After much thought, consideration, and prayer, I have decided to go into semi-retirement from the Blooming Lotus blog. I posted my first blog entry over five years and have (until recently) been writing about healing from child abuse daily. I have reached a place where I don’t have much more say than I have already shared.
I plan to check in frequently enough so that the blog does not become inactive and get dropped by WordPress. I have five years’ worth of information offering support for people who are struggling with healing from child abuse, and I want to make sure that support remains available for those who are seeking it.
Additionally, I am helping launch a new charity for child abuse survivors, which will include a message board and chat room that I am **hoping** will go live this month. I will be back to share more about the wonderful new resource soon. Once the charity’s website goes live, I will share more about it. This blog will remain an Amazon affiliate, and all revenues generated will be donated to support this charity.
I so appreciate all of my readers who have journeyed with me over the last five years and will miss my daily interactions with you. Please know that each of you carries a special place in my heart.
Photo credit: Faith Allen
Blooming Lotus 
That’s… kind of exciting news. An ending, but a new beginning. I assume all threads underneath articles will remain active, is that right? The most popular ones still get very regular new comments, and I think it would be a shame to lose that.
Your blog is absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done over the past few years, there’s no place quite like this one. I look forward to your next project!
Thanks, Jan.
Yes, I will leave everything as is. I just won’t check in to approve new comments as often.
Yes, this is an excited time. I was torn at first because for five years, my “purpose” was this blog, and now I don’t know what my new “purpose” will be. For now, I plan to continue blogging at ouradopt.com, focusing on parenting a child with special needs. That’s not my passion, though.
I see this shift as a move toward health — of no longer feeling the need to talk about healing from child abuse all the time. I have no idea what the future will hold.
Take care,
~ Faith
Thanks for all your contributions Faith, and for all the time you took to answer questions, email me personally, and encourage others in their healing journey. May God bless your continued efforts in this fight against this darkness of child abuse.
Thanks, LizAnn. :0)
~ Faith
Thought there may have been a big change afoot, Faith. Wishing you all the best in your endeavours. This blog is such an amazing resource for anyone who has experienced any kind of child abuse. I don’t think there’s anything that has not been brought out and discussed, which makes it like a big encyclopedia written in a most personal and accessible way. With references, and categories, so easy to search for whatever is needed.
I wonder if WordPress would come to the party, and ensure that it is never taken off the internet. I’m sure they would have a way of doing that. It won’t be quite the same without you. That is always the case when special people do special things. Life always seems to provide the next step… like in that old saying, One door closes, and a window opens.
This has been a most memorable part of my life, taking part in your blog, and will remain unforgettable. Thank you Faith.
Lotsa love, and may your journey continue to bring wonder to your life. Wishing you a very happy and well-deserved semi-retirement.
Jessie.
Thanks, Jessie. :0)
That’s a good idea about checking with WordPress. I have also heard about a service that will turn a blog into a book. I might check into that as well.
Take care,
~ Faith
It may sound strange but I am so happy for you. I take you retiring from this blog as growth. You’ve obviously have become stronger. I have been reading your blog for about 3 years now (in which I have commented under many different aliases ;)) and have also had my own blog connected to my history, if you will.
I moved on from my blog a few months ago and started a new, positive project, more suitable to my me. And I’m happy to see you do the same.
Good luck with your new website and I’ll see you around!
Faith, thank you for writing and maintaining this blog resource for us over the years. This has been a great help to me at a time when I really did think I was all alone and trying to figure out what was was going on in my head when I first began to remember the abuse of my childhood. When I remembered “being some one else” you helped me make sense of it. I also want to thank those who have commented and shared their own personal stories here over the years.
How wonderful that you have developed so much, your site has been invaluable to me and I am sure, so many others, for five years, your pain and experience has given hope to others such as myself, when the world has felt crazy and I was sure, I was the only one, your insights taught me I am not alone. Thank you so much, I wish .you all the luck and good fortune for your future en-devour. Much love.
Take care,
Michael
Will miss your banter and your thoughts/ ideas Michael.
Peace to you,
m
Mixed feelings, Faith. A little sad to close this chapter, but mostly gratitude for all you have contributed to this very brave an unique community of women and men healing from childhood abuse. Grattitude for your honesty and clarity. And for often forging a path for some of us.
I began reading this blog when I was at a particularly excruciating place in my healing journey. For months it seemed you were reading my letters to my therapist (which no one but her saw) and I will always see you and your blog as a gift from God to me.
I am also in a newer, better place and able to cheer you on toward this new chapter in your life. I wish for you everything your heart longs for.
With love, appreciation and the deepest gratitude ,
ruby
ps: please keep us posted a little bit on how you are doing now and then.
Faith
I we dont comment often, but congrats. We’ll miss you. Your blog was and is amazing. Why do all teh good bloggers leave, two this week are deciding not to blog any more. You will be missed. Please do keep us posted on your endeavours. 🙂 take care faith
Hi:
Thanks so much for all you have shared. I have shared your blog with those friends of mine suffering from/trying to recover from Dissociative Identity Disorder. I know that you are going into retirement. Is there any way at all to contact you by email, etc.? I am undergoing integration, have read your blog articles and would love just to have a real life person to ask a few questions of before you disappear into rest. 🙂
Thanks.
dbw
Hi, Danett.
I will keep my [email protected] email address open. I am afraid to go there — probably have well over 1,000 emails in there. :0( I receive copies of all comments there. I’ll delete all of those at some point and read through actual emails.
~ Faith
I have been very thankful for your blog. It has helped me find bravery in opening up in my own blog when I did not know if it was possible to be open. Thank you.
I have been touched by many of the posts on your blog, so I’m sad to see you go. But I love that you are honoring the fact that you are in a place where it is time to move forward to other things. That is a huge thing. Sometimes letting go of something good to reach for something else good is the very best thing to do. Blessings to you in your new endeavor (it sounds exciting!).
Thank you all. :0)
~ Faith
Wow. I was about to send you an email because I was beginning to get bit concerned! Well, you certainly have quite a library/resource here for people to search through when they need some help.
I will miss you though. I like the way you think and express yourself. I really enjoyed checking in here and all the discussion in your comments.
Thanks for everything and good luck with your charity and well, everything else also. I hope you will make a special post when the charity site goes live to let us know, so we can check it out.
Peace and blessings,
mia
Thanks, Mia.
Yes, I will post about the charity when it goes live. :0)
– Faith
Dear Faith,
Fabulous news for you! And for me, too, because if you can move on with your life then that means other people/survivors can, too. So, thank you for listening to yourself and allowing me to be a part of it. I just began to read your blog several months ago and it, and you, have been such an inspiration for me. Thank you for taking the time over the past five years to tell your story and about your recovery. May all of your days be filled with peace and happiness. Best regards,
Jenny
Dear Faith,
I’ve only found your blog in the last few months but I just wanted to say that you are one of my biggest heroines and your blog has meant so much to me. I think you are so brave, so strong and so absolutely incredible. I will really miss coming to see what you are newly up to, but there is such a treasure trove here about healing from your writings in the last few years, that it will take me quite a long time anyway to read it all and take it all in.
You have made a big difference to my life, which is just incredible because I never knew that could happen simply from reading a blog. Your knowledge about healing is awesome – what you say actually works and somehow you manage to get truth into me that hasn’t gotten in from other sources. It’s great for you that you are ready to move on, and I know you can trust your instincts about that to guide you right.
Peace, congratulations and all the luck in the world for your future.
Debi
Faith,
I’ve been sitting on this comment ever since I saw your post. I agree with many of the comments above – definitely mixed feelings on my part.
I’m very happy for you that you feel you’re in a good place to move. on. Like others have said above – that is a powerful example to hold out to fellow survivors, so thank you.
But I’m very sad to lose the wisdom, kindness and graciousness of your posts. Also very sad as well to lose the marvelous, witty, insightful coments of your blog followers. I’ve come to really appreciate quite a few of them. So I feel like we’re all losing something more than just your contribution – which was an amazing, incredible gift all on its own.
But life is about growth, and this is definitely growth on many levels. You’re moving on to something new, and I have no doubt you will continue to greatly contribute to the cause of abused children, which is a very good thing.
So thank you for everything you’ve done for all your followers, and for leaving this blog as your legacy. You’ve made the world a better place, and you really have been “the change you want to see”.
I’ll miss you, and everyone who comments here.
Au revoir, bonne voyage, and godspeed.
Oops. That should be “bon” voyage.
Thanks, birdfeeder.
Perhaps the readers who would like to continue on as a community can consider checking out the website that will be launching soon. It will have a several moderated forums, including a place for people who have moved past the early stages of healing and want to talk about day-to-day issues once healing from child abuse is no longer a central focus on the person’s life.
More to come once the site launches…
~ Faith
Thanks, Jeni, Debbi, and everyone else. That means a lot. :0)
~ Faith
Wow, all these good byes are really making me feel like crying. Like birdfeeder said, it is so much more than just goodbye to faith- all of you have touched my heart on some level and your input has been so valuable to me. I will miss you all very much!
Hi, LizAnn.
I posted to someone else that perhaps this community can migrate over to the new healing from child abuse resource that is coming out soon. :0)
~ Faith
Hi LizAnn and Faith,
The chat room for the new healing from child abuse resource sounds interesting. I didn’t realize the whole community could migrate over to the new resource. : )
Jessie.
Dear faith. I feel sad to have found this blog only as you are leaving. I have just started my own blog about my journey in accepting that I was abused as a child and am thankful to have stumbled across your blog. I feel mute at the moment and can’t post on my own blog but I am hoping that reading yours and others will help me find my voice. Congratulations on reaching the next level and take care x
Ps if anyone can provide any words of encouragement feel free to follow me x
yes, this blog is what kept me sane during the middle of the night hours just a few short months ago when I first started to wonder what kind of hell I had been through that I didn’t remember. Thank you for writing, good luck in the future.
Faith, I came across your blog today and wanted to say “Well done”. I started my healing process in 2005 and just this February accessed the reality of sexual abuse in my past. It’s invaluable to hear others’ stories of survival and healing, and to get perspective on what my new “normal” is. Best wishes in your further endeavors.
Check out emergingfrombroken.com for another encouraging resources with lots of supportive conversation
We will all miss this blog and one of the few role models worth following. Another one is Darlene Quimet at emergingfrombroken.com (writing under her own name with a facebook page as well!) I’m not much for commenting but those of you who like conversation will find a lot of support ithere
Faith,
Thank you, your blog helped me realize I wasn’t alone.
Thank you, Faith. i didnt interact much but i’ve been reading your blog every once in a while for the last 2 years and it was both challenging and helpful. it’s good you’re going to take some rest. what you’ve given here is amazing
Faith,
I will miss you!
Its been 5 years now (probably on the day) that I first started reading your blog and I just feel so blessed for being part of your Blooming Lotus Community. I feel grateful for all the wisdom shared, I learned so much from the insights, and your incredible dedication and commitment for this blog never ceased to inspire me.
All the stories shared by everyone gave me courage to find the truth and clarity within myself by shining a light (or so many lights) on all the dark places(which there were a many , too).
Without this place I wouldnt be where I am today, so thank you, Faith, and thanks to all the readers and commenters!
And while I do feel sad that this is ending (but not vanishing:) I am also looking forward to this new website, which Im sure will be a great place of validation and inspiration, too.
Much metta to everyone!
*well, not five years but four years. anyway, it pretty much feels like its been forever 🙂
Thanks, everyone.
The plan is to launch the website this week. I’ll blog about it and provide a link once it is launched. :0)
~ Faith
Hey there, You’ve been nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award, and Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
http://ptsdnofearinlove.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/one-lovely-blog-award-and-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Thanks, Jessie. :0)
~ Faith
I haven’t really commented before, but wanted to send a heartfelt thank you for the topics you have shared over the years. I came to your site with some shameful secrets, and left feeling less alone. Because of that, I worked up the nerve to share with my therapist about my (sexual) self-harm and we have been dealing with it, together, for the past 18 months. Sure, there is healing left to do, but I feel such hope and light in my life right now. And so much of that is due to your bravery and courage in speaking out. In fact, after 4 years on disability for mental health reasons I returned to school as a full-time student this september to retrain as a professional photographer.
Thanks, Catherine.
That was my goal for this blog — to offer hope. :0)
~ Faith
Thanks for your blogs to date, Faith. Good luck with the next stage of your life. Best wishes to all readers too,
Faith:
Thank you so very much for this blog. It has been an immense help in my healing.
Hi Faith,
I’ve read your blog a couple of times and wish you all the best for the future, but I was awake thinking last night about your experiences and it occured to me, and I know this is sensitive, why arn’t all these people who abused you in jail? Did you tell the police?
xx
You are amazing!
Good luck in all your endeavors!
Lothlorien/K.Rothert