The worldwide pandemic forced me to face myself in 2020. I lived inside a studio apartment in New Jersey with only my cat for companionship at forty-five years old.Truly alone for the first time in my life. No husband, no commute to work, no chit-chat with co-workers, no workout classes, no meals with friends, no church on Sunday. Just me!
I thank God that I had Linda Darin as my spiritual mentor, healer, and guide, helping me process and understand what was happening globally and in my body, mind, and soul during this unprecedented season.Through our weekly remote Zoom sessions, Energy Healings Online to release emotional blocks, balance chakras, sound healings, and a monthly women’s group, Linda provided the emotional and spiritual support to stay strong – I didn’t fall apart!
She encouraged me in every area of my life. I continued to grow and change when I could have so quickly fallen back into old habits, like drinking, shopping, and dissociating from reality, all of which have blocked my path to healing in the past. With Linda’s spiritual guidance, I was able to be courageous and have the strength of spirit to persevere in my development journey.
I went through peaks and valleys during the pandemic and often fell into the victim mindset as new challenges arose. Reading selections from Linda’s book list and working The Darin Method®, I began to peel back the layers of these dysfunctional coping mechanisms developed from childhood trauma. I understood myself and my actions in a new way; I patterned myself after my parents and could choose to change!
I don’t have to live in the drama triangle. I saw my family in a new light and could meet them with compassion and love, letting go of deep anger and resentment. My relationship with my dad grew deeper through regular phone calls during the pandemic, sharing stories, memories of my mom, and helping him figure out how to use his computer!
During the lockdown, it seemed everyone was on a mission to organize and improve their homes. I, however, was ignoring the reality of my storage space of an apartment. Through working with The Darin Method® and our virtual healing sessions, I recognized that I was recreating the home environment I grew up in, believing I didn’t deserve any better.
I let workaholism help me lie and not deal with life. Working from home allowed me to begin work sooner, work longer, and not disconnect from the job. With Linda’s support and encouragement, I emailed my boss to set specific work hours, making time for walks and online yoga classes.
With her spiritual healing, guidance, and mentorship, I began to slowly unpack my home, rearrange furniture, and toss one item at a time as an act of self-love. I’m learning to let go of things and treasure my connection to God as my most precious possession. It has not been easy due to workaholism and perfectionism. Lying and hiding have been such habits that it takes so much effort to be authentic and transparent. I like to be the center of any situation, compete, and I will be the star. These patterns are so dark to admit, but I know it is the only way out!
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.”
While I was blessed to work from home as a clothing designer, my employer’s stress caused my employer to reduce my salary for some time significantly. Linda suggested I reach out to a financial advisor that I had worked with in the past through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace course. We were able to review my budget and plan to get through the shortfall in my income without going deeper into debt. After several months, I learned to use my voice to ask for my salary to increase, and I didn’t have the confidence to do it on my own!
The business eventually closed in 2021. I wanted to feel sorry for myself, but Linda’s mentorship allowed me to move quickly to get my resume and portfolio together, reach out to recruiters, and file for unemployment. I was interviewing within two weeks!
She also challenged me to take inventory of my job history and write a working autobiography. Doing so provided me with clarity, understanding my strengths and weaknesses, seeing patterns and beliefs around work, and knowing what I wanted and didn’t want in my next role. What a gift!
The pandemic also slowed down the courts, and Linda guided me to stay on top of my lawyer, making sure he was pushing to finalize my divorce.
I’d first filed for divorce in 2019, but it took all of 2020 for me to break through my deep-held belief that divorce was wrong. Linda assisted me in uncovering the root of this belief learned from my family and my environment in Ohio.
She encouraged me to write my story, which allowed me to work through my divorce’s emotions and become clear about what happened in my marriage and how God showed up when I left. I created a new belief and understood that leaving an unhealthy and damaging relationship with the mentally ill and alcoholic was the best choice for me since he refused help for twenty-five years.
When travel restrictions eased up before the holidays, I was planning to visit my twin brother. I had rarely let a year go by without doing my duty of visiting family—birthdays for nieces and nephews, summer trips full of fun and outdoor adventures, holidays in the snow-filled midwest.
I felt the strain of isolation and not thinking about the risk for whomever I visited, carrying what I came in contact with on my way to them! With her nursing background, Linda explained to me to see this risk, and I decided to keep them safe by staying home.
After a negative Covid test, I joined friends close by to share a meal and celebrate, focused on God for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were very different celebrations than I was used to, but were beautiful and loving, full of gratitude and joy to be alive!
The consistent weekly connection and encouragement from Linda as my spiritual healer and guide throughout this year in isolation, through online sessions, was why I didn’t give in to the fear, panic, and despair covering the planet. Linda is a vessel of light energy, and she shows me not to fear. She encourages me to turn towards God and listen to His voice. Through our virtual sessions I became focused on growing spiritually with God, being financially responsible, and creating a beautiful, healthy home environment.
As I reflect, I am so thankful that God brought me to Linda. And that she has shown me how strong I am! I am an over-comer because of her guidance, encouragement, and faith in the power of God to heal. I was able to make the conscious choice not to spiral and go on depression medication, not drink, and get out of control, numbing my emotions during the pandemic.
Linda has helped me understand the importance of feeling everything, moving through my feelings, and releasing them to find peace, knowing God is in control. This new pattern is all new for me and challenging. I highly recommend Linda to anyone needing spiritual healing, guidance, mentorship, and support to change the direction of their life.
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”