standing on my feet

standing on my feet
Friday August 22, 2008

Dear Alice Miller,

I am forever grateful to you. After reading your books, I felt understood for the first time in my life. I am excited to have found someone who finally knows what they are talking about, so I bought all of your books! You have confirmed what I have always known, but could not articulate. I have to say that I was not as lucky as some of your readers in finding a good therapist, but thanks to the information in your books and website, I have finally found freedom at the age of 49. I was 36 years old when I discovered your books. Upon reading them I did not feel alone anymore, and with your help I was able to free myself from a toxic bond to my abusive family who are all in denial.

I am finally able to speak to them and be in their presence, if only for a short time. I have no hard feelings toward them anymore, just detachment and compassion. Of course, my being in the States and them in Portugal helps a lot, as the distance keeps them from invading my space.

Consequently, I am alone but happy, healthier and standing on my own two feet.

I believe I can help take your books to a lot of people who want the truth like me. You have helped me in writing my own book about my life’s journey, experiences and discoveries. I had to travel long distances and endure many years until I found an enlightened witness like you. No one who wants the truth should have to wait this long.
I have a horrible link to a famous doctor in Portugal, who took advantage of me when I was 17 years old. The doctors in Portugal are so sick and in the dark. If I find a way to go public with my story I will expose this sick doctor, and at the same time bring attention to your work. My passion is to do everything in my power to shine as much light as I can onto your very courageous work. This particular doctor is well-known in Portugal, Spain and Brazil, so people would probably buy my book because of his celebrity, and at the same time they would be introduced to your work. In the U.S., many people would be curious about my story and would probably buy the book. I have lived here for over 20 years and danced in a bar in Phoenix, Arizona. I became a very popular dancer and people from all over the U.S. and the world came to see me. Today I work as a gate attendant manager for a very up-scale, gated community in Scottsdale, Arizona. I was wondering if you or someone you know might help me to get my story written and published.
I know now that my mission in life is to expose this sick doctor in Portugal and help bring attention to your work. I want to see every Alice Miller book on display in every bookstore around the world. It is so annoying that I see so many books containing misleading information and lies, while I have to special-order your books. I feel there is a conspiracy to keep your books hidden from the public, especially in Portugal. I want to do everything I can to break through this conspiracy.

In the meantime, I have created a website—www.sylvieshene.com—where I tell some of my story the best way I can, getting a little help from people here and there. I have also posted a lot of your work, and if you find anything there you don’t agree with please let me know. I totally trust your judgment.
Thank you for your attention and for the very courageous work that you do. Without your books and your website, I would never have made it.
My love to you and your team,

Sylvie Shene

www.sylvieshene.com

AM: Thank you very much for your letter. It is indeed very difficult to find my books in the Portugese and Spanish speaking countries. As you are interested in distributing the knowledge that was helpful for you, I am sending you my new flyer that you can translate into Portugese if you wish to do so. Then we can put this text also into youtube where some other flyers are already published in English.I can well understand that you wish and need to write about the abuse by the famous doctor but I think that you should fist discuss with a lawyer the question how to avoid being accused by HIM for diffamation. This can still happen. In any case, I don’t think that my books need this story to be read and understood. And I am glad that you succeeded to save yourself eventually. The world is full of scandals like that and the victims often stay stuck in their stories.Please let me know how you feel about my suggestion.