John-Discovering Shalom
Before Something Begins There’s a moment before something beginswhen you don’t yet know that your life is about to shift. A story told by someone you trust.A change in them you can’t quite explain.Something in you leans in, even as another part pulls back. That’s how it was for me. Barbara’s Change I first came […]
The Path I Didn’t Know I Was Asking For
Maria-63 The Crisis This story begins in a moment of crisis that unlocked a door to an entirely new identity and life path. If I had known that my soul was asking for a new direction, I might have recognized what was unfolding. Instead, I experienced it as too-much-to-hold, system-overload news. In deep despair, I […]
Marguerite-Blooming Lotus
When Everything Unraveled There was a time in my life when everything seemed to unravel at once. Loss came first.Nine people in seven months.Including my father. Grief doesn’t move in a straight line. It comes in waves, in moments you don’t expect, in places you thought were safe. And while all of that was happening […]
Stephanie-God is in the Pots and Pans
When Life Had Gotten Very Small I found Shalom at a time when my life had gotten very small. It was November of 2021, just as the world was starting to open back up again. I had spent over a year in lockdown with my partner at the time, and what had always been a […]
Beth-Love Will Forever Be a Gift
Before I Knew What to Call It I sometimes think that my story with Shalom began long before I knew what to call it. Lawrence and Joy are my aunt and uncle, and I was a teenager when I first touched that world, going to some teen retreats at the London Schoolhouse. Back then, I […]
Tasia-Finding Myself in the Mess
Almost by Accident I first found Shalom in 2019, almost by accident. I was in therapy, and I wanted something new. Something different. Maybe even a little bit of an adventure. Therapy had taken me far, but there was something I couldn’t quite reach. My therapist had a connection to Shalom, and I remember Googling, […]
A Simple Day of Hope
Hope-Turning Five I’m Four Today I’m four today.But I’m turning five on my birthday.March 30th. I share my birthday with three people.Nay Nay…and my great grandpa…and someone else too. I like that. I’m excited about my birthday. The Pool Party We’re going to have a pool party.And I’m really excited about the pool. My […]
A Day that Holds it All
Jack-83 and Beyond March 30 I was born on March 30. A day that has carried more than one meaning in my life. On my 38th birthday, in 1967, my father died just after I left the hospital.A day meant for celebration became something else. A crossing. Death and What It Leaves Behind I have […]
Back to Myself
Stephanie — 38 “Some things just have to play out before you can see them.” I Didn’t Think I Had a Story I didn’t think I had a story. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say… I didn’t think I had a story that was untold. Because I talk. A lot. I process out loud. […]
The Turning Point
John-Age 75 “Every turning point in my life came down to the same choice: security or growth. Each time I chose growth, even when it was frightening, my life opened in ways I never could have imagined.” Saying Yes and Wanting to Hide When I was asked to share my story for this project, something […]