Sonia Connolly

23. I'm proud of running a successful business offering bodywork for trauma. If I had known what I was getting myself into and how difficult it was, I would never have started. But I had no idea. I took it one step at a time, exploring and learning and struggling as I went, and eventually after a lot of years it was a full-time practice. I ran the business 23 years in all, in two different cities.

My grandmother had a business in Chile, a handbag factory. I can only imagine how hard it was to get that going as an immigrant in a new country with a new language. I don't know very much about it, and she died when I was 10 years old, long before I would have thought to ask her. My parents both worked for the federal government, and I didn't learn anything about owning and running a business growing up or in college. I had to learn about marketing from scratch.

I found bits of support along the way, business coaching and book coaching and people who were ahead of me on the path so I could learn from their example. There were kinds of support I looked for and never really found, especially supervision around working with trauma. I was off to the side from the formal support that therapists get (and pay for), and I didn't realize until later that I needed that.

I'm glad I did it. I made a difference in people's lives, at the very least as a kind witness to their struggles to heal. I learned an immense amount about being with other people and being with myself and about the human body and how it works, and how it changes under stress.

I'm glad I stopped when I did. My nervous system felt worn down from supporting other nervous systems. I will eventually use my skills as a volunteer somewhere, but two years after stopping I still don't feel ready when I check inside about it.

21. I'm proud of my books. I'm proud of having written an article every month for 14 years, and I'm proud of sticking with the process of turning them into books. That process is much longer and harder than one would think, starting from existing articles. I'm proud of doing the design and layout myself, and of paying people to help with copy editing and cover design.

I'm proud of sticking with the process of turning them into ebooks when each print book was complete, which is also much longer and harder than one would think, especially with illustrations.

I still want to figure out how to market them, because there's more and more trauma out there, and the books are a way to help. This summer I might have more time to update my website and explore what it would take to create audio books.

Wellspring of Compassion: Self-Care for Sensitive People Healing from Trauma Welcome to support and comfort whether you are new to healing or an old hand, whether the trauma is long past or ongoing.

Presence After Trauma: Reconcile with Your Self and the World This book is a non-judgmental companion for your healing process after the initial crisis is over.

Embodying Hope: Living in Difficult Times with a Difficult Past We embody hope when we keep moving forward, one stubborn step after another, and when we take shelter for protection and rest.

I unpinned the post about finding a marketing coach because he sent me a weirdly authoritarian contract to sign with a 6-month commitment we hadn’t discussed, and then he ghosted me when I politely pushed back. Before that, I did have one useful paid session with him, so maybe we worked together as long as we were supposed to.

My homework was to list people who might be interested in spreading the word about the books. For myself I’m adding homework to list the books with a brief sentence about each.

Let’s see, a first draft:

Wellspring of Compassion: Self-Care for Sensitive People Healing from Trauma
Welcome to support and comfort whether you are new to healing or an old hand, whether the trauma is long past or ongoing.
https://traumahealed.com/wellspring-of-compassion/

Presence After Trauma: Reconcile with Your Self and the World
This book is a non-judgmental companion for your healing process after the initial crisis is over.
https://traumahealed.com/presence-after-trauma/

Embodying Hope: Living in Difficult Times with a Difficult Past
We embody hope when we keep moving forward, one stubborn step after another, and when we take shelter for protection and rest.
https://traumahealed.com/embodying-hope/

If you have suggestions of people I should get in touch with or places the books could be listed as resources, please let me know!

I had 10 days off work in a row, and that gave me enough time and energy to write a new article and send it out to my mailing list. Thanks to jesse_the_k for the link that seeded it. And check out the perfect Creative Commons image I found!

We can kindly see that everyone has a mix of strengths and weaknesses.
Reach For Rainbow Vision

New book responses at Curious, Healing. Have you read these? Comments welcome! These are December's books, both highly recommended.

• "Your Mindful Journal and Memoir" by Jenny Davidow
  
• "The Day You Begin" by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez
  
• More 2023 books at Curious, Healing

General update
When I last wrote [to the mailing list] in December 2022, I had recently moved into a condo and was looking for a new programming job. I'm happy to report that I started a new job later that month as a government contractor. I'm delighted with my contractor-employer and my co-workers. I had a productive year on the current contract, and I'm moving to a new contract later this month.

I am still profoundly grateful to be back home in Oakland. I'm enjoying the condo, with ongoing adjustments to make everything fit better. I recently moved the cat tree up to the bedroom, and Basil and I are both happier with the new location. The downstairs is less crowded, and he is more comfortable leaping up and looking out at the world.

Books
I have been thinking about how to get the word out about my books to people who could benefit from them. I have looked around for a low-key book marketing coach, and have not found one. Perhaps I need to partner with someone who has more time and energy for marketing. If you have ideas, please let me know!

I would love to see the books reach a wider audience. Please request that your library stock them. They are available through Ingram, which is a standard ordering channel for libraries.

Practitioner recommendation
I've been recommending Amy Bennett for years as a fabulous bodyworker and teacher. She has now expanded her training and practice to include Somatic Coaching. If you miss being deeply heard and encouraged to connect with your body, I recommend checking out her new site, Intentional Evolution.

PS: Don't forget to wear a mask in public. It's not too late to start or increase your Covid precautions, and we are in the middle of another big surge. Wishing good health for you and everyone close to you.

Inhabit the moving present rather than the frozen past.
Let Life Flow Forward

New book responses at Curious, Healing. Have you read these? Comments welcome!

• "99 Bottles of OOP" by Sandi Metz, Katrina Owen, and TJ Stankus
  
• "Practical Object Oriented Design in Ruby" by Sandi Metz
  
• "What Fresh Hell Is This" by Heather Corinna

Practice closing
Because of the pandemic and wanting to move, I am closing my practice on April 2, 2022. It has been an honor to work with all the clients who have come in over the years. Thank you for your courage and trust. I am returning to my previous career of software engineering, and my previous home of Berkeley, CA.

I won't be sending/posting monthly articles, although I may occasionally send out an update. Thanks for reading all these years!

Articles, books, jewelry still available
My articles will continue to be available on my website. My books will continue to be available directly from me while my supplies last, and from Powell's Books, Apple Books, Google Play, and Amazon on an ongoing basis.

There are 20 beautiful necklaces and 3 elegant pairs of earrings still available at Jewelry for Fair Fight. You can see photos and choose your piece at the links. I received a new shipment from jesse_the_k, so I'll add more lovely items as soon as I have time to photograph them. So far we have raised $1382 to protect US voting rights and safeguard our democracy.

Curious, Healing is a blog, and you're welcome to comment there or here about the books. The articles don't have a comment section. You're welcome to comment here or send me email with any thoughts.

Imagine if we collectively made it a high priority to help children and adults heal from attachment wounds.
Care for Hidden Ruptures

New book responses at Curious, Healing. Have you read these? Comments welcome!

• "The Magic Fish" by Trung Le Nguyen
  
• "Witches of Brooklyn: What the Hex?!" by Sophie Escabasse
  
• "You Don't Look Adopted" by Anne Heffron

Curious, Healing is a blog, and you're welcome to comment there or here about the books. The articles don't have a comment section. You're welcome to comment here or send me email with any thoughts.

If you want the monthly newsletter in your inbox, along with news about my practice, you can subscribe here.

Most people are complex mixtures of good and bad intentions, benign and harmful behaviors.
Talk About Abusers

New book responses at Curious, Healing, which now has a tag cloud. Have you read these? Comments welcome!

• "Quiet" by Susan Cain
  
• "The Wood Wife" by Terri Windling
  
• "Disarming the Narcissist" by Wendy T. Behary, LCSW

Ebook pricing
My ebook prices will go up to $9.99 at the end of this month. Buy now and save! These books offer kind accompaniment wherever you are in your healing process. Available from TraumaHealed.com/books/, Apple Books, and Amazon.

	Wellspring of Compassion - Learn about trauma and healing. "Endlessly kind and comforting." Read More.
	Presence After Trauma - Inhabit your body and your life. "Self-compassion and self-trust for lingering long-term trauma impacts." Read More.
	Embodying Hope - Move through difficult times with authenticity and skill. "Will speak to your soul in a deep way." Read More. Receive a copy for donating $10 or more to help Fair Fight safeguard US democracy. See Jewelry for Fair Fight for more about that and jewelry you can give as gifts.

As the holiday season approaches, Choose Your Traditions!

Curious, Healing is a blog, and you're welcome to comment there or here about the books. The articles don't have a comment section. You're welcome to comment here or send me email with any thoughts.

If you want the monthly newsletter in your inbox, along with news about my practice, you can subscribe here.

When we have access to a secure home base, we can explore and take risks more freely.
Within Reach of Your Comfort Zone

New book response at Curious, Healing. Have you read this? Comments welcome!

• "Knit One Girl Two and other stories" by Shira Glassman

Practice update
For everyone's health during Oregon's delta Covid surge, I am asking clients to reschedule if they have traveled, eaten in a restaurant, or participated in an unmasked gathering in the two weeks prior to their appointment. Clients and I are wearing double masks during sessions. Read more on my FAQ page.

Brave + Tender Club
Leah K. Walsh is a compassionate and perceptive life coach who dreams of a world where sensitive people thrive. You are invited to join Brave + Tender Club, her Zoom group for sensitive & neurodivergent humans to gather in a small, grounded community space to engage with the theme of Being Trees. Introvert friendly. Shame-free zone.
When: Second Tuesday of each month starting September 14, 6-7:30pm Pacific Time. Drop in to one or all.
Cost: All are welcome, $0-$25.
Learn more and RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brave-tender-club-sensitive-humans-connect-fall-2021-tickets-165185549425
Contact Leah: info@leahkwalsh.com

Jewelry for Fair Fight!
Jewelry for Fair Fight! jesse_the_k loves making jewelry. Stacey Abrams' organization Fair Fight needs funds to fight against rampant voter suppression in the US. You can support voting rights for everyone and acquire a lovely one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry!

Browse the astonishing variety and pleasing combinations of colors, materials, and shapes in jesse_the_k's jewelry. There are seven pairs of earrings and over fifty necklaces.

Click on thumbnails for bigger images. To claim an item, Buy Now ($5) via Paypal, then donate to Fair Fight via the associated ActBlue link. Note that contributing to Fair Fight requires a US address.

Bonus: Receive the Embodying Hope ebook with contributions of $10 or more. You are embodying hope with your support of Fair Fight.

Curious, Healing is a blog, and you're welcome to comment there or here about the books. The articles don't have a comment section. You're welcome to comment here or send me email with any thoughts.

If you want the monthly newsletter in your inbox, along with news about my practice, you can subscribe here.

When we allow uncertainty and hold our assumptions more lightly, we make room for change and hope.
Nestle Into Uncertainty

New book responses at Curious, Healing. Have you read these? Comments welcome!

• "As We Have Always Done" by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
  
• "The Betrayal Bond" by Patrick J. Carnes, Ph.D. with Bonnie Phillips, Ph.D.
  
• "Big Friendship" by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
  
• "Recollections of My Nonexistence" by Rebecca Solnit

Masks continued
Governor Kate Brown has removed pandemic-related restrictions in Oregon as of June 30. Clients and I will continue to wear masks for sessions as the World Health Organization recommends to reduce the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 and protect vulnerable clients.

Curious, Healing is a blog, and you're welcome to comment there or here about the books. The articles don't have a comment section. You're welcome to comment here or send me email with any thoughts.

If you want the monthly newsletter in your inbox, along with news about my practice, you can subscribe here.

With kind eyes, look back at this pandemic year.
A Harvest of Understanding

New book response at Curious, Healing. Have you read this? Comments welcome!

• "Mindful of Race" by Ruth King

Thank you for your Embodying Hope orders
I'm delighted to see Embodying Hope making its way into the world. Available at my website, at Powell's Books, at Apple Books, and at Amazon.

Mt Tabor reservoir with cherry blossoms
Last month I left out the photo I posted with Respect Your Reservoir of Pain, so I'm including it here. It has been a beautiful spring in Portland. The cherry trees have had their turn, and the dogwoods and lilacs are now in full flower.

Curious, Healing is a blog, and you're welcome to comment there or here about the books. The articles don't have a comment section. You're welcome to comment here or send me email with any thoughts.

If you want the monthly newsletter in your inbox, along with news about my practice, you can subscribe here.