In this episode of The Karen Kenney Show, I talk about the ​"missing pieces​" in our live​s.

Not just the painful things that happened to us​, but ​also the love, protection, ​witnessing, or tenderness ​that we didn’t get​, ​but should have.

W​e get into how that silent absence ​of what was missing, can become its own kind of ​not often talked about trauma.

I share about a recent death in ​t​he family​ and why I’m ​sad about and grieving ​a​ person I never met or got ​the chance to know​.

I also connect how that ties into ​both what I call the “never life​" - which is the life that didn’t happen and ​now (for whatever reason) can’t​ happen...

And, the lonely grief​ of what Cheryl Strayed calls the ​"sister life​" - that life you only got to live in your dreams and imagination.

We explore childhood neglect, the trauma of omission, ​and revisit Linda Thai’s powerful teaching that​, “​Trauma isn’t just what happened, it’s what didn’t happen that should have happened​.”

I also walk​ through how I ​often work with my own missing pieces:

1) Sitting with my feelings ​(instead of abandoning myself​).

​2) ​Being gentle and merciful with younger parts of me.

​3) M​a​king my way in the direction of acceptance.

​4) Eventually asking, “Now what?”- so ​I can start leaning back toward the light​ and new dreams.

If you’ve ever felt sad about the family you didn’t have, the love you didn’t receive, or that​ version of your life that never got its time in the sun, ​then this ​one’s for you.

KAREN KENNEY BIO:

Karen Kenney is a writer, speaker, podcaster, certified spiritual mentor, and coach.

She’s known for her dynamic storytelling, her sense of humor, her Boston accent, and her no-bullshit approach to spirituality, self​-development, and transformational change work.

Karen helps people to navigate this whole “being human” experience using a variety of practical tools, personal stories, and universal principles.

She's been a yoga teacher for 25+ years, has been a Thai Yoga Massage practitioner since 2008.

She's also a Gateless Writing Instructor, the creator of WRITE CLUB , and the host of The Karen Kenney Show podcast.

She coaches clients individually in her 1-to-1 program: THE QUEST and in her HEART-TO-HEART DAYS using Voxer. She also leads a group program and community called THE NEST.

CONNECT WITH KAREN:

Website: http://karenkenney.com/

Podcast: https://www.karenkenney.com/podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenkenneylive/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkenneylive/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KarenKenney