Several years ago, my friend Doug and I discovered the beginnings of a movement called To Write Love On Her Arms, or TWLOHA. I loved the idea- the idea that LOVE can keep people alive, no matter what they are feeling. I identified with so many of the thoughts and feelings that Jamie talked about this one night in some little place on 14th street in Atlanta. I remember sitting on some old couch with Doug and thinking someone knew how I felt. And he felt the same. He loved it too.
It's been awhile since I've followed the group and it's blog. But when I was in Boston, I was so excited (and surprised) that professional psychologists were even aware of the group- I went to 2 workshops on self injury, and they both mentioned TWLOHA. It amazed me that they have come from single rooms with run-down couches to national conferences. That is so cool. I just love their philosophy and the rawness of the reality that they recognize- that hurting isn't just a psychopathology. That's it real and it sucks but people survive it.
After visiting the website, I found out that Renee (the basis upon which TWLOHA was originally created) published a book called Purpose For the Pain. I can't wait to read it and I hope others, both who have felt the pain AND who want to better understand the pain, will check it out.
Props to TWLOHA and Renee.
~me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU-XQ69qXSg&eurl=http://www.twloha.com/blog/general/&feature=player_embedded
www.twloha.com
www.purposeforthepain.com
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