17 Comments
User's avatar
Peter Lautz's avatar

Another Wish for You

may you be

frequently ambushed,

thoroughly boonswoggled,

by a season of meandering joy,

a Mississippi of mischievous adventure,

a benign typhoon of good trouble,

redolent of favorite times

with people and

animals, places as well,

that sparkle you

with aliveness,

as you in turn

in your unbridled romping

transfigure

and effervesce all

with whom you’ve wandered

along muddy

cattailed riverbanks

bursting forth fat

blackberries, sizzling

dragonflies and

cottages shaded

by sycamores

serene as plump cats

lazing in sun, glistening

wonder like wildflowers

listening to rain.

Kathleen/Kash Emerling's avatar

This is so awesome! Good for you! (I got mine done at 49 and I love it!)

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

It's surprisingly freeing, isn't it?

Ink and Light by Nat Hale's avatar

I loved reading this — it’s such a brave, funny, and beautifully self-aware story. The way you link the piercing to that deeper work of learning to stay with discomfort really hit me. That instinct to swat away the pain felt so human, and your honesty in naming it made me smile and ache at the same time.

What stayed with me most was how this small, outward act — a tiny stud of silver — carries so much meaning about claiming your body, your voice, and your right to take up space. There’s something profoundly moving about the idea that in choosing what brings you joy, you not only nourish yourself but draw others closer too.

It’s such a hopeful reminder that healing can live in the smallest gestures — a needle, a sparkle, a breath of permission.

BTW I have always wanted a nose ring but have never been brave enough, they can look so beautiful, perhaps you have sparked something.

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

Thank you for this beautiful response. And yes, that nose ring is symbolic of so much more, and I love seeing it each time I look in the mirror. It's a moment of pain, but totally worth it. I say go for it!

Susan's avatar

Thank you. You have inspired me to my nose pierced again. I had it done twice in my teens but felt uncomfortable with what people thought about it. I have regretted removing them. I am also a therapist and have wondered what the take would be in seeing their therapist with a recent piercing.

Your revolution to have the piercing is a great hope for women who are in their 50s now and have grown up influenced by post war generation parents who expected their children to be seen and not heard. I think this attitude has been a contributing factor to self consciousness.

You have inspired me. Im off to get my nosed pierced.

Im 58 years old by the way.

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

I love this. Everything about it. I have not had one moment of regret, and as for the therapy room, it is just as they say: grist for the mill!

Kate's avatar
Nov 1Edited

Oh my goodness, I can’t believe how much this resonates. I got my nose pierced at 50, 2 years ago now, always fancied it never got round to it partly because I kinda of wondered what people might think of me, then my cousin and her daughter had it done I asked loads of questions and did it! It bloody hurt though but I love it, speaks to the wilder and freer part of me that was hidden for far too long! I have a serious job in child protection seeing and hearing awful things, since having my nose pierced I have qualified as a meditation teacher and am now training as a yoga teacher. The child protection sector in the UK is tough and soul destroying at times, hopefully with these qualifications I’ll be able to move gradually into a gentler way of living 🙏 funny how these things seem connected!

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

Thank you for sharing all this, and yes, it sounds like we share a lot of similarities. Also I can't imagine how hard that job is. You definitely have to take care of yourself however you can, including living that wild part of you get to see the light!

Surya Therapy's avatar

I did this at age 36. Partner was away at the weekend and I just thought, this is the weekend to do it ... and he didn't even notice 😅

Definitely a moment for me exactly as you describe. X

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

Love this. By the way, I just looked at your page and noticed you are psychotherapist. I have loved connecting with other clinicians on here. Just subbed.

Morten Ruge, MD.'s avatar

"What would my parents think?" 😅

The hold they have over us!

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

It really never goes away, amazing and interesting.

Ana Daksina's avatar

I was over forty when I got my facial tattoo ~ stars, moons, wavy lines and planets all across the hairline, down to the fronts of both ears.

From the beginning, even sometimes very conservative or elderly women have loved it. As you notice, it brings people closer rather than pushing them away. I just got my latest compliment on it this morning ~ I turned 66 a few days ago. 👌👍