By Diana Kuper
“A gifted and eloquent storyteller, Diana Kuper transports us to her rich inner world with this thoughtful, poignant, and gripping memoir. An equally gifted healer, she uncovers many truths about what it means to be human as she guides herself to wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. Her paths to self-discovery and healing are nuanced and inspirational.”—Deborah Shuster, M.D., Neuropathologist.
I was born amidst the rubble of bombed-out Munich after WWII. When I was three years old, my parents and I, stateless persons, found refuge in the United States. Perhaps it was these beginnings that led me towards my lifelong quest to understand the human condition. I have held the following questions with some urgency — what makes humans act and live as we live here on planet Earth? How do people overcome challenges, adversity, and trauma? What is the nature of cruelty and evil?
At university I studied literature, history, and psychology. I looked to these disciplines for answers to my timeless questions.
I discovered the genre of memoir. Each memoir I read offered a view into the workings of the human soul. Each personal tale was a window onto a world—a rich vehicle illuminating an aspect of our human experience.
My work as a psychotherapist was also a treasure trove — an intimate look into people’s lives.
Ten years ago this memoir began to pour forth from within me. The writing of Parts 1, 2, and 3 was effortless. Yet as I wrestled with the question — what is the overarching theme of my memoir — I was unable to find an answer. Feeling defeated, I buried the manuscript deep in my computer, leaving it to languish there.
Four years later a series of rather otherworldly events urged me to excavate my manuscript and take another look. Lo and behold, the theme which had eluded me was now clear. It had been there all along in every word and sentence. My memoir was a study of the effects of trauma on the sense of self— the effects of trauma on body, mind, and spirit.
“Finding Refuge: A Memoir” became a deep dive into my life’s journey. Part 1 of the book told the story of a vibrant pre-adolescent girl who was impacted by four traumas that changed the course of her life. Parts 2 and 3 described life after trauma, the effort to navigate the developmental stages of adolescence, university, young adulthood, marriage, and motherhood while dragging along the ball and chain of trauma. Unseen forces came to her aid bringing spiritual power with them. Part 4 broadened the scope to include the human story of trauma — individual, social, and political — and to describe a path towards healing.
Please join me for a live interview followed by a Q&A on Sunday, January 22, 4pm at the Jewish Community and Cultural Center on Calle Las Moras 47.
