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19
Blacksburg, VA
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When were you at your weakest: It was raining and my friends were talking to me online asking me why i was being so moody lately. I had begun to cry because when i start thinking negatively i think about everything that is and was wrong with me. I remember when i was sexually abused as a child, i remember when i started using food as a defense, i remember when people called me fat to my face, but most of all i remember when my mother started calling me fat. I told my friends i was leaving. I ran outside in the middle of the night in the pouring ran and just sat down looking up, asking why this was meant for me.
When were you at your strongest: I was performing a monologue for a class. My teacher is a relatively famous actor who has worked with almost every one of my idols. He just looked up at me and said that was one of the best portrayals of the character he had seen. I had killed it and he was giving me so much praise. I felt so amazing I was ready to cry.
How are you feeling now: At the moment I am in the middle of finals, dealing with the stress. I haven't really talked to a lot of my friends in a while because everyone is so busy right now, but I am kind of happy. I know I will get to go home in 5 days and I will get to relax for once. I'm not even really worried about my grades at this point. Because I know I can do it.
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45
Eastern, NC
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When were you at your weakest: I have been at my weakest and ready for suicide 3 times in my life. Each of those times I let someone else control me and my actions. It ate at me severely enough to want to die.
When were you at your strongest: I am at my strongest right now in my life. I balance my life giving to others in several capacities from driving emergency response vehicles for the Red Cross to teaching anyone to overcome their fear of heights and climb to just listening or teaching others how to deal with everyday life in hard times. I am with a strong individual who communicates and shares everything including my ability to decide and do a project and he knows when to step in to help or speak up. He empowers me to be independent and yet dependent when I need those times as well.
How are you feeling now: Strong and capable. Caring and truthful. I feel loved and most of all I feel no FEAR! :)
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36
Lubbock, Texas
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When were you at your weakest: i was at my weakest, while i was being abused...dad, grandfather, two uncles. sexually, physically, emotionally...everything. recently, i realized that i was still allowing my father to abuse me emotionally every chance he got even tho i had already discussed boundaries with him. i felt so low :(
When were you at your strongest: i was at my strongest point ever in my life, when i finally was able to break free from those family members who abused me. grandfather died, but i haven't spoken to my dad in almost two years. hard for me, cuz family is everything to me...but i had to stand up for myself. i was so tired of being angry and upset all the time.
How are you feeling now: well, actually, this may seem weak, but i miss my family. i have my own little one, my husband and daughter...but it's hard to think my father doesn't accept me the way i am and not the way that he thinks i should be. but over all, i'm doing well! strongest i've ever been, and would love to help others!
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25
Vancouver
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When were you at your weakest: When I found myself unable to cope with grief. Suicidal thoughts and depression over this almost did me in.
When were you at your strongest: When I was a child. I grew up in a war, so many horrific things were going on around me but I was strong and I didn't let anything get to me.
How are you feeling now: At peace. :)
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33
England
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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
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28
Singapore
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When were you at your weakest: I was at my weakest when I kept putting everyone ahead of me in everything I did. People always saw me as the Superwoman and every time I would delegate things to get done, nothing would get done and I would then just quietly take everything back onto my plate and do it, because if I didn't who would? Be it for work or with family or friends, it was always others before me and gradually I was losing it - my health, my mind, my spirit and my love for life.
When were you at your strongest: I was at my strongest when I finally found the courage within to drop everything for once in my life, and to go and do something for myself. I didn't care if I was doing it alone and without much plans in mind or that I might not be financially sufficient. I just didn't care anymore, I wanted to do something for me for once, to find myself and that I did.
How are you feeling now: Right now I'm feeling pretty balanced out. I've learned not to lose myself in my life, to take time out for me. My job has started to appreciate me more with a long-deserved promotion and I'm beginning to learn to say no at times when I should.
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53
Liberty, Texas
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When were you at your weakest: My weakest point was when I was raped @ age 27. That night was the re-entry of insecurities I had as a young girl, thinking I was not pretty because I was brown skinned and not light skinned. (This was in the era of the 1970's) and the movie school daze made a huge impact on us as jig-a-boos and wanna bees. As he was raping me, telling me how ugly I was, etc etc. He eventually was arrested, and killed in jail by an inmate.
When were you at your strongest: The first thing come to mind is when my beloved step-mother passed away April 28, in New Jersey but before she passed away she called the ambulance for my father, because he was in a diabetic coma. She
died the next day, I flew from texas to New jersey to see about my father, he was in a coma for a week and was transferred to Philadelphia Nursing home. I had to clean out the house, bury my step-mother in Virginia, come back and finish the house. pack everything I was shipping to Texas, give away numerous items to Salvation Army. I did all of this from April 30, 2008 to June 7th 2008. In the meantime I had to leave my then 9 year old son with my 71 year old mother and 88 year old step-father who raised me and I was missing them and talking to them everyday. I had to leave my bio-father by himself, blind, diabetic, end-stage renal failure in the Philadelphia nursing home until August 2008. I left Texas to go and get him so he could be closer to me. and I found a nursing home 6 miles away from my home. The real strength came was when he came home with me and I was working until 5:00 pm , keeping up with my autistic son, my aging parents and going to the nursing home after work everyday, setting my dads clothes up. I then realized I had to set him up for a blind person right down to his watch.I visited him 3 days a week, and washed his clothes etc etc. Unfortunately my dad passed away Dec 29, 2009, and I look back on that and wonder how I did it all, then it comes to me, GOD GAVE ME THE STRENGTH!!!!!!!!!!!!
How are you feeling now: Still dealing with my Dad's estate, and its Christmas, missing him, sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm sad, realizing its the first year since he's been gone. BUT I am digging way deep for the STRENGTH GOD GAVE ME.
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50
Netherlands
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When were you at your weakest: When i was 24 and had my first child.
When were you at your strongest: right now Kids have grown and the mother-job has changed there is more time to work for me.
How are you feeling now: aware of me and my talents
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58
Connecticut
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When were you at your weakest: When I succumb to my addiction to mutilate my skin by picking at my face.
When were you at your strongest: When I worked full time and went to graduate school at night so I could change careers and do meaningful work in my life.
How are you feeling now: I'm tired and want to go to sleep. Feeling OK after reading all about Michael and watching his wonderful fan tribute videos.
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56
U.S.
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When were you at your weakest: When I was 25 and pregnant I was beat up by my ex husband and constantly told that nobody will ever want me. I felt this is my weakest time because emotionally I was shot and physically I could not fight back.
When were you at your strongest: One year later after I had my daughter. I was 26 and strong enough to take my two kids (3 and 1) and I left my abusive husband with just the clothes on our backs, but I never felt stronger and I never looked back.
How are you feeling now: I am retired and have an empty nest and no relationship so honestly I feel lonely and a little depressed most of the time. I'm just hoping what my ex said 30 years ago isn't coming true now.
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