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24
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When were you at your weakest: After I was raped and didn't know where to go or what to do
When were you at your strongest: Right after our house burned down and me and husband agreed to be in it forever gother
How are you feeling now: Wonderful. I have a great husband and a great job
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46
canada
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When were you at your weakest: my weakes was from the ages of 10 to 18,i had no control over what was being done to me and had no power to stop it,prayers and hope was not to be for me.my chilhood was taken and i became a secluded lonely person that had to wear a mask to still excist within our society.not having friends,trust and shame was upfront in my mind and always having the feeling of never being lvoed for just me,the weakest was to beleive that i wasnt worth that childhood or that love in my life.
When were you at your strongest: when i was 28 and found out i was pregnate,that day i decided that my past will not control who i am and the past had no more say in any of my decission ,i made the choice to not repeat the same actions another human adult imposed on me, and that my child will be part of my life without having to fear,being scared all the time,never knowing the feeling of not being worth anything and of course never ever not feeling loved. this child will teach me to never forget what i always wanted " to be loved for me".
How are you feeling now: i'm a strong woman and i can make my path in live go where i choose it to go and learn along the way from others but never forgeting where i lost myself and my childhood,i make decisions to give of myself to others because thats what i want in return when i need it the most uncoditional love for the sick,lonely and the ones forgotten is where my heart lays.i hope that when i need someone to care for me i too will find that speical someone that i wish for.and this i have taught my son,in return he wants to be a police officer nad the reason is to be there for others in need and to help the ones that can't,being first hand in those situation can make a diffrence in someone life and guide them towards the best that they can be.mayeb that is my small mark on our planet one person at the time.
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18
vernon bc
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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.
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62
Pennsylvania
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When were you at your weakest: I WAS AT MY MOST WEAKEST WAS WHEN MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY, SHE HAS BEEN GONE NOW ALMOST 18 YEARS AND UP TO THIS DAY, I STILL MISS HER.
When were you at your strongest: WHEN MY 1ST GRANDSON WAS BORN. HE IS ALMOST 18 NOW AND HE IS MY HEART.
I NOW HAVE 3 GRANDSONS AND I CHERISH THEM WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL.
How are you feeling now: I FEEL BLESSED BECAUSE I HAVE MY FAMILY, MY HEALTH AND GODS' INSPIRATION IN MY HEART AND TO ME THAT IS A GREAT FEELING KNOWING THAT YOU CAN GET UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY "THANK YOU LORD FOR MY LIFE ONCE AGAIN".
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50
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
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When were you at your weakest: When I was living with a foster family. One of 11 famillies. I was
4 1/2 years old and remember being physically abused on a daily basis.
Thankfully, my screams were heard by neighbours who helped to have me
removed from this awfull place and so on I went to the next foster
family.
When were you at your strongest: When I graduated from nursing school at the age of 19. I was really
proud of myself of fulfilling this difficult accomplishment.
How are you feeling now: Old and frustrated when I listen to the news. The topics are mainly of
corruption of our government...the wars that rage on around the
world. Where is our money going if not to people in need? I feel
helpless when I watch people suffering in Haiti and the donations we
send for food and shelter has not been used towards the basic
neccessities for their very survival!!
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49
United States of America
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When were you at your weakest: I was at my weakest as a young child. I had a lot of strikes against me. I was from a large impoverished family. I was born with a crooked eye and a severe speech impediment that made me hard to understand except for those closest to me. My father had a massive heart attack when I was about three, and could not work. He drank and was very abusive both mentally and physically. There were no resources to have my eye corrected or to help me with my speech before beginning school. It was several years before any of the adults in my life made my welfare in this regard important enough to do anything about. When I began school I was teased and had few friends from 'the normal' crowd. My first grade teacher was a woman with a horrible temper who would line all the children up and give us a whack with the paddle whenever she was in a bad mood. So, at my weakest, I was a young child who felt abandoned instead of accepted into this new world of 'other people' outside my household. I didn't realize abuse wasn't 'normal' because I experienced it both at home and at school. I thank God my mother was the sweetest woman who ever lived.
When were you at your strongest: I have learned to be very strong in many ways. My life is a rich tapestry of those times in which I can have pride in my strength in many different situations. The time when I was the most strong, would have to be when I helped my mother in her last year of life. She wasn't just my mother, she was also my best friend in all ways. Not a day goes by in which I have ever stopped mourning and missing her. While everyone in this very large family was falling apart around me, I had to keep it all together. It was like a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from. Not only did I have to see to all the different details and care for my mother, I also had to control this group of people who would have upset her with their drama when she needed only peace and a chance to think about her life and prepare to meet God. I too wanted moments to just fall apart and cry, but didn't have that luxury then or for weeks after she was no longer here. I did my absolute best for my mom when she needed me most. I am forever marked by this experience, but would gladly go through it all again for just another moment in time with her.
How are you feeling now: Now, I am on a roller coaster of creativity. I have always been artistic in all areas of the arts even though my life path led me to be employed in other ways. I don't regret this, because each thing I have learned has all added to who I am today. Now, all my talents, skills, life experience, personal interests, and emotions are climaxing at one time and coming out creatively in prose, stories, art, video, and a combination of all. I am looking for the dream I want to make happen before my life is done and don't know what it is. I feel it is now or never. I am in somewhat of a panic about it on the inside, but maintain my composure on the outside, like always. I summed up my life and realized that along the way I was given a path that leads to something more than what I have known so far. I get positive feedback from many and believe I have a purpose for it all, I just don't know what it is exactly or how a person does it? As I am trying to find my niche, I am also helping other people find their dreams as well in so many ways. It fills me up inside to help other people and see their happiness in personal accomplishment. I suppose I need a mentor who would be willing to look over all my art and tell me what I am meant to be doing and how to find that road I'm supposed to be on.
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45
Bromley, Kent, UK
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When were you at your weakest: It was autumn 1986. The love of my life dumped me, suddenly and without explanation. With him went my friends (because they were also his, and he was a charismatic sort of person, so they stuck with him and cut me out), my job (because I worked with him, and them, so I really couldn't stay there), and, since I lived in the hospital where we both worked, that meant I also lost my accommodation. So I had no income, nowhere to live, no friends locally (I had moved to London for the job), and worst of all the person I loved did not want me any more, and would not even speak to me. As if that wasn't enough, I then found out he had met someone else and was marrying them within weeks. I was in the deepest depression. I just remember crying, sobbing, all the time. My face was red raw from the tears, and I went around on autopilot, crying on the tube and in the street, and not even caring that people saw me, looked away, avoided me. I hardly ever slept, and when I did I would wake up suddenly after less than an hour, shaking and crying and unable to stop obsessing about what had happened. I don't, fortunately, remember much of that period in detail. It was an indescribably bleak and grey time, and it was months before I could pull myself together enough to do anything to move on from the the situation. I thought about suicide constantly. At one stage, I swallowed more than 30 paracetomol tablets washed down with vodka, but for some reason, woke up the next day as usual with no ill effects. I'm still not sure how or why. Eventually I forced myself to take action, and got myself onto a degree course. A friend from up north moved to London, so I moved in with him. It was still a long, long road back from severe depression, but I did it without drugs or counselling or anything else, because I wanted to be able to look back and know that I did it myself, without those things as props. Others would probably say that was wrong, but it was right for me, and it worked. But I had about a year of being utterly dysfunctional, and few more years after that when I know I was far from normal. I've never felt weaker.
When were you at your strongest: I think I'm at my strongest now. My strength is cumulative and comes from life experience and the self-knowledge it's given me. Because of the experience related above, and others since, I've been through a lot of change, variously painful, gruelling, unfair, and usually externally inflicted, especially in my working life. I work in the public sector, which means constant change programmes and very little job or salary security. I've learned to ride the waves and be something of an opportunistic problem-solver. Many times, I've had to be creative and bring my intelligence to bear on the situation in order to survive and thrive. Which I've done. And as I've got older, I've felt stronger and stronger. I've learned and benefited from the situations I've been in, and I've acquired a little cunning and political astuteness, although those aren't natural for me. I feel pretty unassailable nowadays when I'm up against it. Another major change programme looms, with possible redundancy and tons of change management work to get through, yet I feel more than equal to the tasks ahead. I actually feel like I could cope with this latest wave of stupid and irrational government decisions standing on my head. I can handle anything.
How are you feeling now: Good. I feel good. Maybe I'm a little addicted to adrenalin and living in the midst of chaos and uncertainty! I feel that at 45, I'm at the height of my powers. (Being a woman does entail having powers, you know!). I can sort out any problem, read any person I encounter, trust my instincts on anything, and do all the things I want to do with my life. I don't have to rely on anyone else or get anyone's permission. And I have good friends who believe in me.
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37
Chatham.Ontario Canada
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When were you at your weakest: When I was sexual abused as a child
When were you at your strongest: When my husband walked out on me and our children
How are you feeling now: Content
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23
Spain
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When were you at your weakest: It was 2001. After years of abuse at my school, my father left home. He didn't pay the rent for a whole year, so that same day my mother, brother and I had no home. We slept in a hotel that night, and then leave to my sister's house, more than 200km away. I was 13. Maybe not fully aware of what happened, I felt helpless.
When were you at your strongest: 2003. I left school. I still remember that day, going home I could not stop thinking "I'm free". It was too good to be true! That year was the best of my life, I could feel happiness in its essence.
How are you feeling now: I'm more than happy. When I left school I thought I was fine, but that wasn't true. I had too many hate in my heart. But right now, I've healed myself. Well, I confess Michael's lyrics and speeches did help me out. I have a bunch of friends and I enjoy every single day. Life can be good if you hope.
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17
Salem
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When were you at your weakest: When my boyfriend's mom totally picked on me because she wants her son to go on a mission for the Mormon church. She said that I was insecure, immature, and many other things that really hurt me.
When were you at your strongest: When I realized that it didn't matter what my boyfriend's mom said; I was me, and she can't take that away. Also, when I became a model, I gained more confidence.
How are you feeling now: Confident, and feel that no one can get in my way. I will stand up for myself, the people that I love, and what I believe in.
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