Comments on: A Vulnerable Holiday Greeting! http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:03:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: April http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-21 April Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:25:38 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-21 I feel really moved by your holiday letter. I really, really like to look like I've got it all together. This is probably because I feel really ashamed of how idiosyncratic my methods for getting things done are. I'm smart- when I was a kid, I was in the gifted range- and yet some simple things in my daily life are really hard for me. So, I feeeeel stupid sometimes. I found out I had ADD about 10 years ago. I don't like labeling myself. I don't like taking medication of any kind. I've made a lot of behavioral and nutrition changes that have helped take the edge off. Now, I'm at the point in my life when I'm thinking about taking medication for it. I'd just like things to be easier. I went to a family therapy session with my family over Christmas. I said out loud some of the ways that ADD affects my everyday life. I felt so ashamed. But I was proud of myself for noticing how I felt and sharing anyway. I sort of can't imagine letting people completely see the real me, like you suggest. Actually, I think, in my case, its good that I've learned how to be socially acceptable because my range of behavior may be a little too outside of normal. If I let myself, I would constantly interrupt people, hug and kiss most people, move around a LOT more than is considered acceptable for adults. don't act this way at all and I'm sure my groups of acquaintances don't know that I would- although I do come across as fairly bubbly. BUT I have found a place where I can be myself and everything that is weird about me- what I mentioned and so much more- is not only accepted but praised- which is comedy improv- I preform comedy improv now and I am totally acceptable and just awesome there. smilies/smiley.gif Maybe I can bring a little more of my real self into more of my life, but I do also value my skill at fitting in. It was hard won. This morning I was thinking about careers that would be a better fit for me, or ways I could use my current skills that would make life easier for me. It feels like cheating to think of things being easier! I think accepting that its ok to make money in a way that isn't a strain is the next step in accepting myself more fully. Thanks for your letter! It was timely for me. April I feel really moved by your holiday letter. I really, really like to look like I’ve got it all together. This is probably because I feel really ashamed of how idiosyncratic my methods for getting things done are. I’m smart- when I was a kid, I was in the gifted range- and yet some simple things in my daily life are really hard for me. So, I feeeeel stupid sometimes.

I found out I had ADD about 10 years ago. I don’t like labeling myself. I don’t like taking medication of any kind. I’ve made a lot of behavioral and nutrition changes that have helped take the edge off. Now, I’m at the point in my life when I’m thinking about taking medication for it. I’d just like things to be easier. I went to a family therapy session with my family over Christmas. I said out loud some of the ways that ADD affects my everyday life. I felt so ashamed. But I was proud of myself for noticing how I felt and sharing anyway.

I sort of can’t imagine letting people completely see the real me, like you suggest. Actually, I think, in my case, its good that I’ve learned how to be socially acceptable because my range of behavior may be a little too outside of normal. If I let myself, I would constantly interrupt people, hug and kiss most people, move around a LOT more than is considered acceptable for adults. don’t act this way at all and I’m sure my groups of acquaintances don’t know that I would- although I do come across as fairly bubbly. BUT I have found a place where I can be myself and everything that is weird about me- what I mentioned and so much more- is not only accepted but praised- which is comedy improv- I preform comedy improv now and I am totally acceptable and just awesome there. smilies/smiley.gif

Maybe I can bring a little more of my real self into more of my life, but I do also value my skill at fitting in. It was hard won. This morning I was thinking about careers that would be a better fit for me, or ways I could use my current skills that would make life easier for me. It feels like cheating to think of things being easier! I think accepting that its ok to make money in a way that isn’t a strain is the next step in accepting myself more fully.

Thanks for your letter! It was timely for me.

April

]]> By: Tiffany S. http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Tiffany S. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:24:40 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-20 thank you shana for your email. great to stay connected to AWE from out here in boston. yes, when i uncover those hiding parts i am more alive, open and available for connection. love and hugs, Tiffany thank you shana for your email. great to stay connected to AWE from out here in boston.

yes, when i uncover those hiding parts i am more alive, open and available for connection.

love and hugs,
Tiffany

]]> By: Karyn http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Karyn Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:23:51 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-19 Shana, This so hits home with what I am focusing on at the start of this year. Thank you for putting the words together the way you did -- they fit my intentions completely and express so well what I want to feel, think and be. Thank you for being so open -- it gives me a lot of courage to know that I am not the only one who feels this way. Thank you also for posting it in this space. Have a wonderful start to the new year! Shana,

This so hits home with what I am focusing on at the start of this year. Thank you for putting the words together the way you did — they fit my intentions completely and express so well what I want to feel, think and be. Thank you for being so open — it gives me a lot of courage to know that I am not the only one who feels this way. Thank you also for posting it in this space.

Have a wonderful start to the new year!

]]> By: Shana http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Shana Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:22:56 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-18 I am so grateful for your responses amazing women! I hope this gives you an example of how much love can come your way when you share your vulnerable heart. I feel like I'm soaking in a warm bubble bath of appreciation and acknowledgment. It wasn't my intention to receive comments about me, I thought they would be more about the topic - questions, comments, wanting me to expand on certain pieces...And the truth is it feels great to receive love and support from all of you! Here's to all of us being deeply loved and supported in 2010! Love Shana I am so grateful for your responses amazing women! I hope this gives you an example of how much love can come your way when you share your vulnerable heart. I feel like I’m soaking in a warm bubble bath of appreciation and acknowledgment. It wasn’t my intention to receive comments about me, I thought they would be more about the topic – questions, comments, wanting me to expand on certain pieces…And the truth is it feels great to receive love and support from all of you!

Here’s to all of us being deeply loved and supported in 2010!

Love
Shana

]]> By: Sabrina http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Sabrina Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:21:19 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-17 Thank-you for sharing your vulnerability Shana. Reading through the responses and seeing the openhearted sharing brought tears to my eyes. Love you! Sabrina Thank-you for sharing your vulnerability Shana. Reading through the responses and seeing the openhearted sharing brought tears to my eyes. Love you!
Sabrina

]]> By: Anya Drapkin http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Anya Drapkin Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:18:14 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-16 This email brought tears to my eyes and peace to my heart...Thank you Shana for being so truthful and vulnerable. You keep reminding me that it's okay to be me, to be quirky, and imperfect. That I'm lovable because of these things not in spite of them... I Love You So Much and I am always feeling closer to you every time I read something of yours or I see you and talk to you! Can't wait to see you on January 11th... Bless You and Your New Year, Anya This email brought tears to my eyes and peace to my heart…Thank you Shana for being so truthful and vulnerable. You keep reminding me that it’s okay to be me, to be quirky, and imperfect. That I’m lovable because of these things not in spite of them…

I Love You So Much and I am always feeling closer to you every time I read something of yours or I see you and talk to you!
Can’t wait to see you on January 11th…

Bless You and Your New Year,
Anya

]]> By: Jenni Hetzel-Gaynor http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Jenni Hetzel-Gaynor Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:17:19 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-15 Shana-I don't know how you knew, but this was exactly what I needed to read today. I've been struggling with trusting/being ok with my feelings, and this email reminded that I can be ok with the struggle and still want to trust. Thank you for that! I wouldn't be on this journey if it weren't for you and Alexis, and I'm so thankful for that every day. And I'm so looking forward to coming back to SF in January! Lots of love, Jenni Shana-I don’t know how you knew, but this was exactly what I needed to read today. I’ve been struggling with trusting/being ok with my feelings, and this email reminded that I can be ok with the struggle and still want to trust. Thank you for that! I wouldn’t be on this journey if it weren’t for you and Alexis, and I’m so thankful for that every day. And I’m so looking forward to coming back to SF in January! Lots of love, Jenni

]]> By: Ellen Rosenstock http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Ellen Rosenstock Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:16:06 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-14 I have not been online much lately but was happy to see your email just now, Shana. You rock, Girl. To be able to show up when you are in all types of moods is what has so impressed me about you. Thank you for continuing to teach me! Miss you and hope to see you when I come back to visit in Jan or Feb! Ellen I have not been online much lately but was happy to see your email just now, Shana. You rock, Girl. To be able to show up when you are in all types of moods is what has so impressed me about you. Thank you for continuing to teach me! Miss you and hope to see you when I come back to visit in Jan or Feb!

Ellen

]]> By: Shana http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Shana Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:12:30 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-13 Thank you Deborah, Elizabeth and Shelly. I love reading your responses. I am so excited to have more conversations about these topics in 2010. Here is another response from another beautiful woman who couldn't get the link to work: Hi Shana, I wanted to say (with a deep breath of relaxation moving through me) ... thank you for your email. I felt my whole body relax and I felt a tenderness and compassion for myself as I read your words. It is so nice to be reminded that we have permission and it's totally okay (and in fact, a way of opening up connection) to just be our authentic selves in honest vulnerability. So THANK YOU for being vulnerable with me and the others who received your email. Very touched smilies/smiley.gif Abbie Anderson Thank you Deborah, Elizabeth and Shelly. I love reading your responses.

I am so excited to have more conversations about these topics in 2010.

Here is another response from another beautiful woman who couldn’t get the link to work:

Hi Shana,

I wanted to say (with a deep breath of relaxation moving through me) … thank you for your email. I felt my whole body relax and I felt a tenderness and compassion for myself as I read your words. It is so nice to be reminded that we have permission and it’s totally okay (and in fact, a way of opening up connection) to just be our authentic selves in honest vulnerability.
So THANK YOU for being vulnerable with me and the others who received your email.

Very touched smilies/smiley.gif
Abbie Anderson

]]> By: Shelly Phillips http://www.authenticwomanexperience.com/2009/12/a-vulnerable-holiday-greeting/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Shelly Phillips Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:55:19 +0000 http://authenticwomanexperience.com/wp/?p=135#comment-12 Oh Shana, I adore you. I'm sending you tons of hugs and kisses. Thank you for teaching me how to share vulnerably. You've enriched my life beyond words. Love, Shelly Oh Shana, I adore you. I’m sending you tons of hugs and kisses. Thank you for teaching me how to share vulnerably. You’ve enriched my life beyond words.

Love, Shelly

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