Episodes

I never understood birthdays growing up. I knew I always hated mine as a child, because I was unsure how much heartache the day would bring. But, when I became a mother myself, I finally connected the dots and got it: birthdays are about celebrating the life of that person and the joy you have for their presence in yours. So, when you grow up with a pattern of rejected opportunities to be celebrated, it dramatically affects your sense of self and self-worth. Listen in as I describe my own experiences and the tendrils of impact into my life as an adult. What dots can you connect between the occasions where people failed to celebrate you and how you see yourself now? Let’s explore…

This podcast wraps itself around a book that was a window into my own childhood and felt like a mirror to me: Dibs in Search of Self by Virginia M. Axline. It is a book I have read many times for various reasons over the course of my life–first, for school and then for my soul. Through the book, Axline brings us through the journey of a boy named Dibs who, through play therapy, moved from a state of anxiety, loneliness, and fear to a place of strength and security. And, I am continuing to tap into Dibs’ journey of self-discovery, as I move through the mud of my own therapeutic journey to finding my sense of self. Journey with me… With sincerity and intent to act, I am Debbie Dibs.

Have siblings? Rather than a matter of NATURE versus nurture, you and your brothers and sisters may have grown up in the same environment, but you can still have had vastly different outcomes. Why? Because your NURTURING was so different. Your primary caregiver’s treatment of you shapes you. Point blank, period. And, if your parent treated you differently than your brother or sister, then the evidence of that difference has likely shown up in just about every aspect of your life ever since. As Debbie Dibs shares the experience of growing up in a family that revolved around the magnificent wonder that was her brother–the little prince (no resentment detected whatsoever, haha–reflect on your own upbringing. Think about the environment you grew up in, what messages the actions your parents took sent you about yourself and influenced your sense of self-worth. Let’s think through nurture versus nurture…

Our first memories are some of the most formative moments of our lives. Join Debbie Dibs as she shares her first memory with you and walks through the impact that memory had on her life and sense of self-worth. And, as you listen in, she will encourage you to think back to your own earliest memory and explore what impacts it had on YOUR life. And, in the end, the hope is that you will have a better understanding of what role that memory had in shaping you… and then decide to claim back your truth and rediscover your inherent value. Plus, she will share how you can join in on the conversation online in a safe space.

I just started therapy a couple of weeks ago. And, I’ve been encouraged to journal as I go. Well, if I’m going on a growth journey, I want everyone to benefit from what I’m learning. First of all, childhood abuse and the resulting trauma are VERY powerful. And, it’s rarely a good thing. I held in my secrets for nearly 40 years. And, my body felt those effects with migraines, insomnia, tense shoulders, an often clenched jaw and more. Emotions have to come out, or they will eat you alive. So, I finally decided to tackle the demons that have held me back and begin the scary (but hopeful) journey of therapy. And, as part of that, I want to extend my therapy experience to you. My stories are all true, and I’m sure yours are, too. Come be a fly on the wall as I begin discovering herself, healing, and going from surviving to thriving. Listen in to relate, to know you’re not alone, and to hear lessons and ah-ha moments that may help you in your own journey. So, join me. Listen, relate, and he…