Adverse Childhood Experiences and the path towards healing. You are not alone.
I share my trials, my victories, and my stories with you in hopes that if any of you were ever touched by childhood abuse or neglect, as I was, you will see yourselves in my experiences and feel strengthened to voice what you had not been able to before. I hope we can learn together why we respond to life through a particular lens, and that there are ways to climb out of this prison of pain, silence, and shame.
My name is Bess Hilpert

Grow the Good

Be the change that’s needed… Welcome back, friends. I am grateful for each one of you. I see you. I hear you. I am touched by your outpouring of love. You remind me that I am not alone in either my struggles or my joys. You live from your hearts and without judgement. Thank you… Continue reading Grow the Good

Uncovering the Gold

This Little Light of Mine… American psychologist and author, Tara Brach, is known to teach us through the story of the Golden Buddha discovered beneath a clay façade in Bangkok in the 1950’s, “Just as the monks disguised the beauty of the golden Buddha in order to protect it during dangerous times, we cover our… Continue reading Uncovering the Gold

Christmas Poems

Hopes and Tears Throughout the Years… “In answer to your letterI found on the wallI note your requestFor gifts large and small.For you may not knowBut I’ll tell you right hereThat times are so toughThat I ate my reindeer.” … Grand Pa 1931 Santa Fe, New Mexico And so, the ninety-two-year tradition began in the… Continue reading Christmas Poems

Unexpected Gifts

Connection & Belonging… Last Sunday while reading Maria Shriver’s weekly newsletter I was struck by her prayer.  “Dear God, please help me feel the full weight of my emotions and not be afraid of them. Allow me to embrace the good, the bad, the highs and the lows that life presents and appreciate the lessons learned along… Continue reading Unexpected Gifts

My Mother

I love you, Mom. Thank you! … Throughout my life, the hand that always reached back making me feel safest was my mother. Always and forever, my mother. I share a story of one of my earliest memories in my book finding I in which my mother was my hero: “I have an early memory… Continue reading My Mother