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

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

Friends, Connection

See the Person your Friends see in you… This past week, I have been thinking about connection. About how important connection is and the gift of long-lasting connection. This past weekend was my fiftieth high school reunion. Can you imagine? Where I could not attend in person, I was blessed with connection to some of… Continue reading Friends, Connection

Seeds For Growth

Trusting, Surrendering, and Cracking Open… “We do not always have to hold onto the ideology that our brokenness defines who we are. That it has the final say.  To fully surrender ourselves to healing we need to go on an extended journey, a trust walk, a gradual letting go, unlearning, and handing over. Experience an… Continue reading Seeds For Growth