Stranded Thoughts

Jessica Strand - Journalist

What connects us are the stories we tell. They help us relate to one another. We learn and grow as individuals, and as a society. They can help us learn from the past and create a better future. Once, I believed my voice didn’t matter. For nearly 30 years I struggled with shame and anxiety brought on by childhood trauma and the gender role norms instilled in me. My quietness was always a virtue. But After experiencing what some would refer to as the "Dark Night of the Soul," I reevaluated everything in my life. The first time I wrote about myself publicly was for a column in my college news paper. I had been working for the paper for several quarters, but this was the first column I wrote about me or my opinion. I shared about the domestic violence I went through in my marriage for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The positive response I received was when I truly believed I had a story that people might want to hear. I will no longer stay silent or be ashamed. Today I believe everyone has a unique story that matters. On this site, I share my memoirs, opinion pieces, poetry, and true stories.  I strive to be honest, open, raw, and respectfully unfiltered. I lay my soul bare before you. I believe the experiences in my life were necessary to teach me the lessons I have learned, and guide me to become the person I am today — I try not to feel shame about, or conceal any part of it. However, memory is a funny thing, no one's will ever be 100 percent accurate. This is my inner voice, a window to my soul. I hope my words help you see the world a little differently. Enjoy.