I remember one biting cold morning last winter, when I found myself outside attending to my beloved lead mare, whose eye bore the signs of injury. The icy wind stung my face as I gazed into her troubled gaze, realizing that trauma had visited her world.

Her eye, cloudy and weeping, held a story of pain. It reminded me of how trauma's impact stretches beyond the surface, clouding our perception much like the misty film over her eye. It's an invisible burden that only those who experience it truly understand.

A visit from the vet shed light on my mare's struggle. An ulcer, an aftermath of trauma, had formed in her eye, casting a shadow over her vision. The pain she endured, hidden beneath the surface, resonated deeply within me. It echoed the unspoken pain we all carry.

As the vet carefully attended to her, administering a sedative to alleviate her pain, I witnessed a connection that transcended words. The mare's vulnerability touched my heart, reminding me of the universal longing...

How do you grow your capacity to love yourself? Is it possible to allow yourself to truly be who you really are, rather than who you've been told you are supposed to be?

The following experience was written by a client as she took time to reflect on these very questions.

 *****

“As I reflect on my experiences being in Gloria's classes and receiving resonate empathy, many things come up for me.  When I first joined her tele-calls several years ago, speaking up or even answering a question triggered my body and mind into complete overwhelm.  Many times I would be curled up on the floor under a blanket praying that I would not be called on, not even having the resources to request that I just listen in.  (I didn't even know that just listening in was even an option.)  

I joined the class because it was recommended by my coach.  She felt that it would be a safe place for me to receive support in community with others.  Well, that was most...