Mother called yesterday. I did send a card. She asked why I wasn't calling. I told her about the funeral behavior of my

[democrank]

21. Please believe that you have the power to make this abuse stop.

Maybe not on their end, but definitely on your end. It’s difficult and draining, but the power you give yourself will be your reward.

Step 1 is deciding you are worth saving and deciding you will be your own advocate.Step 2 is deciding you are going to put an end to the abuse. No more phone calls, letters, emails. No more hours wasted on thinking about what you can do to change yourself enough so that you get the love from them you deserve. It’s really a conscious decision, this notion that you want to save yourself and get on a different path.

It’s devastating to be the person in a family who is singled out for abuse, be it physical, emotional, sexual. It’s heartbreaking. It’s life changing. As long as you see a glimmer of hope for yourself, a speck of courage left, you can change things for the better. I know from experience this is possible….but so, so difficult. Find a way to believe. Find the courage to try. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Allow yourself tears, even sobs. Kick people that hurt you out of your life. Claim your space. Claim your rights. You can do this. Just know this isn’t some kind of magic answer. You’ll get triggered by things, still feel hurt. But it’s powerful when you can say to yourself that the abuse you experienced is part of you….not all of you….and you can choose a different way.

Sending love ~