Write Speak Play with Nanci Arvizu

We all have our dreams.  Personally, I am someone with Many Big Dreams. To be a world-famous, best-selling author, speaker, podcaster, changer of the world, and a songwriter. I love a song with a story to tell. Something that comes from the writer's soul, a tiny piece or a great big chunk set to a softly picked guitar or loud pounding drums.  I've got notebooks full of half begun songs, a chorus here a verse there. When the mood strikes me, I'll work on something that sounds like a song in my head.  January's Moons and the Hole in My Heart This song is both the tiny piece and big chunk of my soul. While it's for anyone who's lost someone special in their life, I wrote this song when my four-legged soulmate, my horse, My Romeo, died suddenly, leaving a massive hole in my heart. The first time I shared the song with a musician, he put his music to my words. It was a thrill just to have someone say yes, and he created the first version of Hole in My Heart. It was like a simple form of therapy, hearing my words put to music. It felt good and I put the song away.  Then, a sister speaker, Jill Christ from my Speaker Sisterhood group shared how she found a professional songwriter from Nashville with some serious street creds, on Air BnB Experiences. Have you heard of this? Jill hired a woman who worked with her for two hours and turned about a beautiful song using Jill's words and Caitlin Evanson's talent and expertise to create a memory. Dang that Jon Bon Jovi. Those are kind of his words. I booked a session with Caitlin. From the get-go she makes the whole two hours fly by, asking all the right questions, providing the guidance to dig deep and holding the space where all those emotions are safe - and usable for the song you are creating.  Sharing the story of My Romeo still makes my heart squeeze. There were tears shed in this session, and it was okay. Caitlin said this is what it's all about this kind of therapy she provides by letting us spill our emotions into the mixing pot, by feeling all the feelings to tell the story we need to tell.  Caitlin shared how she wants to expand what she does into a kind of therapy, using music to dig into those spaces where we need help to let the words flow.   She is already doing it.  I hope to work with Caitlin again, to create more songs and to help her share her gifts with the world.  Because we could all use some light in our souls and our song playing on the radio.  **I do have the Big Dream of Trisha Yearwood singing this song. ❤️ Links to Caitlin Evanson caitlinevanson.me Insta: @theredweddings Twitter: @caitlinbird Insta: @caitlinbird3651 Link to January Moons, paid Air BnB Experience with Caitlin Evanson Link to Hole in My Heart, collaboration with Andrew Underhill If you want to write a song, here's a link for all the info on this amazing experience: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/1674796?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=19508852-3f5a-4d89-8f43-3f33b1220e46

Song dedicated to my daughter ❤️ I love you baby.

Follow me everywhere I roam.

It's the things we don't talk about that scare us the most.

Why is it people - we, us, you, me, find it so hard to talk about Mental Illness when 1 in 3 people on the planet suffer from some form of mental illness?

In this episode of Write Speak Play, I talk with author Sheree Ann Martines about mental illness and the effect it's had on her life. We discuss our inability to have uncomfortable conversations surrounding Mental Illness and offer possible ways we can begin to get comfortable talking about Mental Illness.

About Sheree Ann Martines (from her bio):

As a communications professional for almost three decades, Sheree Ann Martines has written extensively for the American Red Cross and Goodwill Industries. She is a poet, a contributor to NPR, and author of Rude Awakening, a true-crime thriller. Sheree is currently at work on her second book, Tempered Soul-Surviving Trauma, Grief, and Bipolar Disorder, about her dark struggle with the aftermath of child abuse, devastating grief, and her long battle with bipolar disorder. Learning how to survive and thrive, Sheree hopes this book will help others dealing with tragedy and mental health issues.

Discussing her writing style, Sheree states, “I have lived a life that leaves me no option but to torture paper with pen. I do so with the hope at least one soul will be set on the road to recovery.” She infuses her writing with personal, painful, sometimes graphic, but ultimately hopeful insight.

Martines graduated cum laude from Appalachian State University with degrees in Communications and Marketing. An avid outdoorswoman who loves camping, whitewater rafting, and “digging in the dirt,” Sheree calls the mountains of North Carolina home.

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Links To Sheree Ann Martines

• Living with Bipolar Disorder Blog: Website www.livingbipolardisorder.blogspot.com


• Rude Awakening-Author 2013-2019, published December 2019 www.rude-awakening-rob-whedbee.com


• https://www.amazon.com/Sheree-Ann-Martines/e/B084Q13FCH?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1611774888&sr=8-1


• I Know Mental Health Podcast-February 2021


• Poetic Pulse Podcast-February 2021


• Derek Hanjora Podcast-“Mental Health”-March 2021


• Fine Lines Poetry Journal-Summer Edition-2021-Seasons


• www.shereeannmartines.com/Living With Bipolar Disorder-Under Construction

Links to Nanci Arvizu

www.NanciWrites.com

www.RedFlagsorFlowers.com

Click here to Visit the Garden of Neuro

#SafeandBraveSpace

WARNING: In this episode, we are discussing child predators, sexual abuse, and exploitation. 

This is why Write Speak Play exists. 

Every story is important. 

Our stories are even more important when detailing life-changing trauma while seeking justice for an altered present and future. 

Being denied our ability to Speak Our Truth inhibits our path to healing. It also ends the opportunity to make real change, by changing perceptions and behavior.

Today's guest was denied to right to read her Victim Impact Statement for the court to hear what an older, 'respected' military man caused in her life with predatory actions, sexual abuse, and exploitation. 

And here, for the first time, she will read her entire statement in full. 

I am honored to host this young woman's story. And, I've been so moved by what she has shared I've asked her to join me for a series of talks, to give her the opportunity to share more of her journey through the trauma of abuse and the work necessary to find healing.

Mary-Elizabeth is now an Advocate. She is sharing her story because she knows there are others out there, victims of the same man who prayed upon her who will not receive their day in court due to their extremely young age, and millions of others who are denied justice. the things she feels others need to know to protect themselves, their friends, family members, and children from the predators who unfortunately inhabit every spectrum of our world. 

LINKS TO

The Body Keeps The Score, by Bessel van der Kold M.D. available on Amazon

Red Flags or Flowers 10 Questions to discuss the difficult topics of Transgenerational Dysfunction, Narcissistic Abuse, and Sexual Trauma.

Find host Nanci Arvizu at:

www.NanciWrites.com

On Instagram and Twitter @NanciWrites

When we talk about trauma, we are usually discussing something that happened in the midst of a lifetime. 

When trauma happens our brains are forever changed. There is a 'before trauma' brain and an 'after trauma' brain.

But what if this trauma began at birth? 

Tia Ma shares her story, and I will let her tell it. Honestly, I'm glad this wasn't a video because for most of this conversation I'm pretty sure my jaw is hanging open, her story is that shocking. The beginnings of her life's story will stun you. 

But, in testament to the resilience of the human soul, Tia Ma learned how to turn her experiences into a path to enlightenment and healing, for herself and others.

If you've been a victim of abuse, narcissistic abuse, family dysfunction, or trauma, this episode is for you. I was especially interested in 'Identifying Triggers,' and how breathing is our best line of protection, defense, awareness, and our lifeline to coping, managing, and a way to unwind the wounds of C-PTSD.

We talked about so much I had to break this conversation into two episodes. Part 2 coming soon.

Discover more of Tia Ma's work here:

www.TiaMa.com

Quigong with Tia Ma on Facebook

Tia Ma on Instagram

And of course, a link to me:

www.NanciWrites.com

The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin that Susan Brearley shares is not on any of our current lists. However, the information provided was something Susan wanted to share and the insights she offers are things to consider.

Visit the Garden of Neuro Book Club Here

www.NanciArvizu.com

Mic Drop: Body Parts by Susan Brearley

Thank you for listening.

Join us in the Garden of Neuro Poetry Circle.

www.NanciWrites.com

In our first Book Club discussion, Susan Brearley shares her observations of A Promised Land by Barack Obama, and I share Flying Lead Change by Kelly Wendorf. 

In the first segment, Susan shares what the book club is all about. How it began and why it's a part of what's available in the Garden of Neuro.

Then Susan shares her insights into A Promised Land by Barack Obama and I share my answers to the Master Mind Questions for Flying Lead Change by Kelly Wendorf.

Towards the end of our talk, we get deep about the questions we ask each other, specifically 'What do you do?' It's little Drops of Jupiter like these that make conversations with Susan and other women in the Garden exciting, insightful, and something I look forward to.

Thank you for listening.

Join us in the Garden of Neuro for Book Clubs, Journaling Courses, Mentoring, and more.

Here's more of what I write www.NanciWrites.com

Today my guest is poet, podcaster, and poet promoter Lisa Tomey, host and creator of the Prolific Pulse podcast where she features poets from around the world, providing another platform to share their work. 

I met Lisa in The Garden of Neuro where Open Mic sessions are held Saturdays at 3 PM EST and learned about her podcast and her purpose, which is similar to mine: To provide space for people to share their stories.

Lisa is also publishing an anthology of 47 poems curated from listener submissions and the poetry groups she belongs to. The book is expected to be available in May.

Find Lisa and Prolific Pulse:

The Prolific Pulse Podcast

The Prolific Pulse Blog

Lisa Tomey on Twitter

Links to Nanci Arvizu

The Garden of Neuro

About Robin Klammer, writer, and poet:

Poetry has a special place in my heart and has helped me explore in a creative way how I might be feeling at any given time.  I play word games in my head when inspiration strikes, and it helps to create new material. The challenge was prevaricate.

*Note: This piece was read by Nanci Arvizu. And yes, prevaricate was a challenge.**

Read more by Robin Klammer here.

Visit the Garden of Neuro here.

I met Linda through the Speaker Sisterhood. In her first speech, she let us know who she was, what had brought her here and now, how she was handling a 'really bad thing,' that happened to her and her family.

**This is an emotional topic, and I am grateful to Linda for her courage to share her story with me on Write Speak Play.**

Linda's son Brendan was killed in an accident days before he was to start high school.

Linda has found writing to be her way to heal, to help her two younger children through their own loss, and finally, to understand there is still joy in life to be had, experienced, and shared, even in the midst of grieving. 

This is one of those conversations I wish I would have started recording from the beginning. During the first few minutes, before I started recording, we talked about the way writing helps us heal. Linda found that writing about her loss, her grief, and her love for Brendan, she was able to see herself and the new reality she found herself in, from a different perspective, another voice, and it gave her a way to feel, something other than grief, again. 

Losing people we love is hard. But when we are unable to share our grief, our love, or our stories about those we've lost, we lose more - we lose the memories of them. 

These are the conversations we must learn to have more of. 

More about my guest: Linda Broder is a writer and musician living in Northern NJ. She believes in the power of telling your story. She finds stories everywhere - in the echoes of her past and the whispers of trees and in the sounds of her harp. Her upcoming book is on finding hope and wonder.  She is currently working on a memoir of loss, music, and the mysteries all around us. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Spirituality & Health, and Tiny Buddha. You can find her at lindabroder.com

Learn more about The Speaker Sisterhood here.

Visit the Garden of Neuro here.

Links to everything plus my blog and books at www.NanciWrites.com