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Birth - 3yrs old
Born in Cornwall, England in 1971. Lived in a tiny hamlet in the countryside with my parents & brother. Surrounded by music, nature and counter-culture. Things were idyllic but there was neglect, mental illness, addiction and instability. Trust v mistrust. -
3-4 yrs Morocco
We moved to Morocco for a year at an age when I was really becoming aware of my environment and becoming more independent (initiative v guilt). The experience brought us closer together as a family but was also disruptive to our home life (micro level). I was surrounded by Moroccans and heard French and Arabic spoken, and the sounds and smells of our life there had lasting impact. This changed how I view myself in the world and relate to people of other cultures (macro level). -
18-21 yrs old University
My undergraduate experience impacted my identity development enormously in exposing me to critical and feminist theory (mezzo level). These shaped who I am and how I view the world. At the same time I was at the identity stage of separating from my family and seeking more independence. I travelled across the US, fell in love and got married during these years. I became much clearer in who I wanted to be separate from how I had grown up (micro level). Identity v Role confusion. -
21-22 yrs old India
6 months solo travel in India; volunteered in rural development projects, visited many temples. Strengthened my spiritual connection to Buddhism and discovered a passion for working with children with disabilities. India changed my view of the world, the amount of poverty & suffering (macro). Decided to pursue music therapy and being of service. I was at a stage of shaping who I was in the world and needed to do that separate from my husband which proved challenging (micro). Intimacy v Isolation -
30 yrs old Motherhood
My son was born in 2001, my daughter in 2005. Being a mother has been the largest defining factor in my identity development (micro) and connects me with all other mothers (macro). I knew from early on I wanted to have children and pregnancy and birth were magical to me. There have been challenges - 2 miscarriages, divorce, and the usual parent/child struggles -but it has helped me grow more than anything else. Intimacy v Isolation. -
2011 Illness
Diagnosed with CFS/ Fibromyalgia. At a life stage when people are building their careers, raising children, buying houses, saving for retirement, having social lives, I was off work , too sick to be with my own children and needed support with basic things. I came to accept that I live with disability. Acknowledging this as part of my identity was important and helps me have a greater understanding of the issues faced by people with disabilities (macro) . Generativity v stagnation.
