Reflections of a Survivor
Written by Linda L. Flatt - June 1997

A Basic Plan for Survival

Choose to Survive
We must make a conscious decision to be an active participant in our own healing process.

Feel the Feelings
We must give ourselves permission to grieve deeply for a season.

Stay Connected
While on the healing journey we must ask God and safe, supportive people to be our traveling companions - to share our sorrow, ease our fears, defuse our anger, and process our guilt. In relationship we have a much better chance to reclaim our joy.

Proactive Acceptance and Forgiveness
We must give ourselves grace and truth and time to eventually accept our loss and forgive others and ourselves.

Slowly Get Back in the Game
All the while we must gently and gradually ease ourselves back into reality.

Be the New You
We are forever changed, yet essentially the same... living, breathing, loving, inherently precious children of God.

Share Your Experience
We can now be seasoned traveling companions for other survivors on the recovery road.