<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[VIPS Wellness & Recovery Institute]]></title><description><![CDATA[Empowering Wellness, Recovery, and Connection]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:29:29 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Walking Shoes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Was feeling myself today.  First, I thought it must be the shoes, then I realized it wasn't what I was walking on, but what I was walking in: God's purpose for me.  This afternoon, I had the opportunity to share my story of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) survival  with the United States Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, Secretary McDonough, Congressman Bobby Scott and Congresswoman Elaine Luria.   I spoke my truth: the ways in which I overcame, the way Top, David Bower, first told me he believed...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/walking-shoes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d55d</guid><pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2021 23:05:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_b281906130334870bf736c36724940e1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Work Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[**Long post alert!** Back to the “work” I was taking about yesterday. I want you, for a moment, to consider something you desire or a...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/work-work</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d55c</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2021 13:37:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_456f6ba29ce247489dd6af692f31017d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Never Settle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Never never never . . .  Settle!  The message on the back of my shirt truly resonates with me today.  Never settle for less than you...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/never-settle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d546</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2021 06:04:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_44f9df30ce0940cf8fdfcbc3269a9930~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_960,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Work Work Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[*Super long post alert, but the end! So rather than working toward my goals or what I desired, I was working to maintain the thing that...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/work-work-work</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d55b</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2021 06:00:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_7705d432b09a4ce582970117b2822a86~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_954,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[People often ask where I get my drive. I could easily say the Army or my momma,  and all that would be true, but it’s deeper than that. I...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/_work</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d55a</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2021 05:54:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_8836ddac1cda4ca59b158949aa1c2485~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_720,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Gifts We Hide]]></title><description><![CDATA[For years, I kept my diplomas in a drawer.  May have been imposter syndrome or the fear of feeling I would be bragging if I drew...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/the-gifts-we-hide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d559</guid><pubDate>Fri, 05 Feb 2021 20:37:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_ccaaba5c3c31436a89243642241e948b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Writing Uninspired]]></title><description><![CDATA[Finding it difficult to focus on writing when it seems the world is on fire? I certainly am. Recounting past traumas is difficult enough...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2017/12/02/writing-inspiration</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d551</guid><pubDate>Sat, 02 Dec 2017 14:29:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_ee39cd3537a845dc87293b57cdd589c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_497,h_657,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Full Circle]]></title><description><![CDATA[During my childhood, visits to the Portsmouth Public Library were one of the many walking vacations Momma took us on when she had a day...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2016/01/31/full-circle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d552</guid><pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2016 02:22:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_7ad839f386f7430fa2702a7e3f5776e7~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_594,h_960,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Its Own Season]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I posted my last blog.  So much has happened in that time; a life-altering trip to the...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2016/01/17/its-own-season</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d544</guid><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2016 02:16:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_5c0866c8fd694e71a3f342eafd2927bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_508,h_677,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gettin' It Right]]></title><description><![CDATA[Up early combing through these first page proofs and I’m glad I didn’t take the fast/easy way out. Finding before-hidden errors that...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2015/01/18/gettin-it-right</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d545</guid><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2015 02:08:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_0394629e19534347b396dae3303152cb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_574,h_601,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Page a Day . . .]]></title><description><![CDATA[Just returned from a blissful New Year’s celebration with my VA family and I am full. Full, because I stepped out on faith, did something...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2015/01/03/a-page-a-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d553</guid><pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:11:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_0a1ae8ae81d04a118bc97471b0e219bc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_401,h_359,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's Going On?]]></title><description><![CDATA[It has been a while since I’ve been able to post here.  I spent the summer revising and re-revising my memoir, and that left little time...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2014/08/20/whats-going-on</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d554</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2014 01:04:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPkM8F0sjSw" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Panic Attacks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Now that I’ve sent my manuscript to my lovely editor, I’ve had more time to myself. While I originally thought I’d spend that extra time...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2014/04/26/panic-attacks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d555</guid><pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2014 00:55:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_a67f4c8259d745cfad5ac33ca693dfdc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_389,h_587,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second Chances]]></title><description><![CDATA[If only I could go back and fix all things I’ve done wrong in life. . . If I could see those signs sooner, avert those sometimes awkward,...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2014/04/19/second-chances</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d556</guid><pubDate>Sun, 20 Apr 2014 00:59:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9dae36nQUM" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Anemone]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’ve spent any amount of time with me, you know how much I love my fish tank.  I started the hobby soon after my family was targeted...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2014/03/25/my-anemone</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d557</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2014 00:40:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_fca281c62a794b75a4a3605a5924c0db~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_624,h_468,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[#MyWritingProcessBlog]]></title><description><![CDATA[I felt honored to have been asked by the amazing Diane Lefer to be a part of the #MyWritingProcess blog tour.  This blog tour connects...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2017/09/26/mywritingprocessblog</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d558</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2014 01:39:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_5f8daf05dce646d2a3bda3600b7c0bcb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_278,h_298,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[And So It Goes . . .]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello loves!  I promised I would blog about my publishing experience, so here’s the first installment.  I’ll try to post updates as often...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2014/01/06/and-so-it-goes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d54a</guid><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jan 2014 00:58:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_0fa172584c334ac9b86b0052106e650f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_780,h_585,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Starting Again]]></title><description><![CDATA[Up early writing and I’m loving this free time, this morning time, when it’s just me, my thoughts, and my laptop.  Feels so wonderful to...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2013/12/23/starting-again</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d54b</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Dec 2013 00:51:00 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What the Women in My Life Gifted Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[Still reeling from the wonderful news I received Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 at 3:45 p.m.  For obvious reasons, I want to remember that...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2015/12/15/what-the-women-in-my-life-gifted-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d54c</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Dec 2013 00:54:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b35c9a_3607459504fc4927a0ba9ae2e2e2aa99~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_720,h_551,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Revision Is Teaching Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life has been hectic for the past month, so I’ve been away for a while.  Just got back from Louisville, Kentucky and managed to mix a lot...]]></description><link>https://www.vipswellnessandrecoveryinstitute.org/post/2012/06/18/what-revision-is-teaching-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abb06b34d74c21016a1d54d</guid><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:49:00 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Laurie Jean</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>