Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 29, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” – Michel de Montaigne

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 28, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” Anon

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 27, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

“There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections”.

Ziad K. Abdelnour

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 26, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

“Even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.” – Stephen Chbosky

Brene Brown

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 25, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

“You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to take a break.” Anon

“It’s not your job to be everything to everyone.” Anon

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

And I Have “Despair” to Thank…

December 25, 2025
Photo by author

In taking a break from my writing, I sometimes find that the subconscious has other ideas and instead presents something for me to “chew on” and then write about. And what it presented is exactly the mind frame I will be using as I move into the part of this memoir I call “Descent into Hell.”

But I also realize that this post may apply to life in general. So, on this Christmas day, I share the gift I received from my subconscious:

Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 24, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

Regardless of your belief system, religion, or lack of, as a writer, I have ALWAYS loved the poetic, melodic, soothing strains of these lines from the St.James Bible for the Christmas holiday.

No matter what I believe or will in the future, the sense that there is goodness and goodwill to me from a force bigger than me, always comforts me:

Luke 2:8-14

King James Version

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 23, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

“Talk to yourself like someone you love.”

Brene Brown

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

Today’s Holiday Gift Post

December 22, 2025
Photo by author

Today’s Gift Quote:

“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”

Rumi

Thanks for reading Deb’s Soul Mosaic Abuse-Memoir Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

My “gift posts”

While I am away from my desk, I will leave “daily gift posts” for all.

When I return, I will resume my memoir posts.

In the meantime, a reminder of the purpose of this blog:

This blog is my way of honoring what I lived through and had to do to reach “today” in as healthy a way as possible.

The posts here tell the story of the pain I’ve carried because my life was not whole.

It wasn’t whole because I’ve had so many questions and no answers. All I’ve had was the confusion of a lifetime, because so much of my life was in broken fragments I could not make sense of.

So this blog, which I hope to form into a memoir for publication, is my journey to find answers. It is my way to piece the fragments back together, see the whole picture, and find the understanding that brings healing.

While I write for myself, I am also writing to give to anyone else who wants it, an example of this kind of journey. It is not the only way, but it is my way.

And I write to bear witness to the pain of so many others harmed by abuse of any kind, especially for those who can’t tell their story…or those who didn’t live to tell their story.

Lastly, I offer it all here in the hope that it helps another not to feel alone as they do their own life’s work.

With love

Deb

A Holiday Reflection, and Coming “Gift” Post

December 21, 2025
Photo by author

A Moment of Reflection, Fatigue, and Gratitude

It is the season for a “time-out” moment to catch my breath over the next week. I have been hard at work on this project since June and have a ways to go. I am relieved and satisfied for the work I’ve been able to do so far, and am focused on continuing this path soon. But I will also admit to being somewhat drained. So a week to regroup is in order.

Even so, I will still be putting in “writing time” each day, just not things ready to post yet. This next phase I will be writing about was a time of descent into despair, then working my way back, all while spinning in a vortex of messy changes that came fast and furious. So, before I will be ready to post those pieces, I need some time to reflect and plan out those drafts.

For this moment, I want to say I feel deep gratitude for the work. It has brought me back to parts of myself I had rejected and hated for a lifetime. It has altered my perspective about who I was as that younger person, and restored my love for my younger self, something that had been impossible my whole life.

I am also grateful to those who follow my process. I thank you for sharing the path with me and appreciate your company and support.

Gift Posts

As I did at Thanksgiving, I will be providing daily “Gift posts” over the next week. Quotes I have found soothing, honest, comforting. But I have tried to choose carefully as well.

The holidays can be a difficult time for people, even when surrounded by joy, loved ones, and good moments.

I have lived through years where I reveled in the spirit of the season, and other years where I couldn’t wait to be on the other side of the holidays. The songs, the frenzied activities, all of it was sometimes too much, especially in painful years.

So I have tried to pick the quotes carefully. Hopefully, I have avoided anything trite and instead shared ones with a sense of peace, no matter what the year is like. They are my gift to all of you.

I will resume the regular posts after Christmas. By then, I know the Universe will have given me a clear idea of how to navigate those pieces. And I will be somewhat restored.

In the meantime, much love and peace to you all, no matter what holiday you celebrate, or don’t.

Deb