Inerview with Survivor Sally Field

Gayle King interviews Sally Field
Sally Field was sexually abused by her stepfather.
Sally, “The abuse haunted and guided me throughout my life.  …  With a traumatic childhood, you are sorting it out your whole life long…My relationship with Burt [Reynolds] was extremely complicated.  It was just as complicated as my relationship with my stepfather.  I couldn’t see him, really, because I kept hearing my past.  Except he kept stepping right into the old footsteps that were left behind by my stepfather.”
Me:  Hearing Sally say that was enlightening.  I wasn’t the only one who had abusive relationships after being sexually abused.
Gayle, “So, how did you heal?”
Sally, “How do you ever know if you are healed?  I don’t know.  But I do know this, I don’t have a relationship with anyone.”
Me:  Another thing in common with me.
Gayle, “Would you like to?”
Sally, “I don’t know.  I distrust…I think that is probably the area of my life that I cannot heal.”
Gayle, “You distrust men?  Is that what you are saying?”
Sally, “Yeah, sure, absolutely.  And I distrust that I can remain myself.”
Gayle, “Is acting therapeutic for you?”
Sally, “Oh, I think acting has healed me in a lot of ways.  Each time it asks me to find something inside of myself that I did not want to know.  And to own those pieces of myself is freeing.”
Me:  I know I will find respectful love in a life partner eventually.  But I am enjoying getting to know myself right now.  I am enjoying uncovering all of the gifts I have and all of the love I hold for my fellow survivors.  I look forward to writing my second book just for them.