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!
- Podcast Episode 9: Favorite Things on my Morning Walk - January 27, 2021
- Podcast Episode 8: Slow News Days and Companioning the Neutral - January 22, 2021
- Podcast Episode 7: Self-Care as the Shit Hits the Fan - January 6, 2021
- Podcast Episode 6: Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Anxiety, Isolation, and Quarantine - January 5, 2021
- Somatic Self-Compassion Week 1 Practice Cycle: What is Somatic Self-Compassion? - January 4, 2021
F**k yeah! Hell right!
Priceless!! 😉