remember exactly where you were sitting or standing when you heard something unforgettable. It is rare that more than one memorable thing happens in one single day. Today was such a day for me.
I was sitting at the breakfast table reading the Huffington Post as I always do. The blackberry buzzed and I opened a message telling me that my story as depicted in my new book, Silver Platter Girl, was a featured blog on the Huffington Post. Very excited, I clicked on the link to see the headline "Trish Kinney, Sexual Abuse Takes Toll on Victims" right there on the Huffington Post. The story quoted Dr. Larry Bergstrom of the Mayo Clinic whom I met recently to discuss his wonderful work on the mind body connection. He said that my story was in keeping with his own findings and that he would be happy to speak about it publicly. This provided validation from the medical community which was not only a boost for the book, but for me personally as well. If you are a survivor of abuse or trauma, validation is a key to recovery. I know that when I was treated at Mayo for my high risk cancer several years ago, they did not even want to talk about the strong connection I was openly making between my history and my tumor. And now they are studying it and speaking out on my behalf. Amazing. I won't lie to you. This morning, two days into my national media campaign, it was a big deal to see my story on the Huffington Post. One step closer to being able to reach more and more people who are seeking the truth and the empowerment that comes with that. Read the article by clicking on the link below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trish-kinney/sexual-abuse-takes-toll-o_b_219801.html
In the midst of my excitement and continued exploration of the site, I came upon the sad news that Farrah Fawcett had died of her cancer this very day. When her documentary aired a few weeks ago, so many people asked me if I had watched it and what I thought of it. It reached a lot of people and I would imagine did her a lot of good to tell her own story in that way. I am very glad she got to see it broadcast so that she knew people would have a chance to share what she was going through. A friend of mine who is reading the book sent me some emails from a woman she knows who is bravely battling Stage 4 breast cancer right now. I was very proud of the courage it took for her to write so honestly about her experience but I have to admit that reliving all the details of treatment and the fear of such a terrifying diagnosis put me in a bad place. There but for the grace of God go I. It rekindled my desire to speak out as a survivor of both abuse and cancer because I am healthy and able to do so. A collective voice for all of us, to be heard, to speak truth and healing loudly. And by the way, Farrah, dying from your cancer does not mean you did not heal or failed in any way. We learn from you and honor your life. We will all join you one day.
Late in the day I decided to escape all the action and go to a documentary called "Brothers at War". Before I left, I heard the report that Michael Jackson had died. I couldn't help but think of the interview he gave years ago about his difficult and demanding childhood, which he labeled abusive, and living with the ridicule and cruelty of his own father. He said that his father beat him. Looking at that early video of a young, gifted Michael, so talented and sensitive, it is hard to imagine how any parent could raise a hand or even a voice to that beautiful child. But then I could never understand how a father could treat a beautiful little girl in a sexual way. I even heard today that Michael's family was suing him over his upcoming solo tour saying he was contractually obligated to tour in a family reunion show instead. This was one of countless meltdowns in the Jackson family played out in the press. No wonder Michael's heart stopped. Imagine how much it hurt.
So I stuck with my plan to go to the movie about three brothers, two in the Army serving in Iraq, and the third who wanted to know what they were experiencing so he picked up a camera and joined them in Iraq to document what it was like. It was very moving and insightful, the story of this American family who felt compelled to serve their country. It reminded me so much of the Vietnam combat veterans that I was so lucky to work with over the past twenty years and make a film about. They were my true inspiration in telling my own story after I did everything in my power to convince them that healing was synonymous with the truth and facing it head on. These men who fought in Vietnam were more seriously wounded by their homecoming than by anything they saw in the war. They came home to find that the country they loved and believed in did not love or support them and there was no validation for their service. Their anguish at being emotionally abandoned is very similar to that of abuse victims.
I watched LSU win the College Baseball World Series last night. Their lovely coach in a post-game interview said how lucky he had been to have coached such wonderful kids in his career, not just at LSU but at three other schools before that. He said that somehow winning this national championship was about all of them, not just the LSU team members, and he brought each of them to the experience with him. I understood exactly what he meant. My book is not only for my sister, the primary victim in our family, but for every combat vet whose country let him down, for every child whose parent ever did the unthinkable, for every woman who has been raped, for every Catholic child who trusted the parish priest and was terribly hurt, for every person who has been in a destructive relationship and couldn't find their way out, for every person whose situation has literally made them sick, and for every one of us who has a story to tell and hasn't yet been able to put the words together to begin the journey home to self. I stand up for each of us, for all of us. And, by the way, for the many hard working people who have healed themselves.
What a day it has been. There is so much to remember. And so much to tell.
SPG
Sometimes there is a day you will always remember for one special reason. Or maybe you will remember exactly where you were sitting or standing when you heard something unforgettable. It is rare that more than one memorable thing happens in one single day. Today was such a day for me.
I was sitting at the breakfast table reading the Huffington Post as I always do. The blackberry buzzed and I opened a message telling me that my story as depicted in my new book, Silver Platter Girl, was a featured blog on the Huffington Post. Very excited, I clicked on the link to see the headline "Trish Kinney, Sexual Abuse Takes Toll on Victims" right there on the Huffington Post. The story quoted Dr. Larry Bergstrom of the Mayo Clinic whom I met recently to discuss his wonderful work on the mind body connection. He said that my story was in keeping with his own findings and that he would be happy to speak about it publicly. This provided validation from the medical community which was not only a boost for the book, but for me personally as well. If you are a survivor of abuse or trauma, validation is a key to recovery. I know that when I was treated at Mayo for my high risk cancer several years ago, they did not even want to talk about the strong connection I was openly making between my history and my tumor. And now they are studying it and speaking out on my behalf. Amazing. I won't lie to you. This morning, two days into my national media campaign, it was a big deal to see my story on the Huffington Post. One step closer to being able to reach more and more people who are seeking the truth and the empowerment that comes with that. Read the article by clicking on the link below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trish-kinney/sexual-abuse-takes-toll-o_b_219801.html
In the midst of my excitement and continued exploration of the site, I came upon the sad news that Farrah Fawcett had died of her cancer this very day. When her documentary aired a few weeks ago, so many people asked me if I had watched it and what I thought of it. It reached a lot of people and I would imagine did her a lot of good to tell her own story in that way. I am very glad she got to see it broadcast so that she knew people would have a chance to share what she was going through. A friend of mine who is reading the book sent me some emails from a woman she knows who is bravely battling Stage 4 breast cancer right now. I was very proud of the courage it took for her to write so honestly about her experience but I have to admit that reliving all the details of treatment and the fear of such a terrifying diagnosis put me in a bad place. There but for the grace of God go I. It rekindled my desire to speak out as a survivor of both abuse and cancer because I am healthy and able to do so. A collective voice for all of us, to be heard, to speak truth and healing loudly. And by the way, Farrah, dying from your cancer does not mean you did not heal or failed in any way. We learn from you and honor your life. We will all join you one day.
Late in the day I decided to escape all the action and go to a documentary called "Brothers at War". Before I left, I heard the report that Michael Jackson had died. I couldn't help but think of the interview he gave years ago about his difficult and demanding childhood, which he labeled abusive, and living with the ridicule and cruelty of his own father. He said that his father beat him. Looking at that early video of a young, gifted Michael, so talented and sensitive, it is hard to imagine how any parent could raise a hand or even a voice to that beautiful child. But then I could never understand how a father could treat a beautiful little girl in a sexual way. I even heard today that Michael's family was suing him over his upcoming solo tour saying he was contractually obligated to tour in a family reunion show instead. This was one of countless meltdowns in the Jackson family played out in the press. No wonder Michael's heart stopped. Imagine how much it hurt.
So I stuck with my plan to go to the movie about three brothers, two in the Army serving in Iraq, and the third who wanted to know what they were experiencing so he picked up a camera and joined them in Iraq to document what it was like. It was very moving and insightful, the story of this American family who felt compelled to serve their country. It reminded me so much of the Vietnam combat veterans that I was so lucky to work with over the past twenty years and make a film about. They were my true inspiration in telling my own story after I did everything in my power to convince them that healing was synonymous with the truth and facing it head on. These men who fought in Vietnam were more seriously wounded by their homecoming than by anything they saw in the war. They came home to find that the country they loved and believed in did not love or support them and there was no validation for their service. Their anguish at being emotionally abandoned is very similar to that of abuse victims.
I watched LSU win the College Baseball World Series last night. Their lovely coach in a post-game interview said how lucky he had been to have coached such wonderful kids in his career, not just at LSU but at three other schools before that. He said that somehow winning this national championship was about all of them, not just the LSU team members, and he brought each of them to the experience with him. I understood exactly what he meant. My book is not only for my sister, the primary victim in our family, but for every combat vet whose country let him down, for every child whose parent ever did the unthinkable, for every woman who has been raped, for every Catholic child who trusted the parish priest and was terribly hurt, for every person who has been in a destructive relationship and couldn't find their way out, for every person whose situation has literally made them sick, and for every one of us who has a story to tell and hasn't yet been able to put the words together to begin the journey home to self. I stand up for each of us, for all of us. And, by the way, for the many hard working people who have healed themselves.
What a day it has been. There is so much to remember. And so much to tell.
SPG
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gretchen Paules and I am the Administrative Director for a newly formed nonprofit called the Let Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation. Our mission at LGLPCI is to help heal and support adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse worldwide. We are actively seeking adult survivors who would be willing to post their childhood photo & caption, their story, or their creative expressions to our website www.letgoletpeacecomein.org. By uniting survivors from around the globe we hope to provide a stronger and more powerful voice to those survivors who have not yet found the courage to speak out or have been cast aside with disbelief. I recently came across your website online and I was wondering if you would please consider posting to our website. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me directly at this e-mail address. Together we can; together we should; together we NEED to stand up and be counted. Thank you for all that you do and all that you have inspired with your book the "Silver Platter Girl".
Warmest Regards,
Gretchen Paules
Administrative Director
Let Go...Let Peace Come In Foundation
111 Presidential Blvd., Suite 212
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
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