Is Your Family Like a Norman Rockwell Portrait...

 By: Connie J..., October 21, 2024

...or are you REALLY living ON the back of the picture??!


I HONESTLY, thought, growing up and into my 30s - in spite of ALL that I knew about my family's dysfunctional state - that I grew up in a "Norman Rockwell family portrait".


As I progressed into my "Healing Process", and started to see things realistically, I was amazed to learn that it wasn't.


My life was more like the back of the photo - blank, plain, dull and drab. No splashes of color. Nothing - even the frame was icky.

...or are you REALLY living ON the back of the picture??!


I HONESTLY, thought, growing up and into my 30s - in spite of ALL that I knew about my family's dysfunctional state - that I grew up in a "Norman Rockwell family portrait".


As I progressed into my "Healing Process", and started to see things realistically, I was amazed to learn that it wasn't.


My life was more like the back of the photo - blank, plain, dull and drab. No splashes of color. Nothing - even the frame was icky.

But, if anyone from "the outside" asked, my life was perfect. "Well, yes, 'X' may have happened, when I was younger; but isn't that normal in ALL families?" Or, "Yes, my Father MAY have done 'Y'; but his Mother died when he was 14, so it's not really his fault, right??!"


Even as far as having a conversation with a co-worker about the fact that I was purposely cutting myself - "but it's no big deal, it just makes me feel better." I thought I was perfectly ok - on the outside.



Inside, I knew things weren't ok; but I was told so much, that, "What happens in our house, stays in our house." Ok??!

Yeah, about that - until September 19, 1992; when I learned a MAJOR family truth (that I had honestly figured out, myself, YEARS before this). I was basically numb, for about a week - then, on September 26, 1992 - I got "ALL THE FEELS", at once!!! This "episode" ended with me spending the mandatory 72 hours of observation. I didn't know exactly what I needed - but learned, quickly, that this place was NOT IT!!!


I floundered a bit, seeing a counselor the hospital had set up for me; saw her for a YEAR.


However, in the meantime - December, 1992, I met my current Counselor. I was fascinated by this woman. I really felt like she saw clear into me - and could see all my bad, but did NOT turn away.


She saw "my portrait" (the real one) and extended her hand to me, and we are even more "connected", than ever, today. She has helped guide me on this "process", for over half my life; and she and her husband are part of my "New and Improved Family Portrait" - a real, healthy picture in which you can see my beautiful scars, and all the damage that was done - and it can be used to let you know you're OK; we're all damaged, but beautiful, just the same.




How's YOUR portrait looking? Is it realistic? Or, are you drab and dull - like on the back? Are you ready to start making changes?

Thank you, and have a good day, and be safe... #ENDtheSILENCEofVIOLENCE #besafe #dviseverywhere #domesticviolence #growin2024 #awareness #protectyourself


***October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please share this post, no matter what month it is, to help get the word out. The Victim has to make the choice - but, "What If..." they read something you sent them, and it just "clicks"?***


*I would love the opportunity to share YOUR ideas in a Blog post. Please send them to Connie J... - beamererin@yahoo.com; or through Ozer email, ozerministries@att.net.

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I Remember...

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By Connie J... • November 17, 2025
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Do You Know YOU??!

By Connie J... • November 10, 2025
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Filling Your Time...

By Connie J... • November 3, 2025
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What is Your "Identity"?

By Connie J... • October 27, 2025
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Still Making Choices...

By Connie J... • October 20, 2025
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