Finding Forgiveness - A Family Fairy Tale

In the final episode of Finding Forgiveness - A Family Fairytale, Susan Gibson brings her journey full circle by writing a heartfelt letter to her mother, just as she did when the podcast began. This closing letter reflects on her and her mother's transformation as they worked to mend their relationship. Although their bond was never perfect—like many mother-daughter relationships—Susan chooses to...

Welcome to Finding Forgiveness: A Family Fairytale, hosted by Susan Gibson. In this heartfelt episode, Susan invites listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and the transformative power of forgiveness. She begins by discussing the importance of setting a themed goal for each year. This year's focus is "Integrating My Whole Self." As the episode unfolds, Susan reflects on how s...

Welcome to "Finding Forgiveness: A Family Fairytale," hosted by Susan Gibson. In this episode, Susan invites listeners to explore the depths of their masculine hearts, beginning with a poignant reflection on a dream she had following her mother's death. She candidly discusses her evolving feelings towards the patriarchy, acknowledging past resentment that has since softened. Susan recounts a momen...

Welcome to "Finding Forgiveness - a Family Fairy Tale" where host Susan Gibson dives into the profound journey of healing and reconciliation. Today Susan invites us to explore a deeply rooted question: how do we mend wounds inflicted by others? As we navigate her insights Susan challenges us to embrace vulnerability and the importance of not facing our struggles alone. She unveils the transformati...

Welcome to the Finding Forgiveness podcast, hosted by Susan Gibson. In today's episode, Susan delves into her family tree, uncovering the stories of her female ancestors. She shares how the feminine strength and courage woven through her lineage empowers her. Additionally, Susan discusses the importance of slowing down, embracing moments of relaxation, and simply being human amidst our busy lives....

In this episode of Finding Forgiveness with Susan Gibson, Susan explores the profound journey of descent and reemergence, examining how far one must fall before beginning to rise again. She outlines three pivotal moments where she recognized her descent and saw the potential for transformation during this process. Reflecting on how the COVID pandemic opened her eyes to an ongoing descent and the s...

Today, we delve into the painful yet transformative topic of betrayal. Betrayal wounds deeply, but it can also be the spark that ignites healing and forgiveness. I will share my most profound betrayal: being ousted from the inner circle at work, which ultimately led to the loss of my long-term job. We've all experienced betrayal at some point, and many of us have been the betrayers, too. If this s...

Today, we dive into the complexities of long-term professional success and the internal conflicts it can create. Join me as I share my journey of navigating 47 years of apparent triumphs while battling self-doubt and emotional turmoil. We'll explore themes of patriarchy, female masculinity, and the struggle to maintain authenticity in a demanding world. Discover how self-sabotage and moral dilemma...

Have you ever felt like you took the blame for someone else's actions? Maybe you've been in a situation with a difficult person, an "ogre," as we'll call them here, who caused turmoil in your life. It's natural to wonder if you could have done something differently, but the truth is, you can't change other people. The good news? You can change how you view yourself in the situation. This episode i...

This episode contains reflection of child abuse and domestic violence. Listen with care.  Join me as I open up about three pivotal moments throughout my life where I faced daunting challenges in the form of ogres. These encounters left me fearful and scarred, but through therapy and self-discovery, I found the strength to confront and overcome them. From betrayal to manipulation, each ogre represe...

Do you ever feel alone? Conventional wisdom says you should be able to make it independently. What it doesn't tell you is that you need allies along the path of life. Reflecting on my journey since grade school, I vividly recall the invaluable allies who have shaped my path. An ally listens, supports, and uplifts you, unwaveringly standing by your side through challenges and triumphs. Join me as I...

For 25 years, my marriage demanded a strong, capable presence. I was the provider, the organizer, the one who shouldered responsibility. This strength, this "masculine energy," permeated everything – my choices, style, and even my haircut. I wasn't aware of it, but masculinity became my identity. Then came the divorce. My new partner surprised me with a gentle smile by saying "let me be the man."...

Susan embarks on a powerful exploration of forgiveness, revealing the four key characteristics that bridged the gap between her and her mother: fear, courage, strength and love. Today's focus delves into emotional inheritance, where Susan discovers these shared traits woven into the fabric of their relationship. Through compelling personal anecdotes, Susan draws parallels between her experiences a...

Today, Susan explores the challenge of maintaining family secrets. This episode may be unsettling to some listeners accustomed to abiding by their family's unwritten rule of silence. What happens when you feel obligated to keep a secret or choose to do so independently due to various factors like fear, embarrassment, or a desire for privacy? The weight of that pressure, that unwritten code of sile...

Today, Susan recounts her mother's journey from birth to high school. Raised in a rural part of Maine, her mother was familiar with the challenges of hard work during her upbringing, yet she cherished moments of taking the train to the next town to watch movies with her sister. However, an undisclosed event occurred during high school, remaining a family secret. Susan believes this experience sign...

Today, Susan reveals the three personal things she shared with her mother in 2012, and delves deeply into the profound act of forgiveness. She recounts her mother's response upon learning she was forgiven and shares the emotions she underwent, illustrating how those three simple words transformed the dynamics of their relationship. Forgiveness can take various forms; Susan, opting for a face-to-fa...

Today, Susan reflects on the twenty-six years she spent with her mother after they reconnected. After six years of estrangement, Susan decided to reconnect with her mother. Susan shares that at first, she hoped to restore their relationship from before their estrangement, but over time, she realized that she needed to redefine their relationship. Making commitments to one another, Susan and her mo...

Today, I will share how my mother and I reconnected after our six year long estrangement. I don't call it reconciliation because, as you will hear, we didn't reconcile anything. My story still leaves questions in my mind as to what happened between us. Through therapy and diving deep into my thoughts and feelings, perhaps the answer is accepting there is no answer. Join me in hearing about how I c...

Today, I will share how I bounced from home to home in high school and one of my biggest disappointments when my mother didn't come to my graduation. I understand it is not uncommon for a high-school student to live with a friend while completing their senior year. I know it happens for a good reason. What is not common is for your mother to disown you during this time, and as an adult, some 32 ye...

Today, I will recount the events that unfolded when my parents decided to separate. At the age of 13, I had to choose which parent I wished to reside with when I learned my parents were separating. Opting for my father led to a growing divide between my mother and me. Reflecting on my mother's choice, I consider it a courageous move. Going against her mother's expectations and the moral values of...

In this episode of Finding Forgiveness, I will recount my early years, focusing on the passing of my infant brother and its impact on my connection with my mother. The intricate dynamics of a family often reveal themselves gradually, and I've discovered this to be accurate in comprehending my bond with my mother. Today, I will share what I learned while meditating and revisiting my infancy.  If yo...

In this episode of Finding Forgiveness, I will share things I gained from my mother, whose wisdom was even greater than I imagined as a child. Even now, I incorporate the lessons I acquired from her into my daily routine. Whenever I engage in a seemingly ordinary act like returning an item to its rightful place, it evokes memories of my mother and brings a smile to my face. I hope you also can dra...

On this episode of Finding Forgiveness, I'll recount the last month and shared moments with my mother. Even when you are aware of a loved one's critical illness, you are never truly prepared for their passing. Nevertheless, I am thankful that my last exchange with my mother was the one I had yearned for throughout five decades. Following her passing, I am left with that invaluable conversation, th...

Welcome to the premiere episode of "Finding Forgiveness - A Family Fairy Tale." I'm your host, Susan Gibson, and I'm thrilled to have you as my guest today. We've all experienced those moments of longing to express our unspoken thoughts to loved ones who are no longer with us. The chance to do so isn't out of reach. You can put your thoughts into words by penning a heartfelt letter. I did that and...

Have ever wanted to say things to your mother, or a loved one, but didn't have the courage to do so? Well, you're not alone. Hey there, I'm Susan Gibson, and I'm thrilled to welcome you to my podcast, "Finding Forgiveness - A Family Fairy Tale." In this deeply personal podcast, I invite you to join me on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and healing. Over the span of more than five decade...