The Arc of Healing

Virginia Oakley is a retired technical writer who dabbles in sculpting, drawing, painting, and fabric arts. For many years, the sexual abuse and traumas she suffered in life caused depression, bitterness, and withdrawal. She lived as small as she could, an imposter in her own life, afraid to reveal her true self and what she had suffered for fear of rejection by all who knew her. These choices took a devastating toll on her health and well-being. Her relationships suffered, and her connection to life weakened. Finally at the age of 60, she realized that instead of destroying her life, the traumas were actually a dark gift. Rather than giving her a multitude of reasons to hide and quietly fade away, the dark gift challenged her to rise up and seize life, its dangers and its beauty. By finally telling her story, she has set the record straight and revealed her true self, long hidden.