A local spotlight: My Memoir Featured in The Almanac
This week, I had the privilege of being featured in The Almanac, a local paper that shared my story and the journey behind my memoir, Riding the Elephant: Unraveling the Mystery of My Childhood Trauma.
Writing this book was a deeply personal experience, one born out of necessity. For much of my life, I lived without a full picture of my own childhood. Repressed memories, painful truths, and hidden family secrets made understanding my past a mystery I felt compelled to unravel. As the article points out, this memoir took 15 years to write—not because I lacked the time or tools, but because I was processing my own trauma throughout those years. The story unfolded in real time as I revisited the past, unearthed new memories, and worked to make sense of it all. I didn’t even know how it would end until just a few months before I wrote the final chapter.
In the feature, I shared how growing up in an affluent Christian Science household masked what was happening behind the scenes. Trauma, as I’ve learned, doesn’t discriminate. It can exist anywhere—suburban neighborhoods, affluent families, or inner cities. As I told The Almanac:
“Behind this façade of affluence there was some very negative stuff going on. The point is, it’s not just inner-city people who have trauma; it’s in all walks of life.”
But the journey wasn’t just about uncovering trauma; it was about healing and finding ways to move forward. For me, that included everything from Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to a transformative weekend working with psychedelics in a controlled setting. It also meant leaning on the support of people I trust—like my wife Kathy—and committing to practices like meditation, yoga, and cycling to rebuild my sense of self.
The article also captures the broader purpose behind my memoir:
"Why aren’t support groups reaching more people? Is it stigma, or is it a broader issue of society not wanting to talk about this?"
These are questions I wrestled with while writing the book. Too often, trauma remains a taboo topic, leaving survivors isolated in their pain. My hope is that Riding the Elephant will not only break the silence but also serve as a resource for anyone seeking to understand the impact of trauma on their own lives or the lives of others.
You can read The Almanac’s full article, “Emerald Hills author shares his story about surviving childhood trauma,” here.
I’m grateful to the readers who’ve reached out to share how the book resonated with them. One recent five-star review called it “a testament to the resilience of the human spirit,” which deeply moved me. At its core, this memoir reflects my journey to confront the past and find a way forward—and I’m honored it’s connecting with others in meaningful ways.
If you’d like to join the conversation, you can find the book on Amazon, sign up for newsletters, or send me an email.
As always, thank you for supporting not just this book, but the journey behind it.
– Philip
