journey love hoffman

Family thankful for child with Trisomy 13, defies condition labeled 'incompatible with life'

Journey Love Hoffman was given seven days to live. 

Born with an extra chromosome, Journey was diagnosed at birth with Trisomy 13. The rare genetic condition, also known as Patau syndrome, affects about one in every 10,000-16,000 babies and is described as "incompatible with life."

About 90% of the babies who survive through birth die in their first year.

But Journey turns 2 this December. She has several surgeries ahead of her as her family navigates continuous health challenges and barriers to getting help, yet they remain grateful.

"As much as we have the need to label what she has ... Journey is not Trisomy 13," said her mother, Deirdra Hoffman. "Journey is Journey."

Journey loves family dance parties at their home in Dallas. She especially likes listening to rap, music from Sesame Street and Ray Charles.

She keeps her yellow toys closest to her. She likes to be tickled. She holds and comforts people. She enjoys crunching crinkle paper by her ear before she sleeps.

Her parents and sister think of her as compassionate, snuggly and sassy, with a healthy dose of stubbornness. 

Deirdra said: "She's like a light in the dark world."

A fatal diagnosis

After a healthy, full-term pregnancy, Deirdra held her newborn daughter for what felt like five seconds before Journey was taken away for tests. Other than a miscolored and slightly smushed nose, Deirdra didn't see anything wrong with her. 

Her husband eventually returned with tears in his eyes. The doctors needed to rush Journey from the hospital in Silverton to a genetic specialist in Portland. 

The doctors determined Journey had Trisomy 13, then asked Deirdra, "Are you a Google person?" 

"No, not really," she said.

"Good," she recalled them saying, "don't Google it."

Individuals with Trisomy 13 often have heart defects, brain or spinal cord abnormalities, very small or poorly developed eyes, extra fingers or toes, a cleft pallet or lip, seizures and weak muscle tone. 

Three days after she was born, Journey's doctors told her parents to prepare for hospice. 

"We're extremely faith-based," Deirdra said. "You can tell me that from a scientific standpoint — I can get that and understand that — but that's not necessarily the case.

"God's got this," she said. "Whatever her life is going to be, that's what it will be. We want to enjoy and do everything we can for her."

There are different types of Trisomy 13 — partial, full, translocation and mosaic. Translocation is the only form that is passed hereditarily. The others can be affected by the mother's age, but are random and result from no fault of the parents.

More: Thanksgiving could make or break nation's coronavirus response

Babies with full Trisomy have a tendency to be born early, have dramatic malformations and die quicker.

"It really sits hard," Deirdra said. "You think, 'No, I want to have my baby. Even if I have my baby for just a day, I want to have my baby.' "

Journey was originally diagnosed with full Trisomy.

There are only eight published cases of patients with full Trisomy 13 over the age of 5, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information . The median life expectancy is 7-10 days.

But Journey continuously met or exceeded goals. Unlike most babies with Trisomy, her brain was fully formed, though she is mostly nonverbal. Her kidneys, liver and pancreas were fine. Her heart, though it had holes in the beginning, functions well. 

After 27 days in the newborn intensive care unit, the family was cleared to go home.

"She was just a fighter from the very beginning," Deirdra said.

Journey continued to thrive and often surpassed traditional developmental markers. 

By 3 months, she was rolling back to front. Deirdra said she had fantastic head control.

By 8 months, she was standing on her own while holding onto a table. She was walking with support, sitting alone in a seated position, eating solid food and feeding herself.

The family decided to take Journey for another genetic test. This time, doctors determined she didn't have full Trisomy, but rather mosaic.

Education : Salem-Keizer School Board considers move to restrict some speakers

That was a relief, Deirdra said, since some people living with mosaic Trisomy have no discernable conditions.

"We'll probably be buried in medical bills our whole lives," she said. "(But) we want as much normalcy for both of our daughters as possible."

Barriers to in-home care

Part of Journey's condition makes it difficult for her to sleep. In a 24-hour period, Journey may only sleep for one or two hours, and it's not always consecutive. 

When she's in pain, she holds her breath, making it impossible to drive with only one adult in the car. 

She has to stick to a strict diet, so her parents prepare her all-natural food from scratch and grind it finely for her feeding tube.

Now, they've found she has a potential hernia, aspiration pneumonia, a tethered spinal cord, a urinary tract infection and a large cyst at the base of her spine. These issues have caused her to regress, including her ability to stand on her own.

She has several surgeries ahead, and will likely need intensive medical treatment her entire life.

"Sometimes I can't think clearly," Deirdra said. "Yet, I'm doing her full dietitian work. We're pulling up all of her meds. We document everything and you're often doing it all in a blur."

The lack of sleep is especially hard. Deirdra wonders how long they can sustain a high level of care.

"I absolutely love caring for her, I love my family and I feel competent to do (it)," she said. "But right now, and for the last two years for the most part, I've been confined behind four walls all the time. All day, every day."

Deirdra said Journey turned 1 before they were able to get in-home nursing assistance. But it's not consistent and it's come after several hurdles. 

"The best way to describe it," she said, "is a nightmare."

Others are reading: Oregon to pay 'waiting week' of unemployment benefits by Thanksgiving

Deirdra, a former teacher and owner-operator of her own cheerleading gym, eventually decided to walk away from her business to become a full-time caregiver. They've since had multiple individuals come in and out of their lives as supplementary care providers.

"Journey is supposed to have a nurse," Deirdra said. "We've never had a nurse.

"I don't mean to be dismissive of people," she said, "but to have someone come into your home that has never held an infant and has zero medical background — how is that support?"

She said it would be nice to get a good night's rest. To be able to walk down the street and get some groceries. To have someone accompany her to appointments so her husband doesn't always have to leave his flooring company to help and so her older daughter, Savvy, 11, doesn't have to manage that with her schoolwork. 

It also would be nice to have some alone time with her husband. The couple hadn't been married long before Deirdra became pregnant with Journey.

"There have been so many nights when (one of us) sleeps on the floor in the other room and we do shifts," she said. "We aren't able to sleep in our own bed together, let alone go on a date."

Family looks to future, offers advice

Deirdra still considers their family among the lucky ones.

"I see some Trisomy families where (there's) a young girl, she's 21 and she's doing this by herself," Deirdra said. "They're just kind of thrown to the wind.

"I felt that way. Sometimes it feels like too much," she said. "I have a supportive husband and a great older kid. I come from an educated background, I speak English and I'm older.

"I can't imagine what some of these families are going through."

Deirdra's advice to struggling parents is to find people to advocate for them and to help them find resources. 

"If there's something that you need," she said, "it's there, it's available."

Deirdra said hospitals should dedicate an individual to help families better navigate and understand their options from the beginning. In her experience, she was handed a piece of paper, "basically (told), 'good luck' " and had to figure things out on her own.

"Let's be real, in your first year, regardless of whether your child is healthy or disabled, you are completely sleep deprived. You barely know what's going on," she said.

"Unless you have someone that has great resiliency, I think a lot of people fall through the cracks."

She said the mentality around Trisomy syndromes and other often-fatal conditions needs to change as well. 

Instead of medical professionals seeing them as "incompatible with life," Deirdra wants doctors to look at things optimistically and find the best-case scenario for the child, even if they only have a few days.

"We want, as a culture, to be dismissive and in many states, deny any kind of intervention … because we say their quality of life isn't going to be good enough," Deirdra said.

"What is quality of life?" she said. "I think how (Journey) lives life is amazing. She takes all that she has and she turns it into joy."

Natalie Pate is the education reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at [email protected], 503-399-6745, Twitter  @NataliePateGwin  or Facebook at  www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist .

This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Discover more stories like this by becoming a Statesman Journal subscriber  and get unlimited digital access to stories that matter.

Journey Hoffman

by Terre Krotzer | Jan 16, 2021 | Blog , Family story , Stories | 0 comments

“Journey is not and never will be a diagnosis, she is Journey, and she has her own story to be written by the hand of God.”

Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.” Journey Love’s name was chosen long before we knew her diagnosis. If you ask me, it was divinely chosen. Her middle named selected to follow her sister’s middle name, first Faith, then Love. It has been this since the day she stepped into this world to open our eyes to a life so much richer in existence than the one we had been previously living.

Because of our personal belief, we had chosen not to have any formal testing of any nature done. We had one minor encounter that had hinted that there may be something very different in Journey’s development but it was quickly dismissed and long forgotten.

Journey entered the world through natural childbirth in a room with in a room with myself, her father, my doula and midwife. And then the floodgates opened. Swarms of bodies filled the room with what perceivably looked in retrospect as panic. God has known at every step what I needed and at that time it was pain. I was in a cloud and fog of unadulterated pain because of whatever nerve that had been hit during her natural birth and with the panic, the only person who seemed to notice me was my doula. I was almost completely oblivious to the chaos at hand. It wasn’t until my pain subsided and my husband entered the room teary- eyed to tell me he was accompanying Journey to a NICU in another city more capable to attend to her vast needs that I felt my first pang of uncertainty and a restlessness in my spirit.

But as any mother separated unwillingly from their child I had sheer determination to get to her, and because of the natural birth, I was able to get to her the very same night. And that’s when the questions started coming…

I remember being poised in a manner as if a loss had just occurred. The words….”we believe we know what we are dealing with… and, if it is what we think…” I was asked if I used the search engine Google much, and I responded with a steadfast no. Apparently this was a good answer because that is how the geneticist responded, “ Good.”

After that I remember a series of days being sat down and told, “7.” If we were lucky, Journey would have 7 days. I couldn’t help think immediately the Biblical value of the number 7 and a strange calmness rested in my soul. It must have projected as a look of confusion or the lack of an ability to digest what was said, but it was repeated over and over, for a few days in fact, until I believe they thought they would see a sign of acceptance. The problem with that is that I never have fully “accepted” Journey’s diagnosis. This does not mean I dismiss or do not acknowledge what comes with a child of such special need. But, to me Journey is not and never will be a diagnosis, she is Journey, and she has her own story to be written by the hand of God.

I acknowledged and thanked all of the medical and scientific side to things but let them know we were people of faith and that we would allow that to be our guide. Then we got to work.

My husband and I worked as a team around the clock trading off shifts so that one of us was always present in the NICU with Journey and the other could spend time with our other child and work. We worked tirelessly for 27 days and nights with Journey to hit one goal after the next. She lived to be skin to skin with us and we both did it every day, encouraging each step that we were told “she most likely wouldn’t do.”

First concern was her brain; a swaddled MRI let us know she was okay. Then it was her heart. She had a few VSDs and ASDs and her PDA had not closed. One by one starting with the closing of her PDA, resolution after resolution, fast forward a year and a half and all of her heart, fully resolved. They checked her kidneys; a bit of sludge, but resolved prior to her exit of the NICU. A little baby, given 7 days, that we were told would require oxygen, need a gtube, need a trach, and go home on hospice, walked out of the NICU without any oxygen support, no gtube, no trach, feeding by bottle from my expressed breastmilk with minimalistic supports of blow by air and suction.

Journey is now two. We have had a few hospital visits; the longest inpatient was around the 7-8 month mark where it was necessary for her to get a gtube as a bridge to assist with her GI issues, have a LADDS procedure for malrotation and an appendectomy. Other than that we have had a few ER visits, the majority not overnight stays but for those that were we typically went home fairly quickly thereafter.

We have had to advocate frequently, study enormously independently, do a lot of the medical “ work” by networking with other amazing families, prayer, research, and trial and error, but she turned two Dec.15, 2020. She has already hit many milestones and defied so many odds.

Journey is currently back to eating orally and still has a great mysteriousness to many of her gastrointestinal functions. But who among us has lived a life without adversity? Who among us has not learned from that adversity and become better versions of ourselves for it?

A nurse named Grace requested us on the date of our release from the NICU. Ironically, Grace was not a fervent believer herself but she said that she felt compelled to be there to see us off and that she had learned so very much from our family experience. On that very day, our little “ LOVE” was able to touch Grace and has been doing the same for so many others since.

Click here to follow Journey on Facebook.

Recent Posts

• The SOFT Nominating Committee Is Pleased To Announce
• Pediatric study opportunity for Trisomy 18/13
• Trisomy Awareness Month Proclamations 2023
• 2024 Trisomy Awareness Profile Frames & Covers
• 2024 Trisomy Awareness Month Event Calendar

Recent Comments

• February 2024
• January 2024
• February 2023
• January 2023
• August 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• September 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• January 2021
• January 2020
• December 2019
• November 2019
• December 2018
• October 2018
• August 2017
• January 2014
• January 2013
• November 2012
• August 2011
• January 2011
• January 2005
• Beyond Goodbye
• Expecting A Child
• Family story
• Medical Professionals
• Parenting A Child
• Publications
• Related Disorders
• Uncategorized
• Entries feed
• Comments feed
• WordPress.org

Trisomy Awareness Products order form

• Name * First Last
• Address * Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country

SOFT Trisomy Awareness Month Products

"Changing the NARRATIVE together": wristbands in Red and Blue with yellow.

• Package 1: 10 wristbands - $20 Quantity Price:
• Enter quantity here:
• 8 1/2" - XL
• Package 2: 25 wristbands - $45 Price:
• Package 3: 50 Wristbands - $75 Price:
• Sample Pack: 3 wristbands, 1 lanyard & 5 postcards - $15 Price: Includes 3 wristbands, 1 lanyard & 5 postcards for a $15 donation.

Changing the NARRATIVE together lanyards.

• Changing the NARRATIVE together lanyards. - $5 ea. Quantity Price: $5.00 Quantity
• Changing the NARRATIVE together lanyards. - 3 for $12. Quantity Price: $12.00 Quantity Enter number of sets in quantity field.

SOFT Trisomy Strong Adjustable Wristlet

• SOFT Trisomy Strong Adjustable Wristlet - $12 Quantity Price: $12.00 Quantity

SOFT Trisomy Strong Face Masks

• Trisomy Strong Face Mask - Adult Quantity Price:
• Trisomy Strong Face Mask - Youth (4 1/2" width) Price:

SOFT Trisomy Awareness Postcards

• Package 5: 10 Postcards - $7 Quantity Price:
• Package 6: 25 postcards - $15 Price:
• Package 7: 50 postcards - $25 Price:
• Shipping to an address outside of the US. Price:
• Enter 1 if shipping to an address outside of the US. Please enter a number from 0 to 1 .
• Total $0.00
• Comments - Let us know here if there is anything else we need to know regarding your order.

After tapping the SUBMIT button, you will be taken to PayPal to complete the transaction, paying with either your credit card or your PayPal account. After tapping the SUBMIT button, please allow some time for the transfer to PayPal to occur.

D Scott Showalter

MD, MPH Retired, General Pediatrics

HOW SOFT HELPS FAMILIES

Join our email list, next steps: sync an email add-on.

Deborah A. Bruns

Ph.D Professor Southern Illinois University

Katherine “Katya” Anne  Kosiv

MD Assistant Professor Yale University School of Medicine Pediatric Cardiology

Glenn E. Green

MD Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology Mott Children’s Hospital University of Michigan

Stephen R. Braddock MD

Professor of Pediatrics Director of Medical Genetics Saint Louis University SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital

Martin J McCaffrey

Jennifer L.H. Sogge

MD Anesthesiologist Vice President – Member Support Medical Advisory Board

Steven D. Cantrell

John C. Carey

Your Name Goes Here

Barb VanHerreweghe

Josh Bradley

South carolina.

Renae actively engages through the Social Media Committee, oversees State Proclamations during Trisomy Awareness Month (TAM), and is chair for SOFT’s state representatives. She holds the position of SOFT treasurer, bringing with her many years of administrative expertise.

Josh possesses significant experience in the field of non-profit leadership, organization, and development. Josh contributes his talents to the SC Baptist Convention. Notably, he played a key role in the revamping of SOFT’s mission statement and vision framework, furthering the organization’s overarching goals and objectives.

Terre Krotzer

Jennifer Sogge

Steve Cantrell

Dr. John Carey

Kris Holladay

Raliene Banks

Washington dc.

Kelly Hernandez

Home / Depression, anxiety & mood / Release negative patterns — heal yourself emotionally and physically

Release negative patterns — heal yourself emotionally and physically

Reviewed by Dr. Sharon Stills , NMD

E ven the most successful of us have vulnerabilities that can paralyze us emotionally and prevent us from being truly happy. Sometimes these are deep emotional wounds that can begin to present as physical pain or similar symptoms.

In this article

The power of the emotional brain

Negative love and our family patterns.

• The Hoffman process of change: how we forgive, heal, and find our true selves

Trigger healing, not disease

One of the biggest problems with our current medical system is that we don’t understand how to work with patients’ emotional needs. And these emotional blocks, when not addressed, tend to manifest physically. Even women who see therapists may have blocks. Many can “talk around” the therapist and convince themselves they could manage on their own. Others take antidepressants , but claim that when they take them, they just don’t feel anything . The bottom line is that we’ve all developed negative emotional patterns, and our tools for fixing these patterns don’t always help us to find the joy, creativity, love and good health we’re seeking.

Many times women could really use a program that promotes emotional healing and self-confidence. The Hoffman Institute has been the place we recommend most often. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people heal emotional wounds, identify self-defeating behaviors and learn more effective ways of living. Although Hoffman’s program is not for the faint of heart, we’ve found that for those who are brave enough to undertake it, the results are beyond your wildest dreams in terms of emotional freedom. It doesn’t make your life “perfect” when you’re finished, but it helps you understand patterns of behavior that may trouble you, and it will change how you look at and interact with other people.

We spoke with Raz Ingrasci, president of the Hoffman Institute, about their process and how women can become more aware of negative patterns in their lives before these patterns get in the way of their overall health. The Hoffman Institute has worked with thousands of women on these issues. Let’s take a closer look at what the Hoffman Process tells us about how you can heal your emotions and become the healthiest version of yourself.

We often tell ourselves that our negative feelings aren’t productive, so why dwell on them? The answer to that question is that if those feelings aren’t resolved in some way, they won’t simply go away — and they can cause you both emotional and physical pain for years until you work them through. Here’s an example: Charlotte had been deeply hurt by her husband. He’d lied to her for years about their monetary situation, and the truth was only revealed when there was no choice but to file for bankruptcy. All those years, she had trusted her husband to be responsible for the money they both worked hard to earn. When the truth came out she felt betrayed, humiliated and so physically sick that she could not eat or sleep. But because Charlotte had a high-powered job and because the logistics of the bankruptcy had to be worked through, she assessed that there was no time left for her to feel. She put her feelings in a box and went to work to find a way out of the mess her husband had created. Amazingly she got them out of financial hot water, reworked all their expenses and even managed to secure a promotion at work. But the painful emotions she had stuffed throughout her ordeal were never fully addressed, and they continue to creep back into her life unexpectedly.

According to what Raz has seen at the Hoffman Institute, our emotions largely determine the quality of our lives. Emotions direct our attention, motivate our behavior, influence our sense of self and attribute significance to whatever is happening around us. Many of us walk around spending most of our time “in our heads,” believing that we’re very rational about our decisions and actions. Yet in reality, our actions are mostly guided by how we feel.

Burying our emotions only means they will resurface some other way, some other time. They may manifest as physical problems or again as unwanted emotional states, but you can be certain that repressed emotions will come back. You may have read about the Adverse Childhood Events study, which looked at the way emotionally troubled childhoods manifested in adults as physical ailments. The data were astounding: the more emotional stress people endured as children, the more likely they were to suffer chronic health concerns like heart disease and cancer later on in life.

But when we recognize the power and significance of our emotions, we can begin to overcome the past and dramatically improve our lives. To tap into this emotional power, Raz suggests “the best strategy is to become aware of your feelings and move with them, not judge or criticize them and not act them out, but rather, to allow yourself to experience your sensations and emotions.” This is how we work through problems and eventually heal. But many of us, like Charlotte, have been taught to push these feelings down.

Is negative love running your life?

Think back to an experience in childhood, where a parent did something that hurt you. Now reflect on whether you have similar experiences in your adult life. Are you in a relationship where someone “does” this hurtful thing “to” you; do you “do it” to someone else; or, are you “doing it” to yourself?

Can you remember when you were a small child? I’m sure you recall being told No! while in the midst of exploring the world around you. From the time we were toddlers, our parents and other caregivers told us how we should and shouldn’t act. From this guidance, we learned that their love and acceptance were dependent upon our behavior. You may have heard: “If you’d only act more like your sister and stop being such a cry-baby, you could come out to lunch with me more.” Or something along those lines. As adults, we tend to reproduce the very behaviors we used to win our parents’ love. And because repeating these behaviors is rooted in the feeling of not getting enough love, Bob Hoffman, creator of the Hoffman Process, called this the Negative Love Syndrome . From birth, we learn by emulating the attitudes, moods, behaviors and beliefs of our caregivers, including those that were negative. That exposure and learning shaped us.

These behavior patterns play out in our adult lives as well. Many of us end up seeking and cultivating relationships that are similar to what we experienced with our parents because this is how we learned about love. These “negative love” patterns often continue from generation to generation virtually unexamined.

Here’s another story: Anne has small children and promised she would never force them to bury their emotions the way she was taught to as a child. But as one of her sons was entering and the other leaving the “terrible two’s,” their house was filled with tension and drama. To alleviate the stress, Anne found herself doing exactly what her mother had done: trying to return the house to peace and quiet by stifling her sons’ emotions. The amazing thing for Anne was that addressing her negative patterns enabled her to simply enjoy her children. She told me the other day that without the worry of trying to make everything perfect in her home, it seems like she suddenly has more time and space.

In order to become our authentic selves, we have to examine where our emotions and motivations stem from. If you find that your critical attitude toward others comes from one or both of your parents, Raz would suggest you ask yourself, Do I really want to be so critical of the people I love? Is this really who I am? If the answer is no, take comfort in the fact that you don’t have to carry the burden of your parents’ traits. Nor do you have to blame them. They probably learned this behavior from their own mother or father and most likely were doing the very best they could raising you.

The Hoffman process of change: how we forgive, heal and find our true selves

“I can tell you as a biologist that when we step into the part of ourselves that doesn’t judge, that is simply open to the possibilities of the moment, that what happens is we feel a sense of peace and gratitude. Enormous biochemical changes accompany that, changes in the neuropeptides from the emotional center of the brain, changes in our immune system and our cardiovascular system that are all consistent with good health.” — Dr. Joan Borysenko, co-founder of the Mind-Body Clinic at Harvard University. Addressing deep emotional issues can give you a freedom you haven’t felt in a long time: freedom from expectations, freedom for your body and most of all from the negative chatter inside your own head. But all this freedom may leave you unsure of who you are now. And you can begin the work of redefining yourself.

Here is an overview of the transformative steps taken by Hoffman Process participants for your personal consideration and practice, and if you find you would like more guidance, you can look into the Hoffman Institute .

• Awareness. Awareness is a simple, yet monumental first step in healing negative patterns in your life. If we can allow ourselves to simply feel and name what we’re feeling, the reflection often comes easily. For many women, it’s mostly fear. When we become aware of how we have been programmed, we can look at where it comes from and find a more productive response. On the other hand, if we see the programming is good — which much of it can be from loving parents — we can incorporate it more fully into our lives.
• Expression. When we discover that one of our negative patterns comes from a parent or caregiver we felt close to, it can sometimes make us angry or frustrated. Repressed and unexpressed anger often evolves into hostility, depression or despair. Expressing this frustration is integral to the healing process. We hold anger and resentment in our physical bodies, so it makes sense that we need to release them in a physical way. Dancing, running, drumming, hitting a pillow with a wiffleball bat or simply letting it out in tears are all ways to physically release your frustration and anger. It’s important not to confront the individual who is triggering you while you are highly emotionally activated . In most cases, carrying this anger into a conversation leads us right back to the very pattern we’re trying to understand and de-energize.
• Forgiveness. The negative patterns we notice in our lives have most likely been carried down for several generations. This means our parents and caregivers probably learned to act out these negative patterns to win love from their parents, so it feels natural, almost instinctual, to treat their own children that way. If you can think about your parents as young children trying to decipher the rights and wrongs of the world, you know that they were doing as they were taught. And in most cases, all parents are truly doing their best and acting out of their understanding of love. Finding emotional forgiveness toward your own parents and caregivers for teaching you unproductive behaviors is another step toward healing your heart and finding inner peace.
• New behavior Once you permit yourself to unblock painful emotions and reflect upon them, life can become much richer, and you may begin to feel more alive than ever before. With each emotional situation you encounter, you can get into the routine of feeling first and then looking closely at those feelings. Perhaps you need to work on expressing some pain, addressing a fear or forgive yourself for something you feel shame about. Practicing a more reflective, rather than judgmental approach when you realize you’ve reacted negatively will get you into the habit of stepping back and saying, Wow. That’s interesting. I need to work through that. Instead of, Why am I such an idiot? I can’t believe I said that!

Raz once asked, “You know why we’re all so good at using negative patterns? Because we’ve been practicing them since early childhood.” It’s so true. And we can take comfort in the fact that health-defeating interactions with others are learned behaviors, behaviors that we can unlearn with time and practice. The best part is that when we release these patterns and come from a place of love, emotionally, it can trigger healing physically in the body.

The quadrinity of mind, body, spirit and emotions make us who we are. And according to Raz, much of the work done at the Hoffman Institute involves differentiating emotions and identifying positive alternatives that allow people to lead proactive rather than reactive lives. Raz admits, “It requires intention and practice. It’s something we will spend our whole lives doing.” But, it’s work worth doing.

It’s been said that the greatest journey we will ever take is to travel the distance from our head to our heart. The Hoffman Quadrinity Process takes individuals on that journey. It’s a path of incredible discovery, freedom and love — a path of healing and finding oneself.

1 Kiecolt–Glaser, J., et al. 1998. Marital stress: Immunologic, neuroendocrine, and autonomic correlates. Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 840 , 656–663. URL (abstract): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9629292 (accessed 06.10.2009).

2 Felitti, V., et al. 1998. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Am. J. Prev. Med., 14 (4), 245–258. URL (abstract): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9635069 (accessed 06.24.2009).

3 Laurence, T. 2003. The Hoffman Process , 48. NY: Bantam Books.

4 Bamber, M., & McMahon, R. 2008. Danger — early maladaptive schemas at work! The role of early maladaptive schemas in career choice and the development of occupational stress in health workers. Clin. Psychol. Psychother., 15 (2), 96–112. URL (abstract): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19115432 (accessed 06.10.2009).

Kuchinskas, S. 2007. Love and Mom’s spaghetti sauce. Scientific Blogging, Science 2.0. URL: https://www.scientificblogging.com/susan_kuchinskas/love_and_moms_spaghetti_sauce (accessed 05.07.2009).

5 Robles, T., & Kiecolt–Glaser, J. 2003. The physiology of marriage: Pathways to health. Physiol. Behav., 79 (3), 409–416. URL (abstract): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12954435 (accessed 06.10.2009).

Seeman, T. 2000. Health promoting effects of friends and family on health outcomes in older adults. Am. J. Health Promot., 14 (6), 362–370. URL (abstract): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11067571 (accessed 06.10.2009).

Seeman, T. 1996. Social ties and health: The benefits of social integration. Ann. Epidemiol., 6 (5), 442–451. URL (abstract): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8915476 (accessed 06.10.2009).

Krumholz, H., et al. 1988. The prognostic importance of emotional support for elderly patients hospitalized with heart failure. Circulation , 97 (10), 958–964. URL (accessed 06.10.2009).

Most popular articles on Depression, anxiety & mood

Struggling to make a lifestyle change? Here’s what a health coach wants you to know

By Caroline Morin, NBC-HWC Embarking on a journey of change,…

A lasting side effect of Covid? For many, it’s depression

By Dr. Sharon Stills, NMD It’s estimated that over 80…

Turns out Oprah was right — repressed anger really can lead to low thyroid

Are stress and negative emotions contributing to your low thyroid?

CBD oil for anxiety relief – does it really work?

There are so many claims about CBD oil today, especially…

Still have more questions or concerns?

We’re here to listen and help. You’ll talk to an experienced advisor right here in Maine. Your call is free.

What is love's story? Could knowing that story help reconnect us with one another and create a world of hope; one in which differences don't divide but rather fascinate and inspire? Ride with us via our YouTube channel, TED/public speaking, upcoming book, and PRX radio series to discover that world through stories of the folks who live there and are building it every day! 

The roads to love are open - let's ride.

See Our Story

A middle-aged, South Dakota biker couple looking for love might seem out of place in a Buddhist temple in New York, in Salt Lake City’s gay pride parade, the Baptist churches of Alabama, among the Amish of Pennsylvania, in a Colorado prison hospice, on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, the streets of East Detroit, or in the St. Louis Ballet. Yet, we have ridden out to them all in a quest to discover love and its human connections across our changing nation. Our videos and writings offer our own love story as well as our hopes and devotion to the idea that while the faces of America are changing, those faces needn't turn away from one another until we all become strangers in our own land. We delight in positivity and motivation, destroying stereotypes, and seeing the good in folks as we travel America, reconnecting diverse people and communities through stories of who, where, what, and how we all love!

LOVE IS HOPE AND HOPE IS AN ADVENTURE!

As Seen/Heard On

Join Us On Patreon!

Support Journeys to Love - become a Patron of the J2L community!

• Politics & Social Sciences
• Social Sciences

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: $16.76

Return this item for free.

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Journey Home: Discovering the Deep Spiritual Wisdom of the Jewish Tradition Paperback – August 1, 2003

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Print length 232 pages
• Language English
• Publication date August 1, 2003
• Dimensions 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 0807036218
• ISBN-13 978-0807036211
• See all details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Editorial Reviews

About the author, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved., product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beacon Press (August 1, 2003)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807036218
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807036211
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• #214 in Jewish Theology
• #263 in Jewish Social Studies
• #426 in Jewish Life (Books)

About the author

Lawrence a. hoffman.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top review from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

800-506-5253 / 415-485-5220 [email protected] Request an info pack

I Am The Love

• Hoffman Institute

By Andreas Hummel

During my Process, I made a public declaration at our graduation to visit my mother, who had shunned me for 18 years, bring her flowers, and tell her I LOVE her.

At the two-month mark, on 4/1/15, I did exactly that – I showed up at her door unannounced and did it. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

She raged, screamed, and was beside herself with anger. She demanded I leave her house at once. At one point, I was sure she was about to spit in my face. I was shaking down to my core. But I stood firm and kept saying “Mom, I love you no matter what.” No matter what obscenity she screamed, I held on to the only mantra I could find – Mom I love you.

I left her flowers, a card, and the letter of appreciation I had written her while I was at Hoffman and quickly exited her home. The entire episode took less than 3 minutes. And then I was back in my car, shaken down to my core, trembling inside, and I began to sob those tears that only come from a lifetime of pain.

To be perfectly clear here, the outcome was not what I had hoped for, but that is beside the point.

The point is I did what I said I was going to do, and I stood for the universal principal of Love that I learned at Hoffman. As I looked deep into her face while she raged on me, I could see the broken woman she was. I could feel her deep, immeasurable pain that she had chosen to imprison herself with.

At that moment, I was able to have empathy and compassion, and was able to hold a space of love for her no matter what. I knew, going into the scene with her, that no matter what she said, no matter what she did, that my love for her was NOT DEPENDENT on how she felt about me. I finally realized that I AM the LOVE , and that I can BE the LOVE , at all times and under all circumstances. This exercise, despite the outcome, actually helped me profoundly. My sense of worth was no longer dependent upon my mother’s opinion or approval of me.

At that moment in time, I had truly been set free, and my Hoffman Process was now complete.

At the four-month mark, my brother, who was the one who enrolled me in Hoffman, called to say he had terminal cancer and was given only a few months to live.

I drove to Las Vegas, to be by my brother’s side as he lay in intensive care after emergency surgery, and stayed with him for most of the next two months, May and June. I reached out to one of my classmates while I was there, and he was a lifesaver for me. I was in a dark place at that exact moment in time, and he made time for me. Thank you, Bill!

If you ever wondered if God has a sense of humor, wonder no more. Because while I visited my brother in intensive care, guess who else had to be there? My mother – the same one who just 60 days earlier raged on me because I went to tell her I loved her.

OMG, if there was ever such a thing as guardian angels, I’m sure that they were just rolling over. The irony of it all!

Ultimately, I took daily care of my brother, while my mother, who was still hostile toward me, couldn’t help but notice my service to her other son, the one she so dearly loved.

After a few weeks of watching me, my mother finally capitulated, broke down, and apologized for shunning me for the last 18 years. While it wasn’t easy, my mother was finally able to let go of the long-standing resentment she had toward me. Once I found out what it was, I was able to resolve it, and then, bingo, the magic happened, and our relationship went back to normal, as though the shunning of the last 18 years had never happened. It was nothing short of a true miracle. I know my guardian angels were smiling.

Since that time, I have begun an epic journey of becoming a permanent traveler. I put all my personal belongings in storage, gave up my residence in southern California, and have begun an epic journey of traveling across America. In a few weeks, I’ll be in New York City, then Toronto, and then New Zealand and Australia. And if the facts be known, I’m happier now, and feel more love than ever before.

In order for us to see up, we have to see down. To know pleasure, we need to know pain. To know cheerfulness, we need to know despair – that’s the journey of life: to compare and contrast so we can appreciate it all.

Thank you, everyone, for loving me when I couldn’t love myself.

This Is Not About Vitamins or Stretching, Unless It Is

Perfection: you are it, so get busy living & giving of your uniqueness, show up. trust. you’ll be lifted., 10 comments.

05/08/16 at 9:39 AM

Wonderful story of the power of love, which is also the power of courage. What a cauldron of testing for the Hoffman process–and how beautifully you shone through. And the courage of your trip: I love it! When it seems right, I hope you will let us know about your travels.

01/19/16 at 10:22 AM

Wow! These Hoffman blog stories are so powerful and yours is amazing to me. What courage you had! Your spiritual self was definitely at work here! Thank you for sharing this testament to love; we all know how hard it is to break those patterns and be vulnerable. You’ve done one of the hardest things ever! And I’m so glad it ended up working out.

Anna Wilson

11/03/15 at 5:25 PM

Andreas….this is a powerful story. Thank you for sharing. I hope your travels are magical and amazing. I am a Hoffman graduate since 1999 and a singer/songwriter. I have song I wrote and sing that I think you might relate to as you embrace your permanent traveling, especially since you are from SoCal:) The song is partially set there so you may find some solace and common experience with the words. It’s a song called “I’m Not Defeated” and is on my first record which is called “The Long Way”. The entire record is all about the journey and traveling but “I’m Not Defeated” specifically seems like a song you should hear based on your personal story that you have shared here. Perhaps it might be a nice traveling companion and let you know you are not alone! It is easily downloadable at iTunes. xoxo, Anna

11/17/15 at 9:01 AM

Hi Anna…thank u for your kind response. I would love to hear your song. Is there any way u can share it with me?…I’d love to hear it. Thank you for reaching out. Andreas

Isabela Harb

11/03/15 at 2:15 PM

Thank you for sharing ! There is a beautiful history about love and compassion. Happy with you my hoffman brother.

Christine Falcon-Daigle

10/26/15 at 12:42 PM

Andreas! I cried through the entire story! This is so deeply touching and I am so happy for you! Blessings on the journey ahead. May you spread love and light all over the world.

11/17/15 at 9:03 AM

Hi Christine….thank you Love. Andreas

10/17/15 at 9:00 PM

Thank you for sharing! It is so nice to hear Hoffman spoken! Spread your love around the world!

Freddie Camozzi

10/16/15 at 12:33 PM

What the world needs now is love, sweet love It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of What the world needs now is love, sweet love No, not just for some but for everyone … –from the song, “What the World Needs Now” by Jackie DeShannon

10/16/15 at 10:08 AM

i could barely read thru my tears…beyond happy for you!

Write a comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Blog Subscribe

• Name First Last
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Former 'Biggest Loser' contestant shares the 5 tips that helped her lose 150 pounds and keep it off

• Megan Hoffman lost 150 pounds and kept it off after being cast on "The Biggest Loser."
• She said she wished she'd known about simple habits like walking and having a flexible diet earlier. 
• The best advice for weight loss includes finding a supportive community and non-scale victories. 

A former competitor on " The Biggest Loser " said she lost 150 pounds and kept it off for years, thanks to five simple weight loss tips.

Megan Hoffman of California was the At-Home winner of the 2020 season of the hit reality show, losing the most weight after she was eliminated from the contest.

She later lost even more weight and became a spin instructor.

Now 39, Hoffman told Business Insider that what she learned from therapists and other experts about consistent healthy habits was more important to her results than the specific foods she ate or how she worked out.

"We get so stuck thinking things need to look a certain way. Nobody's journey needs to look the same," she said.

Hoffman shared the biggest pieces of advice she would give to her earlier self, and anyone looking to start or stay strong on a weight loss journey.

Weight loss won't fix everything

According to Hoffman, maintenance is the hardest part of losing weight — and research confirms it. A common mistake is thinking that weight loss can solve life's problems without a plan to maintain healthy habits and goals afterward.

"Before, I really romanticized what weight loss would be. We think that overcoming the one hurdle will change everything," she said.

Hoffman said part of what made her weight loss sustainable was that she had already built a strong sense of herself and the life she wanted, so the scale didn't define her self-worth.

"You're worthy and deserving exactly as you are. But there might still be reasons to want to change. One does not go against the other," she said.

Walking is a great weight loss tool

While Hoffman said she's a big fan of working out, especially strength training, she recommends daily walks as an accessible way to boost weight loss .

Related stories

"Go for as many walks as you can," she said. "I lost the majority of the weight by walking."

Evidence suggests that adding as few as 500 steps a day can have health benefits .

Support is crucial, so ask for help when you need it

"The Biggest Loser" has been met with criticism that its weight loss strategies were too extreme, short-term, or exploitative for TV.

But Hoffman said she felt a real sense of community in her time on show (which was not renewed after its 2020 reboot). She said the social connections were key to achieving her results. She worked with a therapist, who she's stayed in touch with, and could surround herself with people she felt were cheering her on.

"Don't be afraid to ask for help," Hoffman said.

Research consistently suggests a social routine is the best way to make healthy habits stick , whether it's exercise or eating a nutritious diet.

Be flexible with your diet

Most people who have tried to lose weight are familiar with diet plans that have extensive rules, strict limits, or cut out entire food groups. Hoffman said that while intensive dieting didn't work, it was appealing because it seemed to offer a straightforward solution.

"Fad diets were easy because I love being all in or not thinking about it," she said. "I'm still learning to be more flexible."

But allowing herself more freedom to enjoy foods she loved led to better results in the long term, according to Hoffman. She eventually lost the weight not by being strict but by being consistent with simpler strategies like eating more protein and fewer processed foods.

Trust the process

Another common mistake in weight loss is impatience, prompting people to make changes too quickly and leading to cycles of weight loss and regain, known as " yo-yo dieting ."

Hoffman said waiting for the scale to shift can be frustrating, so finding other sources of motivation along the way is crucial.

"The hardest thing is that it takes time. You can work hard for two weeks, not see change, and be miserable the whole time thinking about the number," she said.

Instead, she found the process was easier when she focused on other signs of healthy change , such as having more energy or meeting goals she could control, like going for regular walks.

"Stop looking at the scale and get comfortable with creating the habits," Hoffman said.

• Main content

Log in or Sign up

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser .

The Journey "Best Pressings" List

Discussion in ' Music Corner ' started by RichC , Oct 3, 2021 .

RichC Forum Resident Thread Starter

Following up my "Toto Best Pressings" thread from last year with a post devoted to another commercially successful, critically-maligned act from the late 70s/80s era! And as with Toto, there's a lot of albums and a lot of pressings, but very little discussion about them on the SHF. And since prices for Journey vinyl are really starting to creep up, this might be useful for anyone who doesn't want to spend $25 on a bad pressing of, say, Infinity . SO.... I'll start with a basic list, gleaned from the little info I've gathered on this forum, and please fill in the gaps with your own recommendations. (Also, please try to limit this just to vinyl, as the various Journey CD pressings have actually been covered pretty well over the years.) Journey, Look Into The Future, Next (1975, 1976, 1977) - no info Infinity (1978) - KENDUN cut is supposed to be very good. Journey Infinity Vinyl Question Evolution (1979) - no info, and basically WHY I created this thread. Here's the only SHF discussion I could find on the Evolution vinyl.... One post asking for a better pressing than Specialty, and one response telling him to just stick to the CD: Best vinyl pressing of Journey Evolution? U.S. promos seem to have a STERLING stamp, so maybe those are the better ones? But just a guess. Departure (1980) - no info, again just CD discussion. There's a STERLING press and an Artisan of this tho. Captured (1980) - no info, but I'm assuming MASTERDISK RL. [Rule #1: If it's the 80s, and there's an RL cut, go with the RL.] Escape (1981) - finally some info! Journey "Escape"--best vinyl version? Quick summary: Look for MASTERDISK, and an embossed cover indicating 1st press, and a 1A/1B if you're lucky. Ludwig supposedly did the earliest unsigned cuts, although there's a few pressings with his initials too. (Also HW and BK.) Finally, there's the Japan cut and also the OOP (expensive) Friday Music reissue by Kevin Gray. Frontiers (1983) - Could only find one SHF post about the vinyl and it was negative.... but MASTERDISK pressings of this one exist too, so perhaps another RL cut? Just a guess tho. Any confirmation? Street Talk (1984) - not Journey, just Steve Perry solo, but the RL cut is supposed to be demo-worthy, so figured I'd add it to the list. Raised On Radio (1986) - Are we noticing a trend? The RL press is very good and still pretty cheap. Greatest Hits (1988) - I can confirm that this is a lackluster DMM cut AND the sides are too long. (Really should've pulled this out to listen over the last 7 years, in hindsight.) Amazingly, the 2011 reissue is even worse, despite being spread over 2 LPs. (I sold that one and kept the '88.) Ditto with Greatest Hits Vol. 2, which only appeared on vinyl in 2011. In short, there is NO Journey compilation on vinyl that sounds especially good... which is ironic, given that their catalog is probably best suited by a greatest hits set. Questions about Journey's Greatest Hits on vinyl The later albums has never been released on vinyl, as far as I know. (Plus, I personally don't care.) Please help me fill in some info gaps, especially with the 70s records!  

Greenalishi Birds Aren’t Real

Where’s, Dream After Dream? Great record. Great sound too. I wonder if there are variations?  

c-eling Dinner's In The Microwave Sweety

IMO Journey pretty much suffer's from the ELO syndrome. (The way it's been recorded) on a few albums. So they're going to be a 'it is what it is' type thing. Next-US Wally, sounds fine Departure-US Artisan HGF, sounds fine Frontiers-US Masterdisk, poor Raised On Radio-US Ludwig, nice sounding recording/cut. Street Talk-US Ludwig, nice sounding recording/cut  

Greenalishi said: ↑ Where’s, Dream After Dream? Great record. Great sound too. I wonder if there are variations? Click to expand...

c-eling said: ↑ IMO Journey pretty much suffer's from the ELO syndrome. (The way it's been recorded) on a few albums. So they're going to be a 'it is what it is' type thing. Next-US Wally, sounds fine Departure-US Artisan HGF, sounds fine Frontiers-US Masterdisk, poor Raised On Radio-US Ludwig, nice sounding recording/cut. Street Talk-US Ludwig, nice sounding recording/cut Click to expand...

RichC said: ↑ Is Frontiers just bad across the board? (I've spotted a few other negative comments about the LP.) Did the vinyl mastering get screwed up? I don't notice any real issues with the original CD. Curious if Departure is any better with the STERLING vs Artisan, or if they're basically identical cuts. Click to expand...

I don't have any other copies of Escape to compare, but mine is MASTERDISK HW, one side only but both sides play equal. Kinda beat up but the vinyl is mostly clean. Nice punchy sound, but a little weird.... There's lots of bass (LOVE Valory's lines in "Stone In Love"), but not much deep low end. It's like the bass sits in the mids. That's probably baked into the original mix tho. Perry's vocals are pretty treated as well, but that doesn't bother me. I think any Escape with MASTERDISK and an embossed cover should give you the best listen. Early matrices are a little better, but the prices on this one are getting high, so you're probably better off just finding a clean one. 8 years ago you could find plenty of Journey in the used bins, but those days are mostly over.  

tenohtwo 1002

Thanks for this thread, RichC. I am big fan of Perry-era Journey, and currently re-building my Journy vinyl collection. My copy of Frontiers that I've owned since '83 is pretty beat up (not well cared for as a kid), so I have been looking online at sealed old stock or Japanese copies. It's a little concerning to hear that the Masterdisk quality is poor. Frontiers is my favorite Journey album, but I have always noticed that the recording itself is not as crisp and clear as Escape , I think it's how Steve's drums were mixed. Anyway, I would be curious if anyone here owns a Japanese pressing, and thoughts on the sound quality of that release. Cheers!  

There is a ' Barry ' cut. But I'm still in the 'it's the recording' camp on this one. Have any of Mike Stone's productions ever been close to audiophile?  

TD82 Active Member

I own the CBS Mastersound copies (half speed mastered) of 'Escape' & 'Departure' and they are pretty good!! I really enjoy them. I also own the Friday Music Kevin Gray cut version of 'Escape' & 'Infinity', they are good, a little boosted here and there. I cant seem to find a decent copy of 'Raised on Radio'  

dubious title Forum Resident

Are desirable Journey records really climbing in price?! Not a huge fan, but hard to pass on a $7-10 choice pressing when I see them. Think c-eling is right. It is an ELO thing, the records don't sound great. Surely this was a band that engaged the sonic maximizers and tinkered in the studio. Listened to my Kendun of Infinity last night and it sounded just fine but still futzed with, un dynamic and a little flat.  

A few quick updates, based on my recent buys/upgrades: Journey – Escape (1981, Terre Haute, Vinyl) This is a one-sided RL, and a small but noticeable improvement over my previous copy, a standard MASTERDISK. (But still embossed cover.) Some of that might be due to the condition of the vinyl, this one looks and sounds barely played. I still think you can't get around the weird mix, which centers a lot of info in the mids (even the bass guitar) rather than the low end/sub frequencies. But it sounds really good for what it is. There's definitely a lot of punch to the instruments, and I don't mind the processing on Perry's voice. Anyway, really happy to have found this copy, and I'm not looking further. Journey – Frontiers (1983, Pitman, Vinyl) This is the record that just doesn't sound good. Kinda flat, no real soundstage. This copy, again, is mostly mint... and it didn't cost much! (This one and RoR are still pretty cheap everywhere.) I don't know if any other pressings improve on this, but just seems like something went wrong with the MASTERDISKs. CD might be better here. Steve Perry – Street Talk (1984, Pitman Press, Vinyl) This is a GREAT mastering. Ludwig doing God's work here. Mastered so well that I can really hear all the effects on Perry's voice. But while I prefer the songs and "sound" of Escape (closer to 70s production for bass/drums/guitar/keys than this one, which is extremely Eighties), I think Street Talk is the one that sounds best on vinyl so far. If you don't mind Eighties production, it's sonically impressive and a big step up from any CD. Plus, the songs are actually good! (I say this as someone who never investigated beyond the singles.) Sorry for venturing into solo Perry, but if you like Raised On Radio, this is definitely the predictor of that sound. Yes, I know Street Talk is all session guys, but aside from Schon's guitar work, not much really changes for the next/last Journey album proper. (Oh, and @TD82 .... I don't own a vinyl copy of RoR yet, but my friend swears the RL sounds awesome, and based on Street Talk I assume he's telling the truth.)  

@RichC thanks! there are 3 RoR RL disks on ebay around 20$ i will try one of them out! if you see a sealed copy somewhere let me know!  

RichC said: ↑ A few quick updates, based on my recent buys/upgrades: Journey – Escape (1981, Terre Haute, Vinyl) This is a one-sided RL, and a small but noticeable improvement over my previous copy, a standard MASTERDISK. (But still embossed cover.) Some of that might be due to the condition of the vinyl, this one looks and sounds barely played. I still think you can't get around the weird mix, which centers a lot of info in the mids (even the bass guitar) rather than the low end/sub frequencies. But it sounds really good for what it is. There's definitely a lot of punch to the instruments, and I don't mind the processing on Perry's voice. Anyway, really happy to have found this copy, and I'm not looking further. Journey – Frontiers (1983, Pitman, Vinyl) This is the record that just doesn't sound good. Kinda flat, no real soundstage. This copy, again, is mostly mint... and it didn't cost much! (This one and RoR are still pretty cheap everywhere.) I don't know if any other pressings improve on this, but just seems like something went wrong with the MASTERDISKs. CD might be better here. Steve Perry – Street Talk (1984, Pitman Press, Vinyl) This is a GREAT mastering. Ludwig doing God's work here. Mastered so well that I can really hear all the effects on Perry's voice. But while I prefer the songs and "sound" of Escape (closer to 70s production for bass/drums/guitar/keys than this one, which is extremely Eighties), I think Street Talk is the one that sounds best on vinyl so far. If you don't mind Eighties production, it's sonically impressive and a big step up from any CD. Plus, the songs are actually good! (I say this as someone who never investigated beyond the singles.) Sorry for venturing into solo Perry, but if you like Raised On Radio, this is definitely the predictor of that sound. Yes, I know Street Talk is all session guys, but aside from Schon's guitar work, not much really changes for the next/last Journey album proper. (Oh, and @TD82 .... I don't own a vinyl copy of RoR yet, but my friend swears the RL sounds awesome, and based on Street Talk I assume he's telling the truth.) Click to expand...

Dr. Funk Vintage Dust

The Funk's checking in on this one... S/T, Look Into The Future, Next- I sincerely doubt that there's some exotic import pressings floating around that will better the orig US Columbia (stick with those). By the way, those three albums get overlooked...some great progressive tunes. Infinity- the KENDUN sounds fabulous. Evolution- I own a two sided STERLING...I have not compared with any other pressings. Departure- I kept the Artisan...much more punch than the STERLING. Escape- my STERLING Howie beats the pants off my club press. Frontiers- yeah, it's a long album. But I love the sound of my two sided MASTERDISK. I was strutting around as Freshman in 83 with a sleeveless black Frontiers shirt humming Send Her My Love up and down the halls of my high school (some great memories). Don't expect "audiophile" treatment with these albums. There are many different instruments that come into play with plenty of digital experimentation. Many of these late 70's early 80's AOR albums will sound busy and at times a tad harsh. I hear many similarities with REO, Styx, and Foreigner albums. Raised On Radio- two sided RL...this gets cranked often.  

c-eling said: ↑ There is a ' Barry ' cut. But I'm still in the 'it's the recording' camp on this one. Have any of Mike Stone's productions ever been close to audiophile? Click to expand...

Dr. Funk said: ↑ There's a Barry cut of Frontiers? Click to expand...

c-eling said: ↑ Yes sir. Journey – Frontiers (1983, Vinyl) Looks like a Carrollton, Georgia manufacture Confirming it with a seller would be required of course. My Departure is an Artisan with a HGF, it does sound pretty good. Sucks, I haven't run into any Journey except that Wally Next I talked to you about a year or so ago. Click to expand...

Dr. Funk said: ↑ I remember that conversation...those first two are fun albums. Those Barry sigs intrigue me Cory. I own two vinyl copies of Kansas Point of Know Return...one is a STERLING cut and the other has "Barry" in the wax...I prefer the sound of the Barry. Click to expand...

c-eling said: ↑ I was pretty happy finding that Next, is was in too good of shape to pass on! That's pretty cool about the Kansas, I'll have to check mine. The only Barry I have is Floyd's Wish You Were Here, another lucky find in an antique shop, buried amongst a bunch of Laurence Welk stuff The last two Journey titles I've purposely searched out were 7 incher's for a couple Steve Thompson mixes. Click to expand...

Dr. Funk said: ↑ That Barry cut of Wish You Were Here has gotten a lot of traction on this forum...I need to track one down. Click to expand...

c-eling said: ↑ Nice sounding and easy to spot -barcode with a green/black label design, not blue. Is that Barry Kansas an 80's re-issue? I checked mine, Sterling Terre Haute, which makes sense given my location. Click to expand...

Dr. Funk said: ↑ I believe so Cory...I'm pretty sure it has a barcode on the back cover. I will check when I get home this evening and give you the particulars. Click to expand...

c-eling said: ↑ Makes sense, thanks! I think the trio of names were given the responsibility of certain Sony early 80's re-issues. Great mastering's on potentially better vinyl. Click to expand...

Dr. Funk said: ↑ As far as I can tell, there is no Discogs listing for the Point Of Know Return "Barry" cut. Click to expand...

Share This Page

• Log in with Facebook
• Log in with Twitter
• Log in with Google
• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

• Search titles only

Separate names with a comma.

• Search this thread only
• Display results as threads

Useful Searches

• Recent Posts