Am I allowed to do that????

by Lisa Kohn | May 24, 2021 | Recovery

Sometimes when I meet Second Gens (those of us born and/or raised in an extremist environment) from my cult, they ask me, “Why are you so healthy and whole? “I’ve been at this healing thing since before you were born,” I invariably reply. “It’s been a long, long...

I don’t want to be right any more

by Lisa Kohn | May 3, 2021 | Recovery

Decades ago, when I crawled into Al-Anon, I first heard the saying, “would you rather be right or happy?” I have known that I “should” choose happy for all these decades, and I have tried to choose happy for all these decades. But I can still get so caught in wanting...

The sun will come out tomorrow…

by Lisa Kohn | Apr 26, 2021 | Recovery

I was not a cool kid. Growing up in a cult didn’t help. When I was in high school I either listened to Church holy songs, Korean songs, or, maybe, Broadway hits. But only certain ones, like “Annie.” In fact, when I auditioned for a school play my senior year of high...

We are all survivors, and we all need hugs

by Lisa Kohn | Apr 19, 2021 | Recovery

I saw my aunt and uncle last week – Danny’s (my dad) siblings. They had been to visit him – the first time they’d seen him in over a year – and then they came to see me. It was so amazing to be with them and to give them careful hugs (they’re both completely...

Love is my religion

by Lisa Kohn | Mar 1, 2021 | Recovery, Resilience

It’s a song they often play during our yoga practice. It’s a song that sings to my heart. I feel as if I’ve learned and evolved so much since to the moon and back came out nearly two-and-a-half years ago. This whole process threw me deep into revisiting,...

Love myself most

by Lisa Kohn | Feb 22, 2021 | Recovery

I was listening to the Real Rebel Podcast – to Sheri Salata on the Real Rebel Podcast. And they reminded me about “love myself most.” I remember when a co-conspirator in my Positive Psychology certification course offered me her mantra – “love yourself first.” It blew...