Good Vs. Evil
I am pleased to modify my initial posting. When you are embroiled in an abusive narcissistic situation as the target, you find yourself surrounded by a world of negative individuals. Like attracts like. As I have progressed through my healing, I am so grateful for the genuinely good people I have in my life. It takes some time to eliminate the opportunistic bottom feeders looking to take advantage of your vulnerability, but once you do, this is everything we stand for. Be the good.
**(Original message)**
There are more bad people out in this world than there are good. Believe me, with every fiber of my being I have fought this harsh reality. Disappointment after disappointment, cruel reminders were never far to shatter my idealistic approach. As we all do, I came into life with a full heart and nothing but love to give. Beginning with my own 'parents' and sibling, steady efforts to hurt me and my happiness were immediately implemented. Over time I gravitated to one project after another, believing I could cultivate the good that surely resides within everyone. I hurdled one red flag after another. The golden rule prevails right? If I conducted myself with honesty and integrity, I would be met with the same, no? Not by a long shot. Opportunistic bullies are lurking everywhere to satiate their sadistic urges. Egocentrism plagues society to a degree I still have trouble comprehending. As I've dedicated myself to overcoming the issues caused by selfish, malignant individuals, I've learned that I am a highly sensitive person (HSP) as well as an empath. Though these attributes are endearing and attractive to most, particularly those looking to exploit them, the resulting consequences made me resentful of my nature, as I bear the scars. At the end of the day, I can't change who I am. I care deeply and I love with reckless abandon. I can attempt to be more cautious with my emotional investments, but it is what it is. In a world full of darkness, we need to be the light. Weakness succumbs to envy and bitterness. That isn't us. We couldn't change if we tried. Nasty, miserable people are their own worst punishments in life. Hold the line ❤️
JOEY J. JOHNSON
This is our son Joey. You may never have met him, but I assure you, he has had an impactful presence in your life. The fact that you are on this page is proof. Everything I do is motivated by this beautiful little boy. The same month that Joe and I were married, October of 2008, we were on our honeymoon in Hawaii when we discovered that I was pregnant. That instant and every moment after we were enamored with the joy of being parents and having this little baby entrusted to our care. Joey was born May 20th. 2009. Two years later after the birth of our daughter Madelyn, Joey started vomiting. The day before Thanksgiving we learned Joey had a tumor in his right temporal lobe. The day after Thanksgiving he had brain surgery. Glioblasoma multi-form plagued our family for the next 18 months. This agonizing experience enabled Joe and I to gain an appreciation for our blessings like never before. Life can change in an instant for better or for worse as proven by our gut-wrenching experience. Joey was in this world for a brief few years before he passed April 23rd, 2013. Four days prior to his passing, his youngest sister, Josephine, was born. She was originally due on his birthday, May 20th. I couldn't make this story up if I tried. I truly believe there are no coincidences in life. Regardless, Joey's legacy lives on every moment of every day. He is with us. Everything I do is to make him proud of me. Bumped Bruised and Blessed is a platform that I established because we are all here to help one another. Tragedy will befall us in one form or another. Let's share our goodness, kindness and light with the world as much as we can, whenever we can. We are family.
We're All In This Together
I began the Bumped Bruised and Blessed endeavor in 2019. I had a distinct vision of what I wanted the logo to look like in my head. I sketched it out on a kitchen notepad and went to work trying to tackle how to make it a reality. I COULD have hired somebody to make it for me, but my perfectionistic trauma response and my need to achieve kept me striving to remain hyper-independent (all trauma responses). Trauma responses are my specialty. I am ridden with them. This is my passion project. Like the little boy in "Sixth Sense" saw dead people - I see people's trauma. I myself am inundated with it. Not to brag but grief, bereavement, abandonment and betrayal - along with everything in between are part of my repertoire. I've always been drawn to psychology. Human behavior fascinates me. This fueled my academic career in which I obtained, with honors, both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in that exact subject. I see myself in every beautiful soul I am privileged to encounter in this life. I do not say that with a self-righteous or egocentric connotation. It's quite the opposite. My empathic pursuits and compassion resonate with each of our pain. Hence Bumped Bruised and Blessed was born. I love and value our community. Truly we are family - more so than the people that surrounded me growing up.
YOUTUBE
I appreciate every moment of this amazing life and I am honored to be a part of your healing journey. Thank you for being here. This channel and resulting community were born out of my own agonizing experience with narcissistic abuse combined with my degrees in psychology. I was raised by a non-nurturing, narcissistic "mother" and enabling "father" in a dysfunctional "family." After a grueling "relationship"/ entanglement with a heartless narcissist, inevitably my husband and I reunited from college.
Energy Medicine Certified
M.A. Psychology B.A. Psychology
The whole world is navigating through unchartered waters right now dealing with our own unique hardships. It is easy to let our anxiety get the best of us and to get swept away in a sea of fear and uncertainty. More than anything let us cherish the ones we love and our blessings big and small. I have been on a vastly different course in life compared to where I was just ten years ago. What a difference a decade makes. During this time my husband and I gave birth to our first child, our beautiful son. After the birth of our daughter, Madelyn, our son was diagnosed with brain cancer. The following 17 months contained more heartache and agony than I ever thought my heart could bear. Joey passed four days after we welcomed our second daughter. Josie (named after her big brother) was due on Joey's fourth birthday, May 20th. She came out a month early, just in time to say goodbye. My grief, coupled with the extensive narcissistic abuse my "family" of origin has plagued me with since birth, culminated into the loss of my ability to walk and drive. Life is nothing we can plan. Our journey will find us regardless of where we think we're going. Joe and I thought we would not expand our family past two children. We left it in God's hands and we cannot imagine our family without Josie. Joey's illness truly opened our eyes to the blatant disrespect and lack of support from the toxic unit I thought cared about me. Now I am focused on healing the profound emotional trauma that I have trapped inside of my body. I now know what unconditional love looks and feels like. It took an unspeakable tragedy to break me from the dark comfort zone I was trapped in. I am blessed beyond measure. I wouldn't change a thing. I know, without a doubt, that life happens FOR us not TO us. Everything has a reason. Timing is never an accident. Trust and know that we are where we are supposed to be, exactly when we are meant to be there. Sending you all so much love ❤
(written 2019)
