Healing the Heart Through the Creative Arts, Education & Advocacy

Hope, Healing & Help for Trauma, Abuse & Mental Health

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars”. Kahlil Gibran

The Surviving Spirit Newsletter December 2020

Hi Folks,

Hoping this finds you well and safe.

Wow, coming to the end of a very challenging year...I do hope that 2021 brings forth healing and hope for all of us. Life can be hard, a pandemic certainly makes it worse. And yet, always the shining examples of the human spirit that cut through the darkness.

Honored to have been a recent guest on the Ms. Texas Show. A website to showcase life in Texas and highlight Amazing survivors of traumatic events, family violence, sex trafficking, sexual abuse and Community Leaders to share community resources.

Video interview posted here at You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEVZG4-81ZM Twenty six minutes of engaging conversation sharing Hope, Healing and Help from the impact of trauma and abuse.

Also humbled to have taken part in this worthy endeavor [podcasts 3, 4 & 5] - Day 3 - 30 Days of Our Stories: male sexual abuse recovery November 28, 2020

Each day from Thanksgiving until Christmas, hear the voices of male survivors of childhood, adolescent or adult sexual abuse share their stories of hurt, pain, joy and triumph as they heal from the aftermath of betrayal and trauma. You are not alone. www.safeplaceformen.com

More about this in the newsletter, see, 7] Safe Place For Men Podcast.

As I type this up we are being slammed with a true Nor' Easter. We might end up with well over a foot of snow here. It is still snowing! You are all invited to my snow-shoveling party.

Take care & and stay safe, Michael

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” – Maya Angelou

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Newsletter Contents:

1] A high school in Texas opened a grocery store for struggling families where good deeds are accepted as payment By Alaa Elassar, CNN - The Good Stuff

1a] The Good Stuff - A newsletter for the good in life

2] Healing with the power of art | Semicolon by Neesa Sunar

2a] Semicolon - Semicolon is a digital publication that unboxes the culture, art, science, and evolution in the Mental Health space through a community of experts from around the world

3] Dealing with Holiday Depression & Grief By Khafre Kujichagulia Abif · @ HIV & Mental Health

3a] H-I-V.net - We empower people living with this chronic health condition

4] It really wasn’t your fault: How Understanding the Brain’s Response to Trauma Can Lessen Victim-Blaming and Self-Blame By Antonieta Rico, Army Resilience Directorate -The United States Army

5] Mental Health Resources: 80 Apps, Hotlines, Support Groups, and More When you cannot afford therapy. @ Greatist

6] Taking Back Ourselves [TBO] - is a resource for adult survivors of sexual abuse and assault

7] Safe Place For Men Podcast - From Thanksgiving until Christmas, hear the voices of male survivors of childhood, adolescent or adult sexual abuse share their stories of hurt, pain, joy and triumph

8] Deepness Dementia Radio - Easy Listening For Living Well With Dementia

9] Incest AWARE - Sexual Assault Awareness

10] How to Be at Home - You Tube 4:56 minutes

‘Lean into loneliness like it is holding you’ – a poetic reflection on life in lock-down

10a] The Curve - Social distancing stories that bring us closer together

11] The Other Ones Foundation - Austin Homelessness Nonprofit

12] Men's Risk of Depression Up 69%; PTSD Up 68%; General Anxiety Up 55% @ Cision, PR Newswire – Total Brain

12a] Related Links - https://www.totalbrain.com/ - mental health and brain performance self-monitoring and self-care platform

The latest edition of the Surviving Spirit Newsletter is posted at the website – http://newsletters.survivingspirit.com/index.php

or PDF – http://newsletters.survivingsp...er_December_2020.pdf

To sign up for an e-mail copy, please write to me @ mikeskinner@comcast.net or sign up @ Website via Contact Us.

“But pain’s like water. It finds a way to push through any seal. There’s no way to stop it. Sometimes you have to let yourself sink inside of it before you can learn how to swim to the surface.” - Katie Kacvinsky

“As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal somebody else.” - Maya Angelou