Dear Tina,
Dear Tina,
Dear Dear Dear Dear Tina
What is going on in my body?
I am listening…
You are dying but your body is not.
Your body is holding a piece that is dying.
This way, this view, this thought… is dying.
Your body is fine.
In March 2014 I started writing to myself from myself
In April 2015 I was diagnosed with stage three tonsil cancer
The story of my throat told me about stifled creativity, swallowed anger and a refusal to change
Mine was a story of deep hurt, longstanding resentment and grief. It was eating away at my very physical being.
I had stories desperate to be heard
I had wisdom waiting to be listened to
The safest way for me to listen was with my pen
And it wasn’t about journaling in the way we often think about it.
It was about witnessing. This is how it happened:
When we bear witness to our own story,
we step into the mystery and myth of our life.
There is room to notice what aches, what wants to be known by us.
There is time to breathe, to see, to explore – safely.
Writing as Witness is a gentle, one to two day night retreat into self-care facilitated by Nicolle Nattrass, certified addiction counsellor CAC II, self-care coach and co-facilitator of Live Your Best Story with TinaO.
Nicolle’s passion and work is about carrying a message whether as an actor, writer or instructor/facilitator. As a facilitator, her passion is to help others carry and voice their personal, professional or artistic message. She has facilitated many writing and creative exploration workshops for a diverse range of groups and ages with an emphasis on personal growth, creative self expression and healing.
Watch Nicolle’s PowHERtalk about the healing power of journaling, and writing as ‘witness’ here.
Writing as Witness is a private retreat available to groups of 4-8.
Please send us a message below and we can connect to talk about your group and what you feel is on your heart.