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

Category: Self Compassion

Into the Quiet Now

Quashing Night Terrorism… Friends, I recently traveled to celebrate my sister’s significant birthday milestone. It was a glorious week filled with so many laughs, too much food, dancing into the moon-lit night, chardonnay sips, clinking glasses, stories shared, whispers of love, and more laughter. I returned to Texas with my heart full and my body… Continue reading Into the Quiet Now

Textual Love

Try a Little Compassion… This week I experienced a profound sense of shame about myself and my reactions from the emotionally charged week with my son. I got completely lost in my stuff, losing the focus to stay in the NOW. Having bared my truth in the “It’s Not About Me” newsletter, I received the… Continue reading Textual Love

Its Not About Me

Open-Hearted Awareness… My lost feet found their way inside the large heavy wooden doors. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, my hand intuitively reached for the small vessel hanging on the wall. Two fingers dipped themselves into the holy water; and, wet with moisture, I instinctively made the sign of the cross beginning at… Continue reading Its Not About Me

Here Comes the Judge

Confessions of a Lousy Judge…. I had the blessing of observing a new day birthing itself as the sun rose over the frigid UT outdoor pool this week.  As I rested between sets, I became aware of the chatter of my egoic mind and how it differs from the quiet of my Deepest, Truest Self.… Continue reading Here Comes the Judge

Original Goodness

Social Media, Depression, and Self-Compassion… This is hard for me to admit, but after releasing last week’s newsletter I became very depressed. The feelings of failure began to seep in as I pressed the “Publish” button. I fell prey to the snares of social media watching the number of likes equal zero. I seriously questioned… Continue reading Original Goodness

Iceapocalypse

Resilience, Bravery and Rebirth… I live in Texas. This past winter we experienced what we refer to as an “Iceapocalypse.” A terrible weather event that, in our area alone, saw 10.5 million trees damaged and 31% of our total canopy affected. Walking precipitously throughout our neighborhood once the four-day ice storm passed, we felt we… Continue reading Iceapocalypse

Holding Space

Trapped by Old Emotions and Old Stories… 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… Continue reading Holding Space

“I Am Sorry” Thoughts

Reducing the Number of Votes You Give “Sorry” … Have you ever stopped to count the number of times you say “I am sorry” in an ordinary day? Have you ever taken pause at that voice of self judgement quietly robbing you of your self-worth? James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits says: “Every action you take is… Continue reading “I Am Sorry” Thoughts

Self-Compassion Thoughts

“There is a Place in the Soul that Neither Time nor Space nor No Created Thing can Touch.” … Self-compassion.  My husband is brand new to exploring the connection between past experiences, his emotions, and the resulting behavior. But he is catching on quickly. 🙂 He shared a tool with me he learned in one… Continue reading Self-Compassion Thoughts