Remembering to Snarl

Photo by Jeroen Bosch on Unsplash

Lately I’ve remembered to snarl,
to bare my teeth,
to growl and hiss.

I first remembered
during a demonstration Somatic Experiencing therapy session
in front of 60 people
(snarling in public)
while telling my story of a 5-year-old’s trauma
and claiming my present day power to threaten and defend.

Then I re-remembered while walking
past an animal trap in the grass
that had previously triggered me
over and over.

Then I remembered again
while walking past a road drain
that had associated itself
with my neglected cat Jennie
and the “taken” scene from “It”
and my fear that I’d chased a baby raccoon to its death one night.

Then I snarled again
at the Rottler man
who laid the trap.

And as I snarled
my 5-year-old’s fear and fragility
transformed into my dangerous old woman,
stepping forward toward that which isn’t right
and giving it a name.

I bared my teeth
at ghosts,
at the careless,
and at the ones who intentionally planted fear for money.

I reclaimed my snarl
because fear became tiresome
and because it’s about bloody time!

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About Kristy Arbon

Founder of HeartWorks, creatrix of Somatic Self-Compassion and developer of Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion for the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Kristy Arbon is an Australian living and loving in the US. After discovering the deep healing power of emergent self-wisdom and self-compassion in her own life, Kristy felt called to share these practices and trainings with others. She's since made it her life's work. "I teach so that I can learn, and I learn so that I can teach.”

Author's website

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