It was six o’clock on Wednesday evening when I signed into the audio chat room to speak about an incredibly difficult topic - grief. Grief is an umbrella term used for the tumult of emotions and reactions a person experiences after a loved one dies. It’s not always easy to put into words. Since it … Continue reading Need Relief from Grief? Try Talking About It.
~Kim Libertini I felt like it needed a name. For years I have called it “The Abyss.” Appropriately, the abyss is defined as a bottomless pit. In times when my heart has been shattered and my mind and body are overwhelmed with pain I find myself there. It’s the place I go to when the … Continue reading The Abyss and Back
~Kim Libertini The road of life is treacherous. The unanticipated twists and turns are difficult to handle. There are so many unpredictable variables that fold into the journey. It is bumpy and can be very unstable. For those of us who have experienced head on collisions on this road, it becomes difficult to put ourselves … Continue reading The Road of Life
~Kim Libertini Huntington Bay feeds directly into the Long Island Sound. I live here. Salty air, beaches, and marinas each add to the beauty of this town. As summer sets in, the waters of Long Island’s north shore are full of life. Boats reflect the vibrant energy of the long summer days and serve as … Continue reading Returning to Life
~Kim Libertini Stunned. There are no other words to describe the moment. I looked in the mirror at the reflection that has been staring back at me for 46 years. How many times had I attributed visual characteristics like my high cheek bones and rounder eyes to Caucasian genes? Adopted at five-months of age, for … Continue reading Grieving the Loss of My Identity
~Kim Libertini I walked into the kitchen as my youngest son, now eleven, was climbing on the counter to reach the upper cabinets. He quickly smiled and said, “What happened to those coconut bowls we had? Have you seen them?” The mention of those bowls take me back to shopping in the Vietnamese market for … Continue reading Souvenirs of the Past
~Kim Libertini As I walked, I could feel my clothes swivel around my waist. The pounds had been melting off for weeks now. It my body's reaction to stress. I am tired. Divorce and loss made me recognize the value of "divide and conquer." I can't speak for all divorces; only my own. The contentious … Continue reading The Never Ending Juggle
~Kim Libertini Photo by Nathalie Désirée Mottet on Unsplash The change of season was quick this year. Overnight, I woke to crisp cold air and the smell of fallen leaves. The hours of daylight are decreasing. I feel it. Fall reminds me of home. A small town nestled in the Hudson River Valley of New … Continue reading Triggers of Loss
~Kim Libertini Scientific and mathematical by nature, my mind feels safe with quantifiable metrics used to measure progress. I need clear and concrete boxes to check that help me to categorize my level of success. This holds true for both my personal and professional life. This is part of why I struggled so much when … Continue reading Measuring Progress
Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash ~Kim Libertini Milestones of life are commonly celebrated in increments of five. I am not sure the same can be said for the years after loss. It’s been five years. As I say those words, my nose starts to sting, my eyes well with tears and it feels like my breath … Continue reading The Five Year Mark
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