53 Comments
User's avatar
Brenda - A Voice that Wonders's avatar

Beautifully written. A reminder to self: closet time. I deny myself the privilege of grief, emotional grief. I box it up. Reading your post clarifies so much. Thanks. 🌸

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you so much Brenda for that. It’s always really nice to hear that it resonated and ultimately just reminds us we are not alone, even in the fear of facing it

Expand full comment
Brenda - A Voice that Wonders's avatar

You are most welcome. I do look forward to reading more of your posts.

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Definitely lots more to come very soon. Please subscribe if you enjoy it! 💛

Expand full comment
Jen Miguel's avatar

“When we resist our pain, we also resist our healing.” — This is absolutely true. We’re not truly learning if we’re not fully feeling. Thank you for this. 🤍

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you for reading and commenting Jen, I appreciate it. 🫶🏻

Expand full comment
Nhoas Arc's avatar

came from christelles post!! im a new substack writer too and sooo nervous. this post kinda hurt to read which is how you know its good. keep writing girl, you got this!

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you so much, that means a lot!! 💛

Expand full comment
wattyalan's avatar

superb read, fits the world just right, ive made a note to send you a link to a 6 part report ive made that i think will resonate with you and also give you some direct inspiration for expanding on this beautiful piece of writing. postit note written and adhered to my monitor.. it will be in a few days ill let you know. ..grief is best faced and managed just as you made light of,,if you bottle it up it overspills just as your about to check out at a supermarket and the whole day turns to shit.. much love, kindest regards, adam.

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you for reading Adam!

Expand full comment
Letters from the Altar's avatar

I love this so much. Thank you for this!

Expand full comment
Tamy Faierman M.D.'s avatar

Feeling is courage embodied . Thank you for feeling . 🙏🏻💖

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you so much! 💛

Expand full comment
Tamy Faierman M.D.'s avatar

my pleasure :)

Expand full comment
Michele Moscone's avatar

Ashley, That was a beautiful heartfelt story that I resonated with. Thank you for sharing.

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thanks Michele, that means a lot to me!

Expand full comment
Allyson Garcia-Quick's avatar

Thanks for writing and sharing this. <3

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

💛 thank you!!

Expand full comment
kevink44's avatar

NIce. I Like how you do not go into detail about what was buried inside you, what you were denying and ignoring, so that you ended in the closet. It is not important for the message of this piece, Each of us has our own buried emotions that gnaw at us. For me, what I work on is letting them go through me, neither ignoring or denying them, nor getting stuck wallowing in them, but letting them pass through me, or I through them. And, so, I can come out on the other side happier, healthier and more at peace.

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you, I appreciate your comment!

Expand full comment
Marilyn Nichols's avatar

I love your story Ashley, time poor nothing else slows me down. You have a.certain mystery in your story to make want more. Believe me.

MAZ

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you for the kind words 💛

Expand full comment
Neha Jhingon's avatar

This was beautiful Ashley! Thank you for sharing!

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Keren Or's avatar

Thank you for sharing! And thank you for being so incredibly human:)

Expand full comment
Chatterboxerr's avatar

Related a lot to this. Even if my mind resisted it, my body remembered and forced a health wake up call to not resist processing things. Beautiful article, thank you:)

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Exactly, the body always knows what the mind doesn’t. Thank you!!

Expand full comment
Michele Moscone's avatar

Yes! The body remembers!

Expand full comment
Allie Davis's avatar

I love how much feeling this was written with. I so appreciate when people touch on the topic of grief as it is such a complicated and intense and ever changing theme in our lives. I loved your honesty and the reflective quality this piece possessed. This is the type of writing that inspires hope and connection. It reminds people that they aren't alone in what they feel, which is truly so meaningful and powerful. Thank you so much for sharing :)

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you so much Allie! Your kind words mean a lot to me.

Expand full comment
Trinity Hinton's avatar

So powerful! I caught myself grasping for air reading in the triggers of the truth we hide our unprocessed pain. We carry it in silence too often. 🫶🏽

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Too true 💛. Thank you

Expand full comment
J. Maxwell Barid's avatar

This is such an incredible take on grief and emotions. As someone who's both very driven to success, and also struggles with depression, I resonate with this so very much. For me, my 'comfort place' is an unlocked theater at my University--it's nice to go there, and just let it all out. There is SO much strength in deciding to let it out. It takes an incredibly strong person to not only recognize that, but confess it for others to find comfort on your words. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

Thank you!! Your words mean a lot!

Expand full comment