Index

Age: 53, Location: Ontario, Canada

When were you at your weakest:
At 17,in the woods behind my house, being raped by a stranger who attacked me from behind. He grabbed me on the sidewalk at night and threatened death if I didn't co-operate.I have never felt so completely helpless and terrified. It felt like my brain was exploding, yet I knew I had to hear his demands to stay alive.I vowed later to never let a man have that power over me and it helped me cope. I decided I wouldn't let him have another minute of control over me and refused to live my life in fear.

When were you at your strongest:
When I was raising my 2 daughters.I knew it was the most important job I would ever have and I put all my heart & soul into helping them become good people. It worked.

How are you feeling now:
I have struggled with clinical depression on & off for 40 years. The last 2 years have been my darkest. After trying just about everything I have just recently found an anti-depressant that works for me. For about a month I've been feeling better and I'm able to function and experience moments of enjoyment. Awesome!

Age: 39, Location: Suriname

When were you at your weakest:
I was at my weakest the night before we laid my famly members to rest. It has to to with accepting the things that you can't change, with fear for the unknown and realising how vunerable and short life is, with getting to feel lost and knowing what youve lost but at the oter ahnd being grateful that yo were part of their life and accepting God's will.Knowing that yu got to moveon and that things will be ok.At that point you're getting the strenght to give them a proper burial alhough saying goodbye...sucks!

When were you at your strongest:
I belief that i was very strong at the time that my classmate found that i didn't fit in to their visison of a 'perfect' classmate because of the way that i look, the clothes that i wear, my hair, my character.I felt very alone at that point but decided that i should only depend on me,myself and I, which i did.Praying helped alot and i've made it through that terrible period of my schoolcareer.

How are you feeling now:
Right now i'm stronger, wiser than i was for awhile.I've learned to accept thatin this cyberspace being in lovewith somebody doesn't necessarily have to mean that you can be or will be with that person. I've learned to accept people for what the are and gained lot's of friends with that attitude...they are my air.i""m learning to see life through their eyes,I'm sad at times feel lonely sometime in my relationship but that also is ok since i know that the sun will always shine through the heaviest storms.I know who i am and am grateful for the woman i became to be.

How Are You Feeling Now?

Age: 33, Location: England

When were you at your weakest:
in summer 2006 when both my grandparents passed away, they wanted to be together , one could not live without the other, they were my best friends, two people i wholly trusted and loved with all my heart and still do, at the time I thought i could not live on without them.

When were you at your strongest:
When I was diagnosed with cancer, November 2003.. I had 2 surgeries within 3 days , luckily no other treatment was needed, I had a *get on and do it if it needs doing* attitude, and people still say they would have been devastated, but i think i was strong, it doesn't mean i never had tears at times, but if we give in to things like this , that's when we lose battles x (7 years later, and I have been discharged from the hospital and I never need worry about it again )

How are you feeling now:
I feel like i can cope with life, I feel a little self concious , I feel slightly intimidated and unnerved at times, I am not as happy as i have been but i am far from as sad as i have experienced

Age: 18, Location: vernon bc

When were you at your weakest:
i was at my weakest when i was 14 and was in a bad realationship of lies and just with the wrong person, only wanted me for one thing, and making me feel tarible if i didnt give it to him, i was holding my ground on saying no, too young, not ready, aswell i was about leave him because i didnt feel right with him. but the day came when he wasnt going to wait for me and he desided on his own that i was ready, so he just forced himself on me, im still to this day haveing trouble getting frighting images out of my mind and that was 4 years ago, and i almost pass out or throw up if i see him in town, at school was most difficult because hes was he kind of person who spred roumors and lied about everything, every eye that looked at me i felt they knew but knew a diffrent story that wasnt the truth, it hurt the most when someone i didnt know seamed to know the false story. i felt used, violated and with the roumors that were spred made me feel like a whore and when a person did come along that i truly liked for his kindness and undersatnding, i didnt want to even hug him because i felt people were watching and judging, i am with this amazing person now but i still get some what emarassed to show affection in puplic.i really wish that no women has to go through this as it haunts you forever and tears at your mind, this was truly my weakest moment....

When were you at your strongest:
my strongest moment was when after i was finished with breaking up with this horrible person, still feeling terrible and stupid for falling for lies, i managed to take sometime with my art, horses and family to try and erase this from my memory, going back to school and finding he dropped out made me feel better as i wouldnt see him there, i found some great friends that made me laugh everyday, i felt no pain or hate, of course there were still the odd flash back of this event, but i would soon replace this with what happened with my friends that day,i was strongest then and i still am today, expsecially today, with my new boyfrrend i am rarely thinking of it and if some small flash back pops into my head it is quickly earased when i look down to see his hand holding mine, im quickly getting over my embarassment of public affection, i love hugging and kissing him because i love him so much, i just want to show the world that this wounderful person is with me. i can be who ever i want with him, say anything to him, talk for hours with him or just still there quitly with him not saying anything, i can wake up at 3 in the morning and talk about anything and he will be gladly to wake up from a deep sleep to confort me and talk things out, i have never slept so good in my life, i have no worries or problems in my head to keep me tossing and turning, i am the strongest i have ever been today

How are you feeling now:
i feel great right now, just thinking of the perosn i am with today makes me feel amazing, when he leaves for just a day i miss him the second i see his back walking away, i feel like im on a cloud with him, he is my worrie eraser, when i say i love you and he says it back, i know hes telling truth, there is no comparision to the other guy, and i thank him vary much for who he is.

Age: 30, Location: Caribbean

When were you at your weakest:
when i was physically and emotionally abused

When were you at your strongest:
when i left my husband

How are you feeling now:
liberated, even stronger than ever, ready for change.

Age: 33, Location:

When were you at your weakest:
I think right now, because I want to change my job, because I am not appreciate for what I am doing!

When were you at your strongest:
In 1992 , When I saw MJ live!

How are you feeling now:
somewhere between sad nd hope!

Age: 19, Location: iran

When were you at your weakest:
I think my weakest is the time that I feel I'm lonly in this world ! when I think I don't have any safety in the society ! when I think others can bother me wherease I can't defend myself !

When were you at your strongest:
I think when I feel I'm important in society and world as a human not just a woman ! when others respect me and all the wemon around the world !

How are you feeling now:
Now , I don't have very nice feeling ! but when I see some bodies are trying to help wemon around the world I get happy really ! FOR FREEDOM...

Age: 62, Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada

When were you at your weakest:
When I was a young mother - I had no clue about much of anything and was easily influenced to take actions I knew were questionable - such as discontinuing breastfeeding because I supposedly didn't have enough milk.

When were you at your strongest:
Years 1998 through 2003 when I took care of my self - worked out daily and ate healthy

How are you feeling now:
not so great. Rheumatoid arthritis has leveled all previous accomplishments. Being back on disability assistance has created hardship - and does not allow me to care for my self properly.