I'm Not My Story: A Poetic Journey of Healing

I'm Not My Story: A Poetic Journey of Healing

I'm Not My Story: A Poetic Journey of Healing is a poetry collection centered on healing, resilience, and the journey back to wholeness. Rooted in lived experience, Swamini B. writes about what it means to face the past without being defined by it. Through poetry, she separates what happened from who she is - reclaiming her identity with clarity and dignity. Divided into three sections - Turmoil, Insights, and Freedom - the collection traces the movement from silence toward self-acceptance. The poems bear witness to grief, anger, shame, and trust while honoring the gradual rebuilding of inner safety. I'm Not My Story does not turn away from the past. It meets it directly - and moves beyond it. This collection is for survivors, allies, and anyone seeking language for healing. It affirms the possibility of renewal. You are not what happened to you. You are who you choose to become. Each poem pulses with hard-won wisdom and emotional honesty, reminding us that we are not bound by our wounds or the stories we once believed about ourselves. We are all capable of shedding the weight of the past, reclaiming our voice, and stepping into freedom. — Dr. Christina Donaldson, Licensed Clinical Psychologist From the ruins of unspeakable abuse rises a voice unflinching and luminous. I'm Not My Story pulses with raw truth, aching beauty, and grace. This book is not only a testimony—it's an anthem of survival, a lighthouse for anyone seeking peace in the shadow of trauma. — Cherie Kephart, award-winning author of A Few Minor Adjustments Selected Poems "I will not accept their guilt nor will I accept their shame and I won't remain silent. I'm not to blame." — from I'm Not to Blame "There's a spark darkness didn't steal an inner light grief couldn't conceal." "I'm not my story I am the soul... reclaimed, reborn, and in control." — from I Am More Than My Story Swamini B. is a poet and contemporary monk whose work centers on healing and resilience. Rooted in lived experience and ongoing self-inquiry, she writes with a commitment to facing the past without being defined by it. Her poetry speaks to survivors and allies rebuilding trust in themselves, in others, and in life.