14 Comments

Wonderful piece, Courtney. I love the concept of healing backwards. It's really got me thinking. I'm going to reflect on this and will mention you in my newsletter if I write a piece about it. Thank you for helping me reflect, respect and accept.

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Dec 1, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

I recall Courtney expressing admiration for her grandmother years ago so I’m happy that the effort and inspiration remains in force today . This also reminds me of the brilliant book by another outstanding Barnard alum, Fatima Bhutto, who published a remarkable biography of her beloved father. Such memories of family heritage by eloquent writers like Courtney and Fatima are treasures for us all. Thank you! Peace, DD

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Dec 1, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

I clicked "post" too soon! It's a beautiful path though also painful.

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Dec 1, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

Wonderful to see how you've articulated the connection between family healing and the nation's in this great unwinding--and to see how your readers are responding. This is our chance to heal a history that is destroying us--and it is a beautiful path!

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Dec 1, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

“We can heal backwards” - what a profound concept! Brene Brown talks about how judgment is followed by punishment and so judging others is not good for bonding. It’s a valuable perspective to think about healing backwards instead of judgment. Judgment is so easy for me.

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Dec 1, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

Thank you for sharing about your grandmother. Our families, health care institutions, and social services can often do better now for our loved ones with thought disorders than we could in your grandmother's day, but there is a lot of room to reach many more affected people with the care that can make some of their dreams possible in their own lives and time.

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Dec 1, 2021Liked by Courtney Martin

Thank you for this important inquiry you share. Many years ago in a graduate course in family therapy, we talked about transgenerational patterns and by extension the possibility of healing. It resonated then and does so now. 💗

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Lovely. Also an area of active inquiry for me. I was listening to this interview with adrienne maree brown yesterday where she talked about ancestry, intergenerational healing, and the concept of time in a really attractive and intriguing way: https://player.fm/1BKjKuK

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Courtney, this piece took my breath away. Every word.

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