Here’s me, doing my bit to participate weekly in Kelly’s Seven Quick Takes over at This Ain’t the Lyceum.

So here’s…

This Week’s Resources for Catholic Trauma Survivors

Takes. Best described as quick. Seven of them.

1. Christmas Is Not Supposed to Be Like This. I can’t believe I wrote that six years ago. It’s one of the pieces I’m most honored to have written.
2. One of the characteristic traits of someone who grew up in a dysfunctional home is a terror of criticism. Christie Ann Lubriand has a piece at Catholic Mom on “How to Handle Criticism as a Christian.”
3. Another one of those characteristic traits–and this one is even harder for me than taking correction or criticism–is just the simple act of having fun for fun’s sake. Betsy Kerekes at Catholic Mom writes about 5 Ways to Have More Fun with Your Kids.
4. aNOTHER trait? Difficulty with perfectionism, which translates to irritation at interruptions (::raises hand::). Jennifer Scheueremann writes at Catholic Mom about Being Grateful in Spite of Interruptions.
5. Wanna know the one quality that would cure narcissism? Dr. Les Carter talks about it here.
6. Here’s a good one on the dreadful loop (more like a noose) that occurs in the addicted mind, where self-criticism feeds addiction, which feeds self-criticism, which feeds addiction, which feeds…
7. Finally, as we head into a new year, you might be thinking about trying therapy. Last week I shared about firing a new therapist and going back to the old one–and after just one session, I am so grateful I made that choice. But how do you know if a therapist is a right fit for you? Setting therapy goals is a great step.

I believe I’m going to take the next two Fridays off, them being solemnities and all. In the meantime, I’m still doing the “Thanks, But I Have Plans” Advent Calendar on Facebook, Insta and Twitter, choose your poison, while the whole shebang has been sent to my gospel journal subscribers as a printable. I’m also going to put together a “Thanks, But I Have Plans” Twelve Days of Christmas calendar, so if you’d like that in printable form, please subscribe at the old gospel journal prompts page.

So, leaving you with my favorite Christmas song of all time. Every year I try to listen to it on repeat until I can even think of the words without crying. I’m still not there yet this year!

A Holy Advent, Joyous Christmas, and Blessed Solemnity of the Mother of God to you and yours. May these weeks shine light in your darkness. Let me know how I may pray for you? Meanwhile, make sure you give Kelly & the SQT crew a look see.