On episode 28 of the She is Kindred podcast, Britt holds space for Julie Klein’s deeply personal story of being a cycle breaker.  Britt and Julie come together as mothers who deeply desire for the next generation to witness the power and redemption in true forgiveness so that we don’t walk in the old ways of being. And the way to true forgiveness involves making the choice to engage in our grief, to move through the grief, and to accept that grief does not have a timeline. 

Julie Klein is a social worker/mental health counselor. Though she is not currently in the social work field, her heart remains hopeful for social justice in this fractured world. She currently stays home constantly herding and unschooling her intensely spirited children. A pour-over cup (or two or three) of coffee is her lifeline and keeps her in the game. She is a fierce advocate for showing up with vulnerability and authenticity, believes everyone has a powerful story to share, and is convinced words hold the unique power to connect with others. She writes at the intersection of her evolving faith and the joys of life, the inevitable grief of life, and the gray that is in-between. Though she has called various cities across the United States home, she now resides near Seattle, Washington with her husband and three children. 

Connect with Julie on Instagram: @julielynnklein

In this episode, Britt talks with Julie Klein about: 

• Generational trauma presents in different ways from generation to generation.
• The importance of understanding our old narratives in order to move forward to create new narratives. 
• Forgiveness is necessary so that we can experience true freedom within our new narratives
• Therapy including EMDR and medications are incredibly helpful tools to help us heal our trauma wounds. 
• Engaging in our grief is a choice, and it can be overwhelming. Once we move through the grief, we are no longer bound to it and are freed up to move into our new story. 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World 
• EMDR Therapy
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma 
• The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves

Quotable:

“When we have understanding and acceptance about our narrative, it empowers us to move on and create a new narrative. To give ourselves the gift of freedom to live in the new narrative is ultimately how we walk in forgiveness because we aren’t held to the old way of being.” - Julie Klein

“Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us. We are bound with chains of bitterness, tied together, trapped. Until we can forgive the person who harmed us, that person will hold the keys to our happiness; that person will be our jailor. When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and our feelings. We become our own liberators. We don’t forgive to help the other person. We don’t forgive for others. We forgive for ourselves. Forgiveness, in other words, is the best form of self-interest. This is true both spiritually and scientifically.” - Desmond Tutu

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