Your Body Keeps The Score

I've been reading a book about childhood trauma and how as humans we literally carry in our DNA the experiences of our ancestors: The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van Der Kolk, MD.

I find the whole concept halfway terrifying and to be honest it makes part of me a bit angry. But there is the other part of me that cherishes the idea of not facing every day alone. 

I turn 40 this month. I can't wait to walk into this next decade with the past behind me. But if I'm still somehow walking around with the crimes, sorrows, joys and traumas of all my ancestors, that means I'm sure as hell still walking around with my own first three decades.

When I went to see opening night of the play my 13-year-old daughter is in this Spring in Richmond, VA, it was eye opening. With all the therapy, reading and introspective work, for the first time ever the thought dawned on me "what did my alcoholic, abusive grandfather face as a child in the early 1900's that left him running so far from his own mind and shattering the present and future for himself and his family?"

I think it's true - The Body Does Keep The Score. Now I have just have to define the game my body and mind are going to play, so this new decade I'm entering is fabulous. Not perfect, but real, true and open to the feelings of the past, present and future. 

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If you're into podcasts, this is a great one where On Being's Krista Tippett interviews Van Der Kolk 

Lotsa love,

Leah