Alexis Faere Body Wrapper

    Life Gifts

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    inspiration

    • Memoir Excerpt – 1

      Memoir Excerpt – 1

      This memoir excerpt comes from a chapter about sugar-coating the ugly. I sometimes refer to my kidnap and rape trauma as the big ugly. Here’s an excerpt from my first draft. (Remember, it’s a work in progress!)

      The concept that there are rich lessons to be learned from our life experiences is interesting. There are those who respond to this idea with a negative connotation. Somehow, the ‘good’ that comes from such an experience lessens the profound horror of the experience. If I’m speaking from my experience, I see it from a different perspective. My big ugly is my big amazing. Not that I’m grateful for the experience, but I’m grateful for my choices.

      There is nothing good or pretty or amazing about being raped and kidnapped. It’s horrible! In my mind, there’s no reason for another human being to do that to another person. It is senseless and cruel.

      We have a choice, though, about how we choose to deal with it. Some people will forever feel victimized by their experiences. Others will pick themselves up and survive it—life will go on and it will become a past. For me, this historical part of life is now a part of what makes me who I am. No matter what sort of path you choose to come to peace with it, I’m so very glad you’re here and that you are alive.

      Dealing with this kind of trauma is vast and complicated. There are about as many ways to handle it as there are people in this world. One way is not necessarily better than another. They are all different. This story is about the hills, valleys, and mountains I’ve climbed to be where I am today. I honor whatever process works for you. You are you, and I want you to do you.

      There’s more to come… (…he waited patiently for the next string of words from her work in progress.)

      Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

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    • Resources

      Planet SARK

      Unchained Writer

    • Book Titles That Tell a Story

      Book Titles That Tell a Story

      There is a great little sandwich cafe in Glen Rose, Texas called The Storiebook Cafe. When I came across it, I fell in love with the writer/reader atmosphere of the quaint old car dealership-converted cafe. While I enjoyed my Greek salad, along with a nice warm cup of tea, I began to gaze upon the books lining the walls of the stone structure. I came across some very intriguing titles and thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be fun to write a nonsensical story made up of nothing but book titles.

      After many visits to one of my now favorite little spots, I’ve gathered enough titles, between my own book shelves and those lining the walls of The Storiebook Cafe and I offer it for your amusement. I’ve added parenthetical words to form some semblance of a sentence. I’ve not gathered all the author names to go along with the titles, but to all the authors who gave their thoughts a book to live in, I humbly honor you.

      What Now Knucklehead? Folks Lean Knew, Fix It and Forget It. It’s Time to Sleep, It’s Time to Dream (about) Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair. The Parts We Play (make) Writing Down the Bones (like) The Tall Lady With The Iceburg. The Girl Who Listened to Sinks (will) Save Our Planet (and the) Parliament of Whores.

      Standing Tall, The Prince of Darkness (postulated about) A Porcupine Named Fluffy. Let’s Find Out What’s Light and What’s Heavy (and) The Pretender (can) Retire On Dividends. If You Give a Pig a Party, (there’s) Magic Across the Table. Find it Here, One Word (about) The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. Getting Things Done (for the) Good Gut Diet, (makes) The Rothman Scandal (unleash the) Wrath of a Mad God. (While the) Executioners (named) A Serial Killer in Nazi Berlin (wonder) How to Catch a Leprechaun.

      The Night The White Deer Died, (and) Tex (discovered) Where the Sidewalk Ends. Too Soon to Say Goodbye, The Acorn People (saw) Lassie Come Home (before) Dinah and the Green Fat King (listened to) The Broccoli Tapes. Jim Ugly, In Trouble Again, (sent) Puss In Boots (some) Killer Music. “Where Do Babies Come From?” Landry (asked while solving the) Mystery Dolls from Planet Uro. (It was) Not a Good Day to Die. The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands (made) The South Beach Diet (easier than) 103 Questions Children Ask about Right from Wrong.

      Wasted (by) The Right Hand, (in the) Eye of The Storm, The Associate (read) The Shipping News (for) A King’s Ransom. It Looked Different On the Model, (but the) Mutant Message Down Under (made) Summer of the Midnight Sun (seem like) Happy Endings. What the Bleep (made) Atlas of the Heart (seem like) Broken Music (turning into) Prosperity Pie. The Magician’s Nephew (watched the) Beautiful Painted Arrow (make) The Sasquatch Escape (to round out) The Letter of the Week.

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    • Story People

      Marcy