01/17/2026
Bon Dia ! Buenas tardes ! from Aruba 🇦🇼
I just wanted to pop in before heading home and extend my well wishes for everyone again in the new year. I had hoped to make regular videos while here but I couldn’t help myself from exploring every inch of Aruba and allowing the energy here to fill my heart as one local recommended. So I did just that ❤️☀️
Time did not stop while I was here . A lot of things developed at home , a lot of stressful things such as an elderly ailing parent and the complicated logistics that can go along with it . I’m lucky to have the family I have back home so I wanted to give them a shout out for holding down the fort.
I know I thanked my clients in a previous post but I wanted you to know the extent of just how much I hold you in my heart.
My first year in bringing Somatic Experiencing to the region has been incredibly fuffiling and has left me astonished as I took a look back at the results I’ve seen with all of you in a short year. I cannot believe the progress you are all making on your journey. Nothing has ever filled my heart more than what you share with me. Here are a few testimonies and my usual response . It still leaves me in awe
Usually this is how it begins , I’ve tried everything …….
At first there is a lot of psycoeducation that needs to take place when working with clients and nervous system regulation, people want to understand themselves through their stories . Theres nothing wrong with that , but , the body keeps the scrore (Dr Besell van der kolk ) and my job is to get them to notice the way their bodies have physiologically responded because we now know that stress and trauma isn’t what happened to us , it’s what happened inside of us as a reponse to what has happened to us ( Dr . Peter Levine ) Once they learn to tune in to their nervous system and not the “ story “. They begin processing differently.
#1 I’m noticing something different , it’s suttle but something’s different
Great ! Different is good , different is great ! No need to analyze it , just notice it
True Awareness
#2 I no longer need a crutch ie ( something to distract me from what’s going on , I can sit with things and observe my system as things play out)
Your flight response is easing , the tiger is not there to eat you , that was a threat response stuck in your system from a long time ago .
You don’t need to sit with everything and all things , but if you start small such as , patienly or ( impatiently ) waiting in line at the grocery store , this is enough. Remember baby steps. There’s no need to re-visit big things. All the little things add up and your nervous system will automatically pick up on this.
#3 I can hug people again
Ahhhh , Connection , you’re feeling safe. That’s amazing !
How about those abandonment issues ? Do you find yourself more open to new relationships ? And how is your body moving ? Do you have more flexibility , less regidity?
The freeze is thawing
#4 I’m saying NO a lot
Unexpected right ? Your system needed boundaries that were broken a long time ago. Congratulations on not being a people pleaser anymore great Job !
No more fawning . Your shoulders look straighter and your walking with more ease and confidence how’s the pain between your shoulder blades ?
#5 I’ve noticed that when people want to pick a fight I don’t get triggered like I used to. I’m able to observe , set a boundary and walk away.
Yup ! You’re a grownup now in a grownup body , that was the little version of you stuck and repeating the same pattern over and over again . How’s the tension in your body ? Your blood pressure these days ?
# 6 I’m enjoying life again even tho I know bad things can happen in the world. It doesn’t mean they’re going to happen to me. I have choice and autonomy.
Choice and Automony are the # 1 goals because sometimes you didnt have a choice
#7 I can reach out for help now , I know when my system becomes overwhelmed and when patterns re-immerge.
I’m happy you’re able to do that . I never knew overachievers and hyper independence could also be a trauma response either. I feel ya . We’re in this together
#7 My life is so much richer now that I can regulate and connect , colours are brighter , my eyes aren’t as sensitive as they used to be
Brilliant! I always say I wouldn’t trade this ability for a million dollars. It looks like you’re on your way and the connection to yourself and others around you will only deepen. You’ll start prioritizing yourself and connecting to those who also get it. Nature will also fascinate you that much more. Get out there and enjoy .
There can be grief there sometimes when you turn the page , we can also help support that in your system too , but an entire other chapter awaits you 🙂
#8 My chronic pain is so much better but I’m scared it will come back
Yes , Chronic pain is one of those things that can do that . See , sometimes pain is innevitable , however ; if whe we work on how much capacity is in your system and we increase that capacity , it’s often that the chronic pain will dissapate. We just made more room for you to be able to handle it and that can be scary , but most people have an overloaded nervous system and pain is a messenger. Now that we’ve created an enviroment of support , that pain isin’t so loud is it ? It’s not trying so hard to get you to pay attention to your system.
#9 I feel like I used to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders and now that I understand intergenerational trauma and I’m doing the work. I feel like I’m part of someting bigger than me and I’m breaking cycles.
The world needs more of you , keep going !
So all I had to do this entire time was embody and get out of my own way with ALL of my stories find support in order to FEEL this in my body slowly allowing my brain to create new neural pathways in order to create new autonomic responses ? If I continue it deepens my connections to everyone , and to eveything ? My creativity can lead the way ?
Yeah , that’s pretty much it 🙂
The stadium is all yours if anyone feels like sharing below . What changes have you seen in yourself ? What are you looking forward to ?
I appreciate every single one of you ❤️
