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It was 1971, India when I took my first Vipassana course with Goenka-hi. 52 years later I’m still practicing. Doing radical things like sitting in silence for days on end, or walking miles for weeks on end has given me confidence and courage to face and deal with life as it is. Look forward to reading Kirchner’s memoir

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Oh, that's wonderful, Dami! Having that sort of practice can be soul changing. I admire your devotion.

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Thanks Jane, but I don’t know about soul changing. The practice changes the deep recesses of your brain for sure; you become less reactive and more intuitive.

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Ever wonder how many of us have had to redefine, and reinvent ourselves at some critical point in our lives? My hunch is the number may be higher for women than for men or maybe it is that women are more prone to talk about it and men tend to stuff it, like so many other emotions, often leading up to the divide. Regardless, it is the raw honesty that penetrates and touches the core of who we are when we're able and willing to face and embrace it. Thank you for sharing!

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As always, Gary, I agree with every word! And it is hard to know if women have traditionally been in positions that require more redefining and reinventing or if, by and large, we're more inclined to speak about it!

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Is that worth pursuing further? I'm not sure how one would go about collecting data that would be reliable unless it were a large sample that included carefully crafted questions. Not a project I want to take on but it is intriguing. My experience and observations over the years suggest that women are indeed more inclined, or able, to speak about these kinds of issues. However, I am only one.

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Interesting point, Gary. Whether someone takes it on, it will be interesting to see what impact eroding gender “norms” has on this phenomenon.

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It would be a super interesting project! But not one I'm inclined to take on either. I wonder if someone out there in the world is compiling the data....

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Oct 5, 2023·edited Oct 5, 2023Liked by Jane Ratcliffe

ending my marriage was the hardest thing i ever did ~ even harder than ending my relationship with alcohol. i didn’t want to be the one to leave (my husband) AND i knew i could no longer be his wife. if i knew what would await 5 years + on the other side i might have had fewer misgivings, but i needed to work through my darkness in order to know i believed to be seen in light.

really looking forward to reading this memoir ~ as always, thank you for introducing me to a new voice!

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This is so beautiful: "but i needed to work through my darkness in order to know i believed to be seen in light." Dang. I'm so glad you had that experience. Yes, the things that seem most painful at the time can often be the most illuminating. And I'm so glad you enjoy the excerpt! Let me know what you think of the memoir!

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I certainly will :)

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LL Kirchner's new memoir has been on my TBR list for too long. This excerpt makes me want to move it to the top.

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Oh, I’m glad. Lisa writes so beautifully!

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Yes, lots to consider and btw, thank you again for your insights and understanding. You have a way with words, and beyond the words, you grant us who are privileged to appreciate the depth and breadth of your experience.

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The desperate need to re-establish my "value" after quitting my job. Who am I? The last question I asked. Who do "they" think I am? Who should I be? What am I worth without a paycheck and a title to define me? I chased answers to those questions on social media, measuring my value in likes and followers. I sunk into self-help and yoga and networking events. The more I chased, the further the distance from me grew. It wasn't until I stopped steamrolling my life, that the true transformation began.

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