Amanda Coggin has lived some lives. She currently lives in the Bay Area where she's resided for over 25 years. This blog is a series of writings from her thirties and forties as she healed through the traumatic loss of her boyfriend to suicide, the significant life event that brought her to her knees. What helped heal her back to wholeness? Long-term Buddhist meditation (Vipassana), Al-Anon 12-step recovery, yoga, grief groups, diving into death and dying, living life to its fullest, connecting to community, training at a Buddhist hospice house (Zen Hospice Project) in hospice work, training as a hospital chaplain at UCSF where she currently works today, training in psychedelic-facilitated therapy at UC Berkeley (where she's currently training), choosing to have a child, healing intergenerational trauma, becoming trauma-informed, being of service to others, talking about it, talking some more, and writing through her grief. A seven foot backpacker friend while she backpacked through Asia alone at the age of 25 once said to her, "Every day's a school day." Make the most of those school days and try to heal that which stifles you. It will benefit the world.
To think that I had to go to my daughter Amanda's blog site to learn that she lived a debaucherous life! I can hardly wait for the book to get more details.
ReplyDeleteI can handle it darlin'. Your Dad did a little debauchery in his young adult life as well!
Love ya, DAD
So 'tis true, apples fall close to their trees.
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda!
ReplyDeleteDid you go to IU?
I had a sorority sister named Amanda Coggin and didn't know what happened to her. Just curious.
I hope the book gets picked up!! Good luck.
Love your articles.
heather
I discovered your article while procrastinating on another project on Divine Caroline. I was excited to read more about a photographer and writer living a life I aspire to. I haven't read all of your work, but I was touched by the words on your blog about your life and it's ups and downs. Thank you so much for your words and now I'm on to your photo site to check you out there as well. I look out for more of your work. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI read your story "My Boyfriend's Ashes". It was so sad, yet a wonderful reminder that nothing in life is certain or permanent. Despite tragedy we must press forward and keep fighting the good fight. I'm looking forward to the memoir.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough I ventured here from the DivineCaroline site reading your article on large insects. Upon arriving at this website I read "A Letter to Gram's With Shades of Hope". It was very touching and must have been difficult to reminisce that period while placing on paper. I would be very surprised if there were no teardrops on the manuscript. God Bless you!
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I am glad I found you on Divine Caroline recently and am very touched by your life. Thank you for sharing all your pains, doubts, uncertainties and questions about life which many of us are looking for answers ourselves. Keep writing.
ReplyDeleteMs. Coggin,
ReplyDeleteYour writing is sharp. Well done.
I noticed your work (photos) in the Detroit Artist Registry.
I admire your work, and invite you to show it on the website that I have just launched: www.grassfedart.com. As of this moment, we have ZERO (give or take) members. We are just getting started, and I want to start with artwork for which quality and depth are self-evident.
Have a look if you are interested: (http://www.grassfedart.com)
Otherwise, you can blast this message into oblivion.
And, good luck with your work.
Cheers,
Jim