What is a ruin?
A ruin, by definition, is “a physical destruction or disintegration of something or the state of disintegrating or being destroyed.”
In life, I interpret a ruin as destruction or instant change of a reality we were living. Be it a relationship, a job, a death, or a loss, at one point these realities were all we knew. When we face ruin or destruction it can feel catastrophic. Our survival becomes automatic and more times than not the pain can feel unbearable.
I’ve experienced many ruins in my life as I am sure you have too. It’s a part of being human and experiencing life’s joys and sorrows. Oftentimes the experiences that make us most human are the moments of destruction and unbearable pain.
The interconnectedness of suffering bonds us with the hands of compassion.
But, as terrible, awful, and horrifying as ruins may be, there is often something extraordinary that occurs within the rise or the rebuild. At times, this can feel like sorting and sifting through debris or ashes. In some cases, it may even feel like learning to walk again. Assimilating into a new reality is anything but easy. The pieces of the debris that we use to help us stand become our lifeline. It must be noted that rising from the ashes is anything but glamorous. It’s messy, difficult, and more often than not very painful. The irony; when looking back at the ruins in my life, even though they have been extremely difficult to go through, I have always miraculously grown through the experience. Experiences offer irreplaceable wisdom and reveal our internal strengths.
After a ruin, there is a very delicate and vulnerable part of the healing process. It can feel like a rebirth of sorts. The process of rebirthing captivates my attention. As a life coach, I hear many painful stories about loss, betrayal, devastation, destruction, grief, shame, anger, and guilt. With that said, within each story, there is truly a remarkable coincidence. It’s within the struggle that we come face to face with our greatest strengths. I consider these strengths as gifts.
I’ve always been fascinated with the rebuild. The process of rising up and beginning again. There’s something so beautiful about the rise and the healing journey that ensues. Ruins soften, open, and tenderize the human heart.
Pema Chodron says, “Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.”
I find people’s stories and matters of the heart to be inspiring, empowering, and ironically uplifting and hopeful. The human experience is truly remarkable because it has so many layers to it. A little while ago, I began to listen to a whisper...a calling of sorts. I started a talk show and podcast called, “Gifts of Ruin.”
My calling or purpose is to support people as they find their way through the pain. Be it emotional or physical, pain, in general, it’s what people struggle to move through. It’s this pain, struggle, suffering, rebuilding, and rising that is so essential for rebirth. This is the process in which I support people. This is how I support people.
The purpose of, “Gifts of Ruin”, is to offer light, hope, and faith. My guests share difficult and painful experiences they’ve healed through. The focus is on the healing journey and how they moved through the pain, and how they began to rise through the ruin.
We connect as human beings through the heart. We connect when we recognize our suffering in someone else. The purpose of this show is to offer heart through human experiences.
The book Eat, Pray, Love has some incredible wisdom surrounding ruins. One of my favorite quotes by Elizabeth Gilbert is, “Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation.”
And Brene Brown, another amazing author, says, “One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide.”
Those two quotes are powerful and really describe the purpose of this show.
You can listen to these stories on all podcasting platforms, “Gifts of Ruin”, and you can watch and subscribe to these stories on my YouTube Channel, MYOMIE.
If you’re interested in being a guest, email me at kelley@myomie.com or visit the website and fill out the questionnaire at www.myomie.com/freeresources.
I look forward to connecting with you. I know one thing for certain: if you are currently experiencing a ruin, transformation is possible, growth is achievable, and joy is attainable! You will grow through whatever you are going through currently and you will feel peace again.
If you are in need of support please email me. I will be happy to either support you or help you find someone that can. There is always a way!